What do pilots do on standby?

Sometimes, a pilot becomes sick on short notice, a crew is delayed coming into a base, or a flight has been added to our list for the day from another type of airplane. Airport standby pilots answer a call and often leave on a flight to a new destination within as little as 30 minutes.



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In-flight strategies
  • Cockpit napping: A forty-minute nap after a long period of wakefulness can be extremely beneficial. ...
  • Activity breaks are another measure found to be most beneficial when a pilot is experiencing partial sleep loss or high levels of fatigue. ...
  • Bunk sleeping is another effective in-flight strategy.


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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.

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No standby seat is guaranteed—hence, the name “standby”—but there are certain ways you can increase your chances. You first need to request standby as soon as possible, since airlines typically prioritize standby fliers on a first-come-first-served basis.

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The airline handles and pays for accommodations for crewmembers when they are on a trip. Many pilots do not live where they are based and choose to commute. Generally, if pilots need to travel and stay away from home when they are not on a trip, they are responsible for their own accommodations.

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So if they have a flight that's 3.5 hours long and their current rate is $137 per hour their pay for that flight would be $479.50. This is a somewhat simplified version but when a pilot is on a trip they will generally have multiple flights over the course of a few days plus they will receive their per diem.

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Unique To American Airlines
Unlimited space available travel for free for all employees, domestic partners/spouses, children, parents/in-laws (small fee) and 16 buddy passes/year (small fee).

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Reserve pilots are assigned trips with a minimum of 13 hours' notice if you're on long call or you can be assigned a short call in which case you are given a window to be available and must report quickly if called (usually within 2-3 hours).

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Standby means that portion of a duty period during which a flight crewmember is subject to the control of the program manager and holds himself or herself in a condition of readiness to undertake a flight.

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Standbys these days are reserved for people who have been bumped off the flight they were initially booked on, those who would like to get on an earlier flight on the same day they were meant to travel, or who wish to fly to a different airport at their destination.

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Standby passengers typically have priority based on how much they paid for their tickets and their relative status in the airline's frequent flyer program.

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Every airline has its own priority system, but in general, the order for boarding standby passengers is as follows:
  • Full-fare passengers.
  • Commuting flight crews.
  • Standby passengers from the airline (in order of seniority or time of check-in)
  • Buddy pass travelers.
  • Standby passengers from other airlines.


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Can pilots see toilets? Yes, it's that serious. ' Captain Morris's toilet-based revelations don't end there. He also reveals that on the Dreamliner and the Boeing 777, the flight crew via cabin cameras can see the forward washroom – and over the years he's witnessed a few memorable sights.

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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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Airline pilots take turns using the bathroom nearest the cockpit during a flight. There are no bathrooms installed in the cockpit. For airplanes with a single pilot, diapers, catheters, or collection devices are used if they are unable to land to use the airport bathroom.

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