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Freelance Pilots

romansnitko.com

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Re: Freelance Pilots

#31

Post by poolbath1 »

partisan wrote: post #28

Uber for pilots! The next big unicorn! I do think that pilots are commoditized, but not to the extent that they are interchangeable in this manner. The industry is way too heavily regulated for this to ever work, and for good reason. Honestly, well before something like this would come to pass, there will be whole fleets of autonomous planes in the air, thereby avoiding this scenario altogether.

There are already whole fleets of autonomous planes in the air. They have autopilot. The only difference is that when something goes wrong in the air, you can't just pull over and get a tech to the plane. You need someone already in the cockpit who knows what they are doing.

Re: Freelance Pilots

#32

Post by neurotech1 »

olympus wrote: post #6

Falls apart right here: "Imagine David. David is an airline captain lincenced to fly B737, B747-400, B-747-800 and any B777" There may be pilots who have flown 737, 747, and 777 before, but there are none (or practically none) who are current in all three at once. To get your currency back in a particular airframe could be as simple as a single check ride with a qualified (and current) pilot if it's only been a few w…

One case is Boeing training Captains are sometimes qualified to fly with multiple airlines, and multiple types. They have to be qualified for the operating procedures of that airline. The Boeing pilots are mainly used for training roles (supervising or safety pilot observer) and don't actually fly the jet on scheduled flights.

Some maintenance contractors have pilots who are qualified and current on several types, but its likely they are Part 91 flights only and may not be line qualified for Part 121 scheduled flights.

I can't see "freelance" airline pilots being more than a rare edge case.

Re: Freelance Pilots

#33

Post by EdHominem »

JamilD wrote: post #30
throwaway_exer wrote: post #18

The article was written by somebody who knows very little about airlines: - an airline has to have pilots at the gate on time, guaranteed - each airline has its own operating rules and checklists - planes and airports have unique combinations of Cat III landings - airline pilots are route-checked. they don't fly random routes. - most major airlines have unions, so freelancers are not allowed. However, he could be des…

To be fair, the author addresses some of these points at the end: > The only two reasons this system is not widespread now are regulations and unions. I'm more than convinced had regulations allowed for such a system and had not the unions had so much power, you'd see this happening already. …… of course, he's ignoring the fact that many of these regulations are there for very good reason.

Yes, those are the kind of regulation you can revisit, the good kind. If you can solve the issues another way you change them.

Regulations that exist for no good reason are there for the whim of someone.

Re: Freelance Pilots

#34

Post by emdowling »

This would never fly (excuse the pun). For all the practical reasons like currency on so many aircraft and the cost (being checked to line on a A380 takes 2-3 months full time - who pays for that? Simulators ain't cheap!)

Above all else, the human aspect is terrible. I'm flabbergasted the author glosses over this. A Frankfurt - Chicago - Frankfurt trip would see a pilot away for 3-4 days as it is. Factor in not getting a direct flight back and waiting 15 hours for the opportunity to fly a 1 hour flight, it's gonna be closer to 5-6 days. What spouse is going to be happy with that?! Pilots already have enough stress worrying about how to their family while away - adding in a variable time frame would be hell on earth.

Re: Freelance Pilots

#35

Post by pjc50 »

snitko wrote: post #7
olympus wrote: post #6

Falls apart right here: "Imagine David. David is an airline captain lincenced to fly B737, B747-400, B-747-800 and any B777" There may be pilots who have flown 737, 747, and 777 before, but there are none (or practically none) who are current in all three at once. To get your currency back in a particular airframe could be as simple as a single check ride with a qualified (and current) pilot if it's only been a few w…

I don't think the system where airlines sponsor pilot's education/certification is the only viable one. Other institutions, such as banks, can offer student loans. Another point you made about the fact that pilots cannot fly multiple airplanes is simply false. The older the pilot is, the more chances there are he flew multiple types of aircraft working for different companies. I know at least one who flew b737 of var…

Other institutions, such as banks, can offer student loans.

The incoming US student loan crisis shows why this is not a great idea.

Re: Freelance Pilots

#36

Post by pjc50 »

resu_nimda wrote: post #21

This makes little to no sense. Flight schedules are worked out months in advance, it's a carefully planned system where many pilots fly particular routes only, and often back and forth. There's no way it could work with pilots signing up for arbitrary flights to whatever destinations mere hours before takeoff, unless there was a huge surplus of pilots waiting at all airports who are willing to constantly go to random…

Passengers more freedom in deciding what's safe for them

No, this is totally in line with the Bitcoin "do your own risk assessment" product placement: a total disregard of how hard it is for the end user to work out what's safe or not.

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