A minimum two-person flight crew is necessary to manage the flight deck workload and protect against the potential incapacitation of one pilot.
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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.
A single pilot may be unable to manage critical circumstances alone. While flying, one pilot is usually handling the controls and steering the plane while the other is monitoring for any issues or anomalies. This also allows each pilot to take breaks and avoid fatigue, which can have fatal consequences.
Ensures Overall Aviation SafetyEven smaller private jets require two pilots. Safety risk is significantly higher when a single pilot flies an aircraft, so dual pilot operations are almost always mandatory. With two pilots, the workload is split thereby decreasing stress significantly.
Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots. The 8-hour and 10-hour flight time limitations include any additional commercial flying performed by the flight crew during the period.
Cargo pilots fly considerably fewer hours than passenger pilots. Cargo pilots average approximately 31 hours of “block time” per month compared with 57 hours for passenger pilots. MYTH: Cargo pilots get less rest than airline pilots.
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!
The simple answer is yes, pilots do, and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.
Modern airliners only require two pilots, the captain and the first officer. Where relief crew are required for long haul flights, additional captains and first officers will be carried.
Aircraft Bunk Rest/Sleep for PilotsThe same two pilots are at the controls for take-off and landing whilst the other pilot(s) will take control for other segments of the flight to given the other pilots an opportunity to sleep.
Cargo operators use passenger airports as well. Night flights for passengers aren't popular for a variety of reasons. Which means there are less flights for passengers landing and taking off during the night hours freeing up slots for cargo.
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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.
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.
(d) No pilot may fly more than 32 hours during any seven consecutive days, and each pilot must be relieved from all duty for at least 24 consecutive hours at least once during any seven consecutive days.
In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.
Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots. The 8-hour and 10-hour flight time limitations include any additional commercial flying performed by the flight crew during the period.