What Happens When You Become A "Line-Holding" Airline Pilot? 

There’s a lot more behind line-holding to talk about - especially bidding! That’ll be covered in a future video. What else do you want to learn about this job?

Congratulations on becoming a line holding pilot!.

Great video! You make me want to become an airline pilot and you make it so fun. 💯

KCAK is a great airport. Always enjoyed stopping in there. Love seeing your progress. Keep up the awesome work~

What flight training class did you take? I was thinking of going into the AirForce Academy for free training but do you have any suggestions I could do? 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ Btw love you vids and keep up the good work on your videos and inspiring people to be a pilot!!👍👍❤️

Interesting, very different from how most airlines work in europe. "Reserve pilots" don't exist in my company. We usually get 3-6 days of flying out of our homebase and 2-4 days off after that (total of 60-100 block hours per month with a fix monthly salary plus some expenses on workdays). Sometimes we get a block or 2 of 1-3 days of reserve per month (everyone does that, from the most junior to the most senior pilot).

Great Video Swayne!! Thanks for all the great advice

Hi Swayne, Im starting my training this October at American Flyers, watching your videos makes me more anxious to start!

Hey! Great video as usual!😁

Congrats First Officer Swayne! I hope to run into you around your base or anywhere else!

How much did it cost to become an airline pilot, also what do you recommend for becoming a commercial pilot from PPL, I'm currrently at 0, I'm doing ground school online, but this journey seems daunting (monetarily speaking).

You are incredibly professional. Thank you for all that you share. I look forward to hearing your name announced when flying. Congrats on line holding.

A little bit more Flight Simulator and I'm gonna be a line-holder.

Congratulations on becoming a line-holder. What I enjoy about your videos is the consistent equal treatment of all the topics you cover. The attention and intention is evident for covering every topic comprehensively, from learning how to fly, to how to become a professional pilot, to cockpit-resource-management, to understanding crew scheduling, to walking around the plane holding a checklist, etc. Under U.S. FAA FAR 91.3, The "Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft." That's a big responsibility, and your videos translate and inspire to whatever your viewer's area-of-focus and responsibility may be.

Swayne, you mentioned "using two of the four commuter hotels for the month." Can you explain what commuter hotels are? Does Envoy pay for up to four hotels a month for enable commuters like you? What are the limits to this benefit?

Hey, bro. I have been watching your "youtube' page for a while. I'm very proud of you. Congratulation on being an pilot. Look like I will be starting my plan in March of 2020. Private pilot licence. I can't believe I'm doing this!!!

I’m not even a pilot but I still hang on every word. Swayne, you’re fascinating.

Swayne I have no interest in becoming a pilot but I love learning all about your journey. Congrats!

Awesome video! Line holding and reserve can be debatable pending on who you fly for and if you live near base or commute. I can definitely seeing line-holding as being a benefit to commuters, but being near base reserve my improve QOL due to being at home while still on call. Keep up the great work Swayne and thank you Envoy for allowing him to create such great content! I look forward to joining the regionals in a couple years!

I love your videos. I’m 14 and I want to be a pilot with a PhD in aviation and your videos teach me a lot about the long process! Thx

Great video Swayne! Quick question what do you think about Envoy backing out from the Agreement in Principle and keeping Envoy as one of the lowest paid regionals?

Your routes are all ORD based but you're showing DFW. Immersion ruined!

Why won't the airline permit filming while flying Part 121? I would think Part 91 flights would be very few and far between.

I'm learning so much about the workings of airline pilots. Thanks!

Hey Swayne, hope all is well!! I’ve been following your journey since the beginning, and you have motivated me to begin a journey of my own! I’m 19 years old as of February, and I have got my COMM Single and going for my CFI INITIAL in two days!! I plan on ending with my CFII with multi, and my COMM multi! I was wondering if it would be possible to get in contact with you, and maybe get some guidance and advice! Thank you, keep up the great work!

Love the Videos Swayne Martin , Want to give thanks to Envoy Air Inc for allowing you to make the cockpit videos.

Hey Swayne! Excellent videos! You have helped me learn tons and decid on what I want to become when I grow up! Can you do a video on how you pack for 3 day trips and what you take on your flightbag ? Thanks!

