Do airline pilots get to choose where they live?

Pilots are based at domiciles that typically coincide with an airline’s hubs. But many pilots choose to live elsewhere and commute to work. They do so by hopping a free ride on their airline, or even in a jumpseat on the flight deck.

Can commercial pilots choose their base?

Yes, a pilot can choose which aircraft, which position, and which crew base they will be assigned if a position is available, and if their Company system wide seniority is high enough to be awarded that position.

Where are airline pilots stationed?

Airplane pilots may be stationed at airbases or aboard aircraft carriers anywhere in the world. They fly in all types of weather conditions. Military pilots take off and land on airport runways and aircraft carrier landing decks.

Do pilots use autopilot to land?

Yes a plane can land by itself using a system that is often referred to as “autoland”. The pilots can program the auto-pilot to carry out the landing automatically whilst the pilots monitor the aircraft. Automatic landings probably account for less then 1\% of all landings on commercial flights.

Can private planes fly internationally?

When it comes to flying internationally on a private jet, the same rules apply for passports and visas as they would on a commercial flight. Therefore, no matter how you decide to travel – including by a private jet – both a passport and/or a visa will be required.

Can a pilot change airlines?

While different airlines will be similar in nature in certain aspects, each airline will operate differently in how they treat their staff. Sometimes this can the sole reason for why a pilot will switch airlines. One disgruntled pilot took to Glassdoor to claim, “You will be worked to within an inch of your life.

How do airlines decide what planes to use?

Answer: Airlines have route-planning specialists to ensure that the right-size airplane is used for the route, that any maintenance considerations are taken into account, and that airplanes arrive at the proper location for inspections and service at the proper intervals. It is an art to keep the schedule running.

What percentage of airline pilots commute?

More than 50 percent of crew members commute, pilots and flight attendants alike. Commuting can be complicated and, I admit, occasionally stressful. Airline employees almost always ride standby, and company rules require us to allow for backup flights in case of delays or cancellations.

Can I choose where I want to fly as a pilot?

As long as you have at least a little bit of seniority you can choose where you wish to be based and even which aircraft. Larger aircraft usually pay more per hour (read: minute) and usually fly longer trips. Airline pilots live and die by seniority. There is a master list of every pilot at the airline, from first hired to last hired.

How do airlines decide where you live when you fly?

Let’s answer your questions specifically. First the airlines give absolutely ZERO consideration based on where you live. All the airlines have their established bases and domiciles and it’s entirely up to the pilot to make that work. The airline will initially assign you to a base where the airline needs you.

Do pilots live in base or commute?

Take the stress out of your job search and let employers compete for you. Pilots can choose if they want to live in base or if they want to commute to their base. Commuting used in this context refers to getting a space-available ride to work on an airline or cargo flight.

Why do airlines have different domiciles for different pilots?

Crew domiciles end up being staffed by more junior pilots due to cost of living, quality of life considerations, aircraft types operated out that base, where pilots typically fly to out of a base, and trip schedules.