Originally Posted by
Citabria
Thanks so much for the time addressing the questions, UA pilots!
Here are a few of my own questions:
- Could you estimate how many of you enjoy flying light GA aircraft when away from work, and how often you do so?
- You've alluded to it in discussing trip scheduling already, but how long are you away from home, in terms of total time? I saw someone say 20 days a month earlier in this thread. Is that typical? For some reason I had it in mind that it was less nights away from home. I would imagine it depends on whether you can hold a line flying long-duration international flights.
- Is there anything you'd like to see from GA pilots (such as myself) when we operate near a terminal environment? I fly a Mooney now (despite my screen name) and go through SFO class B once in a while (with clearance!), and below it quite often. Usually I go through during a not-so-busy period and its never been a problem; in fact I don't think my presence has delayed you guys at all, but I'm still curious.
1) Flying for a living, I really have no want to fly small GA aircraft on my days off unless it was some sort of acrobatic aircraft that I could fly like my old AF days. I still fly with the military each month and I fly a trip every now and then with a corporate job just to keep my hands in it.
2) Being away from home just depends on your seniority and what fleet you are in. Reserve pilots only have 12 scheduled days off, so if you are a commuter you are gone from home 19 days a month, maybe more if you commute up on days off. If you hold a line, a senior guy may only be gone 14 days a month, a junior guy will be gone 19 days for the month. A wide body pilot who gets all his hours in one long trip, may only be gone 10-12 days for the month. I tend to bid time off with the family, so I sacrifice pay to be home about 15 days for the month.
3) SQUAWK IDENT BABY!! The only thing that concerns me with GA is when the VFR guys are out there and just happy flying with no transponder on. Just put 1200 in and let everyone know where you are, that's all I ask. Also, if you know there is a corridor for planes arriving into major airports, maybe stay away from that area and enjoy the rest of the big sky theory
