Block Hours
Block Hours refers to the time measurement used in the airline industry to track how long a flight takes from the moment the aircraft starts moving from the departure gate ('blocks off') until it arrives at the destination gate ('blocks on'). This term is important because it's used to calculate pilot and crew work time, determine flight costs, and measure airline efficiency. When you see this term in resumes, it usually indicates experience with flight operations, crew scheduling, or airline management. It's similar to how other industries might track 'billable hours' or 'working hours,' but specifically for aviation operations.
Examples in Resumes
Managed crew schedules accounting for over 1,000 Block Hours per month
Optimized flight operations resulting in 15% reduction in Block Hours
Supervised flight operations totaling 5,000 Block Hours annually
Typical job title: "Airline Operations Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Airline Operations Managers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you optimize block hours to improve operational efficiency?
Expected Answer: A senior manager should discuss strategies like improving turnaround times, efficient crew scheduling, route optimization, and how these factors impact overall airline costs and revenue.
Q: How do block hours impact crew scheduling and regulatory compliance?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of FAA regulations, crew duty time limitations, and how to balance operational efficiency with safety requirements and labor agreements.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors can affect block hours and how do you account for them?
Expected Answer: Should mention weather conditions, airport congestion, seasonal variations, and how these factors are considered in flight planning and scheduling.
Q: How do you manage disruptions that impact block hours?
Expected Answer: Should explain handling weather delays, mechanical issues, crew availability problems, and their impact on scheduled block hours.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between block hours and flight hours?
Expected Answer: Should explain that block hours include all time from gate departure to arrival, while flight hours only count actual time in the air.
Q: How are block hours recorded and tracked?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic systems used to log block times, standard reporting procedures, and why accurate tracking is important.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of flight operations
- Familiarity with scheduling software
- Knowledge of aviation terminology
- Basic report generation and data entry
Mid (2-5 years)
- Block time analysis and reporting
- Crew scheduling optimization
- Flight planning and coordination
- Understanding of aviation regulations
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic operations planning
- Resource optimization
- Team management
- Budget and performance analysis
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic aviation terminology
- