Do pilots get to choose when they fly?

Airplane pilots have a great deal of autonomy when it comes to choosing their destination. While they may be assigned certain routes or flights, the pilot ultimately has the final say in where they fly. Pilots can also choose to take on additional flights that are not part of their regular schedule if they wish.



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Airline Pilot Schedule Each pilot bids for the “line” they would like to fly, in order of preference. The most senior pilot is awarded their first choice; the next most senior pilot will receive the second choice, and so on.

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Though exceptions exist, pilots are usually free to decide who flies every flight. Some airports feature challenging approaches due to their proximity to rising terrain. These airports might require special training to fly to and are often captain-only flights.

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For long flights over twelve hours, there are one or two relief pilots onboard so that the two pilots who performed the takeoff can take a break and get some sleep or relax. There are just two pilots on short long-haul flights of eight or nine hours.

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If the flight is longer than 12 hours, a fourth pilot (second officer) is required.

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More than two pilots
Generally, if the flight is longer than eight hours, a third pilot (second officer) is required onboard. That requirement may vary slightly between operators.

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In terms of actual days, some publications say most short-haul pilots will either travel home every day if possible or work for five days and then spend three or four days at home. Long-haul pilots are said to spend more time away from home, although they do get 10 to 15 days off per month to see their families.

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Whether flying at night or during the day, pilots need to see some kind of horizon. They use this to determine the airplane's attitude. At night pilots will turn their gaze from outside to inside and use the artificial horizon. The artificial horizon is normally a simply globe split into two hemispheres.

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Do pilots go home every night? Flight instructors and pilots who fly short-haul domestic flights are able to be home every night more or less; however, airline pilots who fly longer routes are unable to go home every night and can be away from home for up to two weeks at a time.

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Hours: Airline transport pilots fly an average of 75 hours per month but can fly up to 100 hours in a 30-day period. Many will be away from home for consecutive days during trips with long-haul and/or overnight flights. Average Salary: The median annual salary for airline transport pilots is $160,970.

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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.

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Nearly all airlines have trips that do not get you back to your home every day. Pilots “lay over” in other cities and are provided per diem and a hotel for the time they are there.

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Summary. The minimum rest period for pilots is 10 hours, with 8 hours of uninterrupted rest required. Hotel contracts are taken seriously to ensure crew members get sufficient rest. Long-haul flights often have longer layovers, between 24 and 36 hours.

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Yes, the airlines know they have married couples in their cockpits and they're okay with it.

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A career as an airline pilot is tough on a personal life. Being away 3-4 days at a time, on weekends, holidays, and during important events puts strain on relationships.

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High Paying Pilot Jobs
  • Chief Pilot. Salary range: $84,500-$119,000 per year. ...
  • Private Pilot. Salary range: $83,500-$105,500 per year. ...
  • Helicopter Pilot. Salary range: $89,000-$104,000 per year. ...
  • Corporate Pilot. Salary range: $71,000-$100,000 per year. ...
  • Air Charter Pilot. ...
  • Airline Pilot. ...
  • Assistant Chief Pilot. ...
  • Commercial Pilot.


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Traditionally a pilot at a regional airline might start out earning less than $50,000 per year, but get hired on by a major airline and that goes up quickly into the six figures, and well over $300,000 for senior captains flying widebody aircraft overseas. Some earn over $400,000.

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No they do not. The cockpit itself is pretty small in most planes and none of them have dedicated toilets installed in them. Pilots use the same restroom as the passengers, usually the one in the front of the passenger cabin.

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Flight Duty Limitations In the United States, the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) limit pilots to 36 flight hours in a week, 100 hours in 672 hours (28 days), and 1,000 hours in a 365-day calendar period. As a hard answer, the maximum number of hours a pilot can fly in a year is 1,000 hours.

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Many airlines provide crew rest areas on their aircraft, where pilots can sleep during long-haul flights. These areas are usually located in the tail, cargo area or above the cabin of the plane and are designed to be as quiet and comfortable as possible. Other crew members prefer to use business class seats to rest.

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