Most Pilots Are Paid Only For Time Spent in Air
Let’s take a moment, dear reader, and appreciate the dedication and training of an airline crew. The resumes of everyone involved are impressive: most pilots and ground crew have military backgrounds, and many of them have served our country on an overseas combat deployment. They’re all highly trained, with numerous professional certifications and advanced academic degrees in aviation science or management. And it doesn’t stop there: the cabin crew—stewards, or “stewardesses” if you’re really old fashioned—also undergo rigorous training. They have to know how to handle any situation that may come up in the cabin, from providing top notch customer service to handling medical emergencies including heart attacks, defibrillation, or a tracheotomy . So when you’re up in the air, relax—the aircraft is designed with care to keep you safe and comfortable, and the crew on all levels are some of the most qualified professionals in any industry.
Which makes us sad to report that the crew is also woefully underpaid, when you think it through. See, most flight crews are only paid for (wait for it) flight time, ie time actually spent in the air. Driving to and from the airport, spending the night in the destination city, waiting on the runway for takeoff—none of those hours get factored in to their compensation. Next time you’re feeling underpaid, just remember: some folks do have it worse.