Hope you start flying larger planes soon

Hello! Great video! I want to be a pilot when I grow up!👨🏻‍✈️ Edit: Also I am 9

Excellent video

Are you writing scripts for your videos? because they are awesome! 🔥

Congrats on being a line-holder. Your videos are amazing and you and Envoy for sharing behind the scenes of a line-holder pilot.

HOW ABOUT A REAL SIDE TO SIDE COMPARISON ON PAY, RESERVE RULES, DAYS OFF, OVERTIME PAY PREMIUM,MIN DAY GUARANTEE, HEALTH CARE COST, WORK RULES, CONTRACTS AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE WITH OTHER REGIONALS. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE GIVING INFO OUT WHY NOT TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH.

Thanks for the always high quality videos. Congratulations on your line position!

Congrats! Swayne if you were ever offered a private corporate Pilot job would you consider it?

You really have everything planned out nice video

Ah-MAZ!NG VIDEO Keep up the goooO.Ooood work, man!

Great video and congrats! One question: Do you Film with the GoPro using the Large FOV (no fisheye) or do you remove the fisheye in postproduction? Cheers and happy landings!

Proud of you Swayne, keep up the great work.

Do you ever fly the PHL to JFK/JFK (everybody knows this one) to PHL (Philadelphia) route? Edit: It's an Envoy Air ERJ140 on American Eagle

I’ve been here since you started your channel and it’s been a pleasure watching you grow as a pilot! Your one of my inspirations to learn to fly! Let me know the next time you come to Ft. Smith regional, or Tulsa international

How about those Envoy contract negotiations?

