What does a Pilot do when not Flying?

Flying is great. Flying for an airline in Central America is amazing!

When I was little, I loved the book What do they do when it Rains. It showed various outdoor professions and imagined what they might do when it rained. A construction worker was not building skyscrapers but, instead, was building at home with wooden blocks. A crossing guard was lining up toy cars at a pretend intersection. Well….what does a pilot do when not flying?

David Clark H10-13S Stereo Headset

I never really considered what I would do between flights. I just thought that I would get up, go to the airport, and fly from city to city without a break. Looking at all the beautiful water, hills, and cities below. Then 6-8 hours later I would go to the hotel or back home.

Not so much! The reality of flying for a regional airline is REALLY different (I can’t speak for the big-guys). We are on call 12 hours per-day – 6 days per week. If you are flying domestically in Belize and not internationally, then you start the day by sitting in a room at the international airport (or in San Pedro) that is like the bullpen at a baseball game.

The operations team is in the next room and they come into the pilot room and call your name and give you a plane number and flight destination. Up until 10 minutes before you fly the pilot does not know where or when they might fly next. Once called, you have a couple minutes to get to your plane and warm up the electronics. Only then do the ramp personnel give you the passenger count and weight and balance for the flight….Then off we go to the next stop.

Often we get to our destination – usually a rural stop like Punta Gorda or Dandriga only to find out that we will stay here for a couple hours until the next flight.

No advance notice. The operations folks just say have a seat and we will let you know when you are clear to leave! Always keeping a snack on hand for lunch has become an essential part of packing for the day.

Being a First Officer is even more challenging. We are only able to fly domestically if there is room on the plane. While international flights require two pilots, domestic flights only require one.

To maximize company revenue the airline decided that if the flight is entirely sold out then the First Officer is bumped and must wait for the next flight! There are a couple places this is a challenge. First, a route to the south of the country has three stops. At any one of these stops the plane might be full. If so, you are now stranded for a couple hours waiting for the next plane – that may or may not be full. Note – download more Netflix…

The second challenge is getting home to San Pedro at the end of the day. The afternoon is the busy time of the day for incoming international flights. All the major airlines bring tourists in from the USA and Canada between noon and 3 pm.

Most of these tourists are coming to visit one of the islands just off the coast of Belize City and our airline is the dominant company ferrying tourist to the islands. That is great, unless you are a First Officer trying to get home! We often sit and wait 2-3 hours for a plane that has an opening to pilot back to San Pedro for the night.

So what have I learned in the first month of flying? First, flying at a regional airline has a lot more waiting than flying – regardless of whether you are a Captain or a First Officer. Second, attitude is everything. To survive, you must be flexible (not my strongest quality). Third, be prepared. If you have earbuds and a snack, any delay can be lunch and an episode of the Man in the High Castle. Finally, I LOVE FLYING. Despite the bumps along the way, it is a privilege and honor to fly for a commercial airline. The waiting makes those minutes in the air both precious and enjoyable.https://amzn.to/4jqBN1C

Flying is great. Flying for an airline in Central America is amazing!