Simviation Forums

We are headhunting for one of the leading players in the air cargo service in Malaysia. They are looking for MD11 Captain with gross remuneration offer of over USD10,000 a month, MD11 Cruise Captain with gross remuneration offer of over USD5,000 a month and MD11 First Officer with gross remuneration of over USD4,000 a month. If anyone is interested, please contact me at business@hecglobal.net.

Cruise captains make more than F/Os?

Cruise captains make more than F/Os?

Unfortunately, yes. If you were to go fly as an FO for a regional, you would be making as low as 18k/year. Those 200k+ numbers you see on job websites? That's the top-right corner of the major airline's payscale, i.e. a 12+ year captain in a 747/777 flying to Italy.

Cruise captains make more than F/Os?

It makes sense - the pertinent word being Captain - even though he is only the "Cruise Captain" he is still ultimately responsible for the decision making on the flight deck and the overall safety of the aircraft and its passengers (whilst the Captain is away), hence justifying the higher rate of pay.

Cruise captains make more than F/Os?

Isn't it also true that as a cruise captain, you have been flying longer than a FO?

Unfortunately, yes. If you were to go fly as an FO for a regional, you would be making as low as 18k/year. Those 200k+ numbers you see on job websites? That's the top-right corner of the major airline's payscale, i.e. a 12+ year captain in a 747/777 flying to Italy.

Yup, I'm very well aware that regional F/Os (and most F/Os and even captains in general) make very little.  Nothing new to me.  I wasn't inferring that they were making a lot, I was just surprised that cruise captains, who require less training, were paid more.

I now see it silly to think that they'd base pay off of that, since that's not how they do it in any other job

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly is a cruise captain & what are their duties/qualifications? A search on Google only brings up references to cruise ships (on the water), not airliners.

My guess is either the guy who replaces the captain for a few hours on a long flight while he rests.
Or is the guy who relocates the empty planes.

My guess is either the guy who replaces the captain for a few hours on a long flight while he rests.

I think you're right there Craig. When I flew to Singapore at Crimbo the flight was 13 hours and there were at least 4 flight deck crew members. The captain speaking during t/o and approach was an Aussie, but during the bulk of the flight it was someone else from what I remember...

Yup Craig, you got it.  They are not authorized to fly the plane below 18,000'.

Cruise captains make more than F/Os?

LOL...now that I go back and read the first post, your question has a whole different meaning....I had at first thought you meant a cruise boat captain...my answer makes zero sense now...

LOL...now that I go back and read the first post, your question has a whole different meaning....I had at first thought you meant a cruise boat captain...my answer makes zero sense now...

HAHAHAHA!  I thought it was a bit odd!