Shifts are not bad. Our anonymous pilot reveals that it was not the airport itself that convinced him to enter the world of low-cost airlines, but rather the practical side of working with a fixed schedule. “Typical low-cost airlines have a fixed rotational schedule, in my case, it’s five days of work and four days off. This is attractive because we can plan our lives at least a year in advance. In other companies with variable schedules, which are sometimes only published one month before the date, it is very frustrating to plan important events such as weddings,” he says.
“I also liked the fact that most days are planned to end around midnight, and the schedule includes both morning and afternoon hours. The 5/4 cycle means that you get 13 days off when you book five days of leave,” he adds.
Pilots run the show
Our anonymous captain claims that the support systems differ significantly between low-cost airlines and traditional long-haul carriers. “In low-cost airlines, it is the pilots and crew who really run the whole operation. The company minimally interferes with the normal course of things. When a problem arises, such as delays or cancellations due to weather or technical issues, things become complicated because they operate at very low levels of support. They have relatively weak processes of communication with the crew, and often we have to take proactive action to keep the program running,” he adds.
Unrealistic schedules
“Schedules are usually very tight, even unrealistic, which means that if there is a delay on the early-morning route, it is practically impossible to make up for the lost time,” says our anonymous pilot. “Often, at the end of the morning shift, we hand over the aircraft to the afternoon crew quite late. During the peak summer season, there is often a shortage of available reserve crews to call in case of any emergency situations. Traditional airlines tend to invest much more money in their operation; after all, they have a completely different pricing model. I worked for 11 years at Emirates, and their ability to take positive actions and even anticipate problems is impressive.”
FAQ:
1. What are the benefits of working in low-cost airlines?
Working in low-cost airlines offers a fixed schedule, which allows for planning both professional and personal life. In addition, most days end around midnight, and the crew has access to long periods of time off.
2. What are the differences in support systems between low-cost airlines and traditional carriers?
In low-cost airlines, it is the pilots and crew who have greater responsibility for the entire aviation operation. The company has minimal impact on day-to-day operations. If problems arise, such as delays or cancellations, the crew must take proactive action as there is limited support available.
3. Are flight schedules in low-cost airlines realistic?
Flight schedules in low-cost airlines are often very tight and unrealistic. If there is a delay on the early-morning route, it is practically impossible to make up for the lost time. At the end of the morning shift, the aircraft must be handed over to the afternoon crew, which may result in a late handover. During peak summer season, it can be challenging to call in available reserve crews in case of emergency situations.
Visit the main domain of low-cost airlines for more information on this topic: Tanie Linie Lotnicze.
The source of the article is from the blog smartphonemagazine.nl