Do cargo pilots only fly at night?

As a cargo pilot, any type of schedule you can imagine is available—domestic, international, 1-day trips, 14-day trips, all-daytime flying, all-nighttime flying, and every combination of these. It is a myth that we only fly in the middle of the night!



People Also Ask

However, there are a few lesser known cargo operators that fly at night to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. With cool ambient air, the engines can produce more thrust before having the engines exhaust gas temperature exceeding operational limits.

MORE DETAILS

Schedules can vary depending on what route you have. Our work schedules are five days on and two days off, Monday-Friday or Tuesday-Saturday. Most pilots start out as “Floaters” and fill in as needed (similar to pilot reserve schedules at most airlines). This type of schedule has a lot of short days during the week.

MORE DETAILS

It might seem obvious, but many of you ask about this: yes, the pilots prepare their own coffee and meals. Just behind the flight deck, we have a galley, containing several catering boxes with plenty of food, drinks and snacks, an oven and a coffee maker.

MORE DETAILS

Mostly (not all) pilots prefer night flying. Some pilots may love flying in the night while some may love to fly in the day. Here's how night flying is preferable to pilots: Some things are easier when it comes to night flying, some things are more difficult.

MORE DETAILS

When we fly with only 2 pilots, we are allowed to take controlled rest if we really feel the need to. One pilot then sleeps for a short while in the pilot seat, while the other pilot takes control of the flight and communication. And if we fly with more than 2 pilots we have time to rest in the bunk.

MORE DETAILS

While there usually are no flight benefits as a cargo pilot, reciprocal jumpseat privileges for crew members can be expected with nearly every one of them, making commuting to work still an option for those looking to live outside of their base.

MORE DETAILS

While there usually are no flight benefits as a cargo pilot, reciprocal jumpseat privileges for crew members can be expected with nearly every one of them, making commuting to work still an option for those looking to live outside of their base.

MORE DETAILS

Both types of pilots may work long hours and spend extended periods away from home, but the FAA has restrictions on how many hours they can fly during set time periods. Both can fly up to 30 hours per week or 100 hours per month, and they also complete pre-flight planning and post-flight duties during working hours.

MORE DETAILS

Fatigue is particularly prevalent among pilots because of unpredictable work hours, long duty periods, circadian disruption, and insufficient sleep. These factors can occur together to produce a combination of sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm effects, and 'time-on task' fatigue.

MORE DETAILS

They're not glamorous, but they're very comfortable, with padded bunks and sometimes even in-flight entertainment! With 14- to 18-hour flights no longer unusual, pilots and cabin crew have legally mandated rest times —and airlines also realise that a rested, refreshed crew member is a happy crew member.

MORE DETAILS

However, airline pilots will work fewer days than a 'normal job', with most pilots having at least ten days off a month. This may be a slightly surprising amount of time off, especially as the job as a pilot is seen as many by well-paid.

MORE DETAILS

The biggest “con” of being a cargo pilot over a passenger pilot is you work a lot of very early mornings, as most cargo planes get loaded over night before the airport opens for regular traffic. Sometimes a cargo plane will takeoff well before it opens.

MORE DETAILS

The total crew of the cargo flights usually consists of two pilots: a Captain and a First Officer. On longer flights we are with three or four pilots: besides the standard crew also a Second Officer and/or sometimes another Captain or First Officer.

MORE DETAILS

A minimum two-person flight crew is necessary to manage the flight deck workload and protect against the potential incapacitation of one pilot.

MORE DETAILS

Cargo pilots sometimes have less conventional schedules. It's common for long-haul cargo schedulers to build trips that might last upwards of two weeks away from home.

MORE DETAILS