Flying hours in a career

[Bushranger]

I have been researching a bit of Australian history and I came across a Dutch pilot that had 24,000 hours in his career.
I would like an opinion as whether that is exceptional or not?
As background this guy started flying in WWI, was perhaps a commercial pilot between the wars, and was considered too old for combat duties in WWII so became a transport pilot. I know I have gone down a rabbit hole here but I will try and find more about him.
Thanks in anticipation,
David

 

[Human]

Welcome to AFF @Bushranger !

You won’t find a more knowledgeable group of people than on this site, so I’m sure you’ll be able to find a lot of answers to your questions!

As for your specific question, we have an “Ask the Pilot” thread — maybe pose it there?

Thread 'Ask The Pilot'

Jun 1, 2011

INDEX TO SPECIFIC POSTS/TOPICS: Index of Popular "Ask The Pilot" Topics | Australian Frequent Flyer

---

It has been suggested that we have a place where members can ask questions they always wanted to ask a pilot. We have several qualified pilots amongst the AFF membership and this is an opportunity to ask questions related to flying experiences, flying activities, how aircraft work, or anything relating to the life of a pilot (well, maybe not anything ).

Please be aware that all members of AFF are voluntary members of the community and nobody is expected or required to...

• NM
• Replies: 18,765
• Forum: Aviation Enthusiast Discussion

• 

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As a starter for ten, max commercial pilot hours are somewhere in the range of 90-100 hours a month, give or take, and 900-1000 hours a year, give or take.

So 24000 hours you’d expect to be ‘somewhere around’ 24 years of flying.

That’s current regulation around the world in developed countries. Back around WWI there may not have been such limits. Flights back then would also have been much shorter, and there are only so many flights you could do in a day. So it may represent many more years than that!

 

[p--and--t]

Prior to modern era regulations and especially during war years I would imagine it would be far easier than recent decades to amass that many hours. As above, the pilots thread may give you modern pilots experiences.

I saw some references on the net where to become a captain it was usual to have 5-7000hrs but more recently that has gone by the wayside with some carriers.

 

[markis10]

Prior to modern era regulations and especially during war years I would imagine it would be far easier than recent decades to amass that many hours. As above, the pilots thread may give you modern pilots experiences.

Depends on what they do, Steve @ Nomadic has over 20K at present.

 

[Rabs97]

As a starter for ten, max commercial pilot hours are somewhere in the range of 90-100 hours a month, give or take, and 900-1000 hours a year, give or take.

So 24000 hours you’d expect to be ‘somewhere around’ 24 years of flying.

Thats assuming you work maximum hours every month every year for 24 years. With no breaks for leave, training or downturns. Pilots flying in charter or FIFO generally do less hours than RPT. Long haul pilots spend a lot of their ”flying hours” asleep in a crew rest bunk which may or may not be counted toward total time depending on airline. Some may take part time options, some may give away work to others who want the hours more. And then events like Covid where hours drop dramatically.

Realistically as a full time airline pilot in Australia can expect to fly between 700-900hrs per year depending on how busy the airline is or how busy they choose to be. Giving training, leave and career breaks an “average” pilot who spends a career from their early 20s to age 65 will amass roughly between 25-30,0000hrs.

 

[Rabs97]

Prior to modern era regulations and especially during war years I would imagine it would be far easier than recent decades to amass that many hours. As above, the pilots thread may give you modern pilots experiences.

I saw some references on the net where to become a captain it was usual to have 5-7000hrs but more recently that has gone by the wayside with some carriers.

Some carriers (more LCCs) have promoted Captains 737/320 with 3000hrs total, approx 3.5 years flying and age mid 20s. Legacy carriers usually have a longer wait, but some pilots who got lucky to join right before rapid expansion have been promoted at similar timeframes.

 

[prozac]

Founder of Whitworth Aviation at Bankstown, Bill Whitowrth, IIRC had 30,000hrs to his credit. Bill trained many, many commercial pilots to local and international airlines. A legend in the industry.
24,000hrs is getting up there into an elite group IMO.

 

[Bushranger]

Thank you all for your comments. Useful information. I am still impressed that this pilot had so many hours in the early years of aviation when long haul flights were not common.

 

[prozac]

I have been researching a bit of Australian history and I came across a Dutch pilot that had 24,000 hours in his career.
I would like an opinion as whether that is exceptional or not?
As background this guy started flying in WWI, was perhaps a commercial pilot between the wars, and was considered too old for combat duties in WWII so became a transport pilot. I know I have gone down a rabbit hole here but I will try and find more about him.
Thanks in anticipation,
David

When the war started many Dutch became the 4th ally. MacArthur said without the Dutch Australia would have been invaded by Japan. Dutch SAS were based in Perth, submarines in Fremantle, international merchant ships at Garden Island in Sydney, the Dutch airforce, all over. There are significant accounts of the raid on Broome in 1942 when Dutch seaplanes evacuating civilians from Indonesia were straffed by Japanese fighter planes in Broome and many unarmed civilians were ruthlessly killed.

- Allies in adversity, Australia and the Dutch in the Pacific War: The Japanese raid on Broome | Australian War Memorial
- Dutch casualties during the attack on Broom 3-3-1942

 

[markis10]

Founder of Whitworth Aviation at Bankstown, Bill Whitowrth, IIRC had 30,000hrs to his credit. Bill trained many, many commercial pilots to local and international airlines. A legend in the industry.
24,000hrs is getting up there into an elite group IMO.

As a former Bankstown ATC can confirm Bill was a legend, and a very good operator, never had any issues with his planes or pilots, some other Bankstown operators….grrr

Bill has 35000 hours btw, sold his business to the Chinese in 2017