How many pilots does a 787 need?

51 views

A Boeing 787 typically requires a minimum of two pilots. This is mandated by FAA Part 121 regulations for commercial airline operations of this aircraft type and others of similar size and complexity.

Comments 0 like

How many pilots fly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner?

Okay, so like, how many pilots does it actually take to fly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, ya know?

Two. That’s the number, plain and simple.

The FAA, like, always wants two for these big planes – Part 121 of their rules. Makes sense, right? Think redundancy.

One time, flying back from London Heathrow (LHR) on a Virgin Atlantic 787 in February 2020, I swear I saw three guys in the cockpit. But maybe one was a trainee or something? Who knows. Paid like £700 for that flight, I think. Pretty pricey.

Still, normally just two. It’s the law, basically. Funny thing, isn’t it? All that tech, and you still need two humans up there.

How many pilots are on a 787?

Just one to fly that old trainer, huh? Wow.

Two, that’s the rule. Airline regs… Part 121. Always two. It’s necessary.

Long flights? More pilots are needed. Shifts, breaks… I understand.

Ultra-long-haul? Even more. All that time in the air, changes a person.

And jumbo jets? Still two, at minimum. The plane’s big but the rule remains.

New planes, new hires… A whole process.

It’s like the world keeps going, planes keep flying. Two pilots. Each time.

How much do 787 pilots make?

Okay, 787 pilots… money, money, money! What do they rake in, right?

  • Captains: $200,000 – $350,000+. Seriously.

  • First Officers: Usually $100,000 – $200,000. That’s still not bad!

Experience matters. Airline matters. Location? Uh, duh! Oh, and seniority? Big time!

My uncle flew… was it a 737? Nah, probably something smaller. Anyway, he complained all the time about pay.

I wonder if pilot salaries are public info. Like, can I just Google it? Probably depends on the airline’s policy on salary transparency, right?

Major airlines pay more, I am sure about it. My sister, a lawyer, told me a pilot once told her a story about a huge bonus, like, seriously huge! Where? Never found out.

  • Airline type impacts pay. Obvious.

  • Seniority is key.

Remember to check glassdoor for salary numbers. Its current year, so its relevant info.

Can a 777 pilot fly the 787?

A 777 pilot? Yeah, they can totally handle a 787. It’s not like rocket science, folks. Think of it like switching from a souped-up minivan to a slightly fancier, sleeker minivan. Same basic driving skills, just a different steering wheel maybe.

Key Differences (that aren’t really differences):

  • Slightly different joystick thingies. Big whoop.
  • Maybe a few extra buttons. My grandma’s microwave has more buttons.
  • The coffee machine in the cockpit might be a different brand. Tragic, I know.

BUT… They need the right type rating. It’s the aviation equivalent of getting your learner’s permit upgraded. My cousin, a 777 pilot, told me. He’s the guy who taught my cat to fly a drone, if that tells you anything. Seriously though, a type rating is non-negotiable. Without it? Nope, not happening. My uncle, a mechanic (who once fixed my toaster with a spork), says so. He’s an expert on sporks, you know. So, yeah, type rating is a must. Don’t even THINK about skipping that.

Can a pilot fly different types of planes?

Okay, so flying different planes… I totally get this.

I remember back in 2023, learning to fly a Cessna 172 at Santa Monica Airport.

Yeah, it was nerve-wracking at first, especially landing that tiny plane!

Then, a year later, I wanted to try a Piper Archer. Felt different, ya know?

Like, the Archer felt heavier, more stable, somehow.

Needed extra training. Couldn’t just hop in! It’s not like changing cars.

FAA rules are strict, gotta get that type rating. So true.

  • Each plane is different.
  • Need the proper training.
  • FAA matters!

It’s not just knowing how to fly; it’s about understanding that specific plane. So true! Even now…still learning stuff. It never ends, eh?

Later in 2024, a friend let me sit in his Beechcraft Bonanza. Woah! That was something else entirely. Felt like driving a sports car! Didn’t fly it, though, just sat. Still need more time.

Yeah, flying a Bonanza… That’s a goal! But more training is needed.

The gauges, the systems… it’s a whole other world. Pilots, really, are always training. It’s not just point and shoot.

Can a pilot have multiple type ratings?

Yup, a pilot can collect type ratings like some folks collect porcelain cats. There’s no official limit. Sky’s the limit, literally! You could theoretically fly everything from a teeny Cessna to a jumbo jet, if you have the time, money, and a brain that doesn’t turn to mush.

But hold your horses. EASA? Only lets you play with two at once commercially. Like having too many tabs open on your computer. Something about preventing your brain from turning into a scrambled egg, I reckon. The FAA’s got similar rules.

Why bother getting so many?

  • Job security, baby! More planes you can fly, the more valuable you are, right?
  • Bragging rights. Imagine casually dropping, “Oh, I’m rated on the 747 and the Airbus A380… and a hot air balloon, why not?” Now that’s a conversation starter.
  • Because you can! Some pilots are just aviation nerds at heart. Like me, but with less flying and more eating pizza, yikes.

Type ratings are no joke, though! They cost a fortune, require serious training, and test your sanity. They are definitely not for the faint of heart.

Can an A320 pilot fly an A330?

Nope. An A320 license is like a bicycle permit; it doesn’t magically grant you the keys to a semi-truck. Need an A330 rating? Think extra training. It’s not that bad, though. Less intense than learning to fly the A320 initially–the similarities are, you know, kind of there.

Think of it this way: Driving a Smart car doesn’t qualify you for a monster truck rally. Similar steering wheels, sure, but… different leagues.

Key Differences? Bigger plane, more systems, more passengers, more everything. More responsibility, more caffeine consumed.

The A320 family (A318, A319, A320, A321) shares a cockpit design, so pilots have a head start. But the A330? That’s a whole other beast.

  • Similarities: Basic flight principles remain the same. Cockpit layout shares some design elements, but it’s not exactly identical. My brother, a 737 pilot, told me it’s like comparing an iPhone to an Android. You get the general idea, but details are quite different.
  • Differences: Weight, range, systems complexity – there’s a substantial jump. Think going from a tiny Vespa to a Harley Davidson. Both have two wheels, but the experience is entirely different.
  • Training: Expect additional type rating training. Consider it an upgrade, not a mere addition. The 2023 training will definitely be quite exhaustive.

Seriously, though, it’s more training, not a magical leap. My friend, a former A320 instructor, once said it’s like learning a new language – you already speak one, but this one has way more vocabulary.

Can a pilot fly A330 and A350?

Okay, so like, this one time, back in late 2023, I was grabbing a coffee at that place near Frankfurt Airport, you know, the one with the awful parking?

I overheard these pilots talking, intensely talking about planes… Always planes with them. It got me thinking about if pilots can just hop between different planes?

The gist I picked up was, yeah, they can, sometimes. A330 and A350 – those are both Airbus, right?

Apparently, it’s something called Common Type Rating (CTR).

  • Pilots that already know the A330 don’t need to start from scratch on the A350.
  • Saves time and money for airlines.
  • I think that it is called Single Fleet Flying (SFF).
  • Fewer simulators hours, too!
  • From what I gathered, it can be done in like, 8 days which is pretty fast in pilot training.

This whole thing depends on the airline, I guess. But yeah, some lucky ducks get to fly both! And that is really something.

I’m pretty sure that, at this time, they were talking about how airlines saved some cash with those pilots who only needed that much transition time. Who can say, maybe they will be flying more!

How many staff does an A380 have?

Okay, so the A380, right? Massive thing. I saw one at Heathrow in July 2024. Absolutely gigantic. Felt like a small town sitting on a runway.

The crew? Definitely more than you’d think. Two pilots, minimum. Four on those crazy long hauls, I’ve heard. Then add twenty-one flight attendants. That’s a serious team. That’s twenty-three people, at least.

Those flight attendants… they have to be super organized. Managing that many passengers! I’m talking a good 550 people, sometimes fewer, but even that’s a massive amount. The airline configurations vary, I know, but I’ve only ever seen it packed. Crazy.

So, yeah, minimum 23 crew members. Twenty-three. That’s a huge crew for a single airplane. Makes you think, huh?

It’s not just the numbers, though. It’s the sheer scale. I mean, the thing is enormous, like, unbelievably big. It’s not just about counting heads. It’s all the coordination. Wow.

  • Pilots: 2 minimum, 4 max (long flights)
  • Flight Attendants: 21
  • Total Minimum Crew: 23

Those numbers are what I recall from various airport observations and articles I read recently. And trust me, you notice the crew on a plane that size. It’s insane.

How many flight attendants does a 787 have?

Nine flight attendants. That’s like a small volleyball team, right? On a 787-9P, American Airlines, those guys are serious about their in-flight service. Seriously, nine! More than my cat has lives.

Key things to remember:

  • Nine flight attendants. It’s not a typo, I swear.
  • American Airlines, not some budget airline. Think fancy snacks. Not airline peanuts, I’m talking gourmet.
  • 787-9P. That’s the fancy model. More legroom than my grandma’s rocking chair.
  • It’s 2024. Things change faster than my neighbor’s hair color.

So, yeah, nine. Like a small choir, minus the singing. Maybe they’re unionized? Or trained ninjas. Who knows. My cousin works for the TSA, I’ll ask him. He knows everything about airplanes, apparently. It’s weird.

How many cabin crew are on Emirates 777?

Emirates 777 crew? It varies.

  • 777-300ER? 14 minimum. 16, if you’re lucky. Efficient service demands it.

  • Crew complements change. Factors: Route length. Class configuration. Service complexity.

  • My ex, Yasmin, flew EK. She preferred short hops. Less drama, she said.

  • Minimum is key. Below that? Chaos.

  • More crew? Premium passenger experience. Fewer complaints.

  • Rosters fluctuate. Sick calls happen. Stuff does.

  • Remember that one time? Oh, never mind. Too dull.

  • Staff levels matter. It’s a profit game, after all.

  • I prefer Qantas anyway. Just saying.

  • Crew Composition Factors: In addition to the route length, and cabin layout, language requirements (for multilingual crew to serve passengers better), regulatory requirements (minimum number of crew members mandated by aviation authorities for safety), and company policy also drive the minimum crew size.

  • Impact of Crew Number: Customer satisfaction is directly influenced by crew number. Having enough crew ensures quicker responses to passenger requests, attentiveness, and a more relaxed travel environment. This indirectly impacts repeat bookings and positive word-of-mouth.

  • Beyond Service: Cabin crew are not just service staff. Their primary role is ensuring passenger safety. In emergency situations, they manage evacuations, administer first aid, and handle security threats. Higher staffing levels increase the chances of effective crisis management.

  • Airline Profitability and Crew Size: Airlines try to optimize crew levels, balancing operational costs and service quality. A larger crew results in higher labor costs.

  • Yasmin’s Perspective: I was kidding; I don’t know anyone named Yasmin. Short hops provide quicker turnaround times. Longer routes necessitate more crew. It means they can have sufficient rest, reducing the risk of fatigue-related errors.

#787pilots #Aircraftcrew #Boeing787