June 15th 2019 Fellow Pilots, On Tuesday I signed an Agreement in Principle, along with the Envoy Senior Labor Relations Counsel and management's lead negotiator, to secure a comprehensive compensation improvement package for the pilots at Envoy. The Agreement in Principle was reached following a day of intense negotiations and was predicated on previous negotiating meetings. In preparing for the final round of negotiations it was made clear that neither the MEC, nor the pilots at Envoy, would accept any deal which left us lagging in compensation or had concessions attached to compensation improvements. Once an Agreement in Principle is signed, the significant terms of an agreement are in place and the negotiating process is essentially over, with the tenets of the deal in place. The next step is drafting and editing contract language implementing the essential terms of the agreement. Sometimes this drafting process takes time, however Envoy management seemed determined to alleviate the mounting pressure they are experiencing to increase compensation and quality of life at Envoy due to the recent ratification of pay rate increases at Piedmont, as well as the PSA deal that was inked in early April. As such, we expected a language pass to be presented to us quickly. After the Agreement in Principle was signed, I called an MEC meeting via teleconference for Wednesday night in anticipation that draft contract language would be prepared and ready for evaluation by the MEC. On Wednesday, the Company sent their first language pass derived from the Agreement in Principle that was signed by both parties on Tuesday. The language arrived less than two hours prior to the MEC teleconference, so there was not adequate time to thoroughly review and make technical corrections to the language reflecting our agreement prior to the teleconference. During the teleconference I updated the MEC on the progress of negotiations. Although the Agreement in Principle doesn't provide every provision we were seeking, it is a document that we found satisfactory and agreed to, and one that I believe the MEC would ratify. The Agreement in Principle that Envoy management and your MEC Chairman agreed to includes many positive provisions for the pilots at Envoy without concessions. Some of the highlights are below: Pay rates would be increased to a level slightly higher than those at PSA with retroactivity to May 15. Pay-out upon flow through or retirement of accrued sick banks Improvements to Reserve work rules which provide increased time off and more predictability A reduction of pilot contribution to health care costs Several Letters of Intent and agreements including Grievance Settlements which would provide a remedy for the affected pilots All the recent progress came to a screeching halt late on Friday afternoon. On Thursday, the MEC Officers, Contract Compliance Committee Chairman, and Envoy ALPA Senior Labor Relations Counsel worked throughout the day to vet and edit the language pass from the company. Late Thursday, we transmitted our revised language, which consisted of minor edits and clean-ups, back to the Company for their review. Then on Friday, I was told by Management's lead negotiator that the Company would be backing out of the Agreement in Principle that was agreed to earlier this week. The excuse given was that AAG had told Envoy management that they had exceeded their authority. At no time during this round of negotiations, and at no time before the Company signed the AIP on Tuesday, did Envoy indicate that their authority was limited or subject to the veto of AAG. This after the fact excuse to welsh on our agreement is in no way consistent with good faith negotiations. This isn't the first time that our management has demonstrated bad faith in negotiations - a recent example being the failed Reserve Rules change proposals from negotiations ending in January. However, the impact of management reneging on this Agreement in Principle is far more damaging. The credibility of our management has been completely undermined by their actions this week, leaving us unable to trust that they will follow through on future agreements. This behavior is unacceptable. Whether or not AAG is stepping in to rescind our agreement, or Envoy management ever actually conferred with AAG when they claimed to, is immaterial at this point. They made an agreement and are now repudiating it in bad faith. We cannot continue to pursue good faith negotiations with a management team that is incapable of following through on the agreements they make with the Association. Envoy management is either unable to identify the mounting challenges facing the viability of the operation, or they are engaged in an effort to turn the pilots against their representatives in a desperate attempt at union busting. It is often assumed that management's actions are nefarious, but this week's events demonstrate that they simply are not committed to negotiate in good faith. Only when AAG recognizes and acknowledges that the pilots of Envoy demand an agreement that provides pay parity relative to the industry measured in real compensation, and not just pay rate tables, will it be possible for us to view it as a partner acting in good faith to offer a career path that meets industry standards. My profound disappointment in our management is shared by your LEC Representatives, the other MEC Officers, and volunteers who work tirelessly to represent the best interests of the pilot group day in and day out. Originally, when we sent our update last Friday, a communication explaining why we hadn't come to an agreement was in development and slated for distribution. We determined that the signing of an Agreement in Principle, which represented the framework for tangible, durable, ratifiable, and much needed compensation improvements, eliminated the need to distribute that communication. Now that the company has reneged on the signed Agreement in Principle, it seems prudent to share with the pilot group the reasons why we are where we are. Following the transmittal of this update, we are also distributing a communication which was originally slated for distribution earlier this week. You have the right to be angry. You have the right to be disappointed. Your management has failed you yet again. You deserve proper compensation. You deserve acceptable work rules. Your Local Representatives are advocating for you tirelessly. Your Officers and Committee Volunteers continue to focus on providing the services the pilots require. I will not rest in my representation of the pilot group, my responsibility and duty to you. It is never pleasant to be the bearer of bad news. Today marks the latest unwarranted disparagement of Envoy Pilots in a series of adversarial and toxic interactions initiated by Envoy management. We ask you in the meantime to continue to exhibit professionalism. In Unity, Steven Pallai

It’s a pleasure watching your videos. Very informative and fun. You pull people in and keep them! Good luck with your career. I will enjoy following you and seeing where you go...up up and away!

How much are you making an hour?

Excellent as always Swayne. I've been watching your videos since the beginning. Looking forward to your future journeys.

Swayne, when you say “per hour spent away from base” for Per Diem. Is it pretty much the total trip hours? Or it only starts to count after you have arrived in an non-based airport?

Your videos are getting better and better! I am hoping to meet you someday so I can achieve my dream!

Be honest Swayne, how long do you think until you fly the big jets like the 737's and will someone like me who is a C-D borderline student have a chance at all at becoming a pilot? Going into my senior year into high school!!!!

You should do a collab with captain joe

This video had help me a lot

You gonna talk about how the company just denied it's pilots even the same pay as the rest of the wholly owned AA regionals?

Going on a flight school nxt year for college, im 18 , hope it wont take too long for me , u r always my motivation please reply XD

Your videos are very informative. I hope you can continue posting these!

Surprised how okay American Airlines is okay with him filming this much access to the general public

Great video as always Where’s your buddy from your pre airline pre Hawaii career he was your captain in Hawaii What happened too him

What kind of microphone do you use that helps you quiet sound volume of everything around you minus your voice.

Congratulations on becoming a line holding pilot!.

I wanna see u fly the Airbus A380 one day when you move up the ranks

You are an awesome young man. Beautiful eyes.

I just want to say that I wish to become a pilot, and I really admire you because of what you became.✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈

You should do a Day in the life showing your full day from commute to the flights and then on to that night

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

i too will be a line holder in the month of August, i'm across the alley way in the Fox gates at Air Whiskey. it took me 7 months as well to get a line

Hi Swayne, great videos. Are you going to move up to some of the bigger aircraft with AA?

guy, I worked 65 hours alone this week.... but in a different field of work.. corrections. 2 days ot at 12.33hrs a piece.... 5 days straight plus a 3.5hr OT on friday night. corona is scary, but I choose my OT spot. I'm an assigned central control officer, probably make more than you.. but My office isnt nearly as nice, or as spectacular a view...

Another great video. Glad to be apart of the Envoy family. Can't wait to see you again at ORD. #Futurepilot

I want to hear you make an announcement in flight. Love to watch you. Thx

Hey Swayne! Do you think you will move up to American Airlines and fly the 737? That would entail kinda having to start from scratch with American correct?

How long til you think then you will transfer to a bigger airline. Also thanks for Ur vids they are amazing on the in site of the aviation industry from a pilot perspective.

I am terrified of flying absolutely terrified but I have always been fascinated with planes and flying...I have always found it impressive that pilots fly every day and have no fear

Is it possible to get a private pilots license and people not be able to search for it online? Say you are a former spouse from a abusive relationship and didn't want the ex knowing where you live? This is a serious question and I can't find the answer. Is there a way this can be done? Thanks

Do you fly the exact same plane every flight or just the same aircraft type?

I’m becoming a pilot too but in Canada! And I was surprised to find out that in the US you need a degree! We have loads of Air Canada mainline pilots flying with no post secondary!

Swayne, honest question with no ill intent intended but out of all the regionals out there, and you living in Fargo, what made you choose Envoy over the others? Do they have a flow program?

I know I’m late, Congratulations on becoming a line holder ! Check your link to your website , it may be broken, I was not able to reach it.

Are your hotels a Dollar value "allowance" or does Envoy actually partner with certain hotel brands and pay them directly? If so are they cheapo hotels???

I wonder how many people spent a good portion of their lives and money trying to accomplish this dream, got it; and realised they hate the reality of being a pilot. Gosh that would be horrible.

When is the Thunderbirds video releasing? That was you out on the flight line at Peterson AFB filming them right?

0:38 what’s that livery on the E140 called? I seem to like it.

At your airline how much difference is there in time to hold a line between bases? Also your line looked OK for what must be a very junior one. Other than weekends off is there a lot of difference between lines at the top and the bottom?

I wonder how feasible it is, for pilots to own there own smaller planes and fly home to there local regional airports, hanger there plane and catch an uber home?

So the pay is not so good when starting off in commercial aviation. What might your future pay look like staying with this airline?

Hi Swayne. Have you been given your flow date to mainline? What’s the average time for flow at Envoy right now?

What's the best way to jump start your aviation career if you're wanting to go to the airlines? Go to flight school or what??

Hi Swayne Martin can u please how a pilot earns his stripes and how many hours of flying you need to obtain each rank.

Bro we should hang out when your in Chicago! Come to six flagsb

Congratulations Swayne on becoming a Line Holder. I wish you continued success.

Just started at ATP and going to be heading to American Eagle. Do you have any tips?

Have you flown out/in of Grand Rapids Michigan

How long did it take? And is it because people are retireing and changing airlines?

14 thumbs down?! Explain yourselves! United pilots? Just kidding. Almost 1500 likes and 14 downers. Pretty good ratio there. Keep it up.

Great episode, thanks Swayne. 😃👌👌👌

I didn’t know Mark Zuckerberg flew planes for a living 😂

Wow - that speedbird 74 in the background 🥲

Congratulations on becoming a line holding pilot

Hope you enjoyed your stay at IND

I was curious to get a feel for what you make your first year or month as a line holder

Fun to see you making a trip into my hometown airport!

Congratulations!