On board each airline flight, a small group of pilots and flight attendants are responsible for the safety and comfort of the passengers. But each of these crew members are one of hundreds or thousands of pilots and flight attendants at the airline.
Travelers expect their flights to be properly staffed, but the task is more complicated than it sounds. There is a dedicated team of crew schedulers at each airline working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that each flight has the necessary crew to operate.
The job of an airline crew schedule can be challenging but rewarding. Here is what you need to know about being an airline crew scheduler.
What Does an Airline Crew Scheduler Do?
Crew schedulers coordinate and schedule pilots and flight attendants for an airline’s flights, in line with legal requirements and company policies. They are responsible for ensuring that each flight has the proper crew members on board.
At the same time, crew schedulers must ensure that crew members are also being taken care of, ensuring that they do not exceed their allowed working hours and get the necessary rest between shifts. These requirements are set out in government regulations, company policies, and employee collective agreements.
Not only does a flight require a specific number of crew members, but the assigned pilots and flight attendants must be qualified to work that flight. For example, pilots are typically only trained to fly one type or one family of aircraft at a time. At some airlines, flight attendants can fly on all aircraft, but other airlines train their flight attendants on specific aircraft. Crew schedulers therefore must ensure that the assigned crew have the necessary qualifications for a particular flight.
Although many basic scheduling functions are now typically handled by computer software, crew schedulers play an important role when it comes to schedule changes and irregular operations. Crew schedulers handle last-minute schedule changes and monitor scheduling conflicts and issues as they arise.
What Skills Do You Need to Be an Airline Crew Scheduler?
The work environment of a crew scheduler can be challenging and dynamic, particularly when there are many scheduling issues that arise throughout an airline’s network. Crew schedulers therefore need to be able to work well under pressure and have the ability to balance multiple tasks. Similarly, they should be flexible and adaptable.
Given the important legal and safety requirements at play, crew schedulers need to be detail-oriented in their work. The task of scheduling crew members also requires strong analytical and problem-making skills. Crew schedulers will need to be able to analyze problems and make decisions, sometimes in high-pressure situations. At many airlines, crew schedulers work 24/7 and therefore must be willing to work evenings, overnight, and on weekends.
Crew schedulers work closely not just with flight attendants and pilots, but also with other employees at the airline. This means that they need to have strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Since scheduling functions are typically managed through computer systems these days, crew schedulers will also need strong computer skills. Companies typically see previous airline experience and knowledge as an asset as well.
How Much Do Airline Crew Schedulers Get Paid?
The pay for an airline crew scheduler varies between airlines, but pay rates generally range from $20 to $30 an hour, which translates to $40,000 to $50,000 per year. There will typically also be opportunities for career development and progression within the airline.
