Les Abend has 31 years of flying experience. Not all of them in long-haul operations. (in commuter, domestic and regional, it is easier to accumulate more hours).
So 18000/31 = 580 per year average. Probably more than that when he was flying DC-9s and less in the 767/777.
For flight experience (like when you say "how can it be a 744 captain with only 800 hours in the type?"), flight hours are counted only when an engine is up and running and you are acting as PIC or FO. Flight planning, checking weather, weight and balance, pre-flight, post-flight don't count. Also, the rest hours that you are in the plane (taking turns with other pilots) are not flight hours. Training hours don't count except the time that you are actually flying a sim. Even less do count off-duty hours, like commuting between hotels and airports, time spent in hotels away from home, etc.
So 18000/31 = 580 per year average. Probably more than that when he was flying DC-9s and less in the 767/777.
For flight experience (like when you say "how can it be a 744 captain with only 800 hours in the type?"), flight hours are counted only when an engine is up and running and you are acting as PIC or FO. Flight planning, checking weather, weight and balance, pre-flight, post-flight don't count. Also, the rest hours that you are in the plane (taking turns with other pilots) are not flight hours. Training hours don't count except the time that you are actually flying a sim. Even less do count off-duty hours, like commuting between hotels and airports, time spent in hotels away from home, etc.
Comment