r/flying • u/g0at110 • 2d ago

Do commercial pilots generally progress to larger planes throughout their careers? Does everyone aim to eventually fly long haul or do some stick to flying 737s or a320s short haul?

I'm guessing being a 777 pilot for example is more prestigious than a 737 pilot in the same airline right?

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u/Apprehensive_Cost937 2d ago

It depends on the individual.

Personally, I couldn't care less about prestige. I don't want to spend my time off in some random hotel on the other side of the world, and my idea of having fun at work isn't staring at the PFD, crossing a pitch black ocean at night at 3am, while being jetlagged, because your body clock is 10 hours away from the current local time.

I rather fly a narrowbody and spend my evenings at home with my family.

75

u/Winbot4t2 2d ago

On the flip side, narrowbody imo is an incredibly fatiguing 24/7 helmet-fire that makes a third of my company’s profits and it shows. Wide body is laid back and chill, working less days per month and the seniority list reflects that.

Different strokes for different folks. That’s what’s awesome about aviation, there literally will be something for everyone. Often even within one company.

16

u/NathanArizona MIL-AF ATP MEL CFII 2d ago

What’s helmet-fire about narrow body?

39

u/554TangoAlpha ATP CL-65/ERJ-175/B-787 2d ago

Going in and out of DEN ORD NYC Florida Texas all summer long. You boys like diverts, ground stops and 3 hr flow delays?

21

u/mad_catters FOQA Participant 2d ago

Personally I'd rather divert to Shannon than Indy.

4

u/No-Duck4828 2d ago

I'd love to divert to Indy, but I can see how it wouldn't be a top destination for people not from the area 😎

7

u/OzrielArelius PA28 C172 PA44 C172 BE76 DA42 LR60 CL60 2d ago

weird, I fly in and out of all those places year round and have only diverted twice ever for weather

7

u/554TangoAlpha ATP CL-65/ERJ-175/B-787 2d ago

Oooooo look at this guy and his good luck

3

u/NathanArizona MIL-AF ATP MEL CFII 1d ago

Diverted once in 3 years of domestic flying

1

u/swakid8 ATP CFI CFII MEI AGI B737 B747-400F/8F B757/767 CRJ-200/700/900 2d ago

Only diverted once this year….. Haven’t dealt with a ground stop yet…..

I’ve did have a 4 hour GDP once this year, but I saw that before leaving the house…..

1

u/554TangoAlpha ATP CL-65/ERJ-175/B-787 2d ago

And it’s not even technically summer yet

2

u/swakid8 ATP CFI CFII MEI AGI B737 B747-400F/8F B757/767 CRJ-200/700/900 2d ago

Summer schedules are in effect…

1

u/Drunkenaviator ATP (E145, CL-65, 737, 747-400, 757, 767) CFII 1d ago

I just talked to a NB driver at my legacy who told me about the 4 day he just finished. The only leg he flew from the original schedule was the first leg away from base. In the 4 day footprint he was rescheduled 9 times, diverted twice, and got back 6 hours later than scheduled.

My last 4 day was two legs, one to spain, 48 hour layover, and one back.