Ask Captain Lim

Hi Capt Lim,

My name is Joe. I am 17 years old in High School. Since the first time I flew on a plane it has been my dream to become a pilot.

1. How long did it take you to go from the beginning of flight school to get to the Boeing 777?

2. Over the years will the process be lengthen or shorten?

3. Are there airlines going to fly both the Boeing 777 and the future Airbus 380? If so, will a pilot be trained to fly on both types?

4. What would be an average pay for a major airline flying the 777? What would you estimate it to be for the A380?

5. Which plane has more advanced avionic systems? The A340-600 or the Boeing 777-200/300?

Thanks for the information.

Joe

Hi Joe,

1. How long from flying training school to the Boeing 777 would depend on which Airlines you have been accepted into. It can take between 5 to 10 years, give and take a few earlier or later.

2. Again, this would depend on the Airlines you are flying for, the size of the Boeing 777 fleet and the number of pilots in the Company.

3. Sure, there are quite a number of airlines that would both operate the Boeing 777 and the Airbus 380 in the future. Usually pilots are trained to fly on one specified type of airplane only.

4. The average pay for pilots flying in the major airlines in the USA are as follows:-
 
Pilot Hourly Pay @ 1000 flying hours per year as of April 2000

                     Wide Body 12 years Captain          Wide Body 5 years First Officer
CAL                             $202                                                 $115
DAL                             $265                                                 $160
NW                              $241                                                 $143
UAL                             $222                                                 $136
USA                             $244                                                 $144

Wide Body aircraft would include the B777, B767, B747 and A330/340.

CAL - Continental Airlines
DAL - Delta Airlines
NW - North West Airlines
UAL - United Airlines
USA - US Airlines

So if a DAL captain flies 800 hours a year, his pay would be (800 times $265) $212,000 per annum excluding other variable allowances.. I am unable to give you the estimated pay for those flying the Airbus A380 at the moment.

5. Both airplanes have equally good avionics but which is more advanced would depend on whom you are talking to. A Boeing 777-200/300  pilot would think the avionic systems on the airplane are better than those of the Airbus 340-600 whereas another pilot from the Airbus airplane would say otherwise.