How Airline Pilot Scheduling Works: Seniority, Bidding, & Cockpit Secrets

About this episode

Tom and Mike explore the complexities of airline pilot scheduling, including bidding systems and the impact of seniority on pilots' lives.

Ever wonder how commercial airline pilots actually get their monthly flight schedules? In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike pull back the curtain on the complicated, high-stakes world of airline pilot bidding, PBS (Preferential Bidding System), and line bidding. If you've ever asked a commercial pilot, "What's your route?", the answer is far more complex than you think. From long-haul international Boeing 777 flights to ETOPS transatlantic routes on the A321, your favorite hosts break down exactly how commercial pilot schedules vary drastically month-to-month based on one massive industry factor: seniority. Tom and Mike expose the wilder side of airline crew operations, discussing:• How airline bidding systems dictate your lifestyle, vacation days, and family time.• The reality of sitting on pilot reserve and waiting for the phone to ring during summer thunderstorm season.• Cockpit culture: What happens when you get paired with a captain or first officer you don't gel with for an entire month?• Industry secrets, including the infamous senior pilot "Wolf Packs" and the shocking history of crews trying to bribe flight schedulers for premium trips.• A…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tom, Mike

Topics covered

• airline pilot scheduling
• seniority
• bidding systems
• cockpit culture
• airline operations
• career progression

Keywords

• airline pilot scheduling
• bidding systems
• seniority
• cockpit culture
• airline operations
• career progression
• PBS
• flight schedules
• commercial pilots

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Boeing, A321, ETOPS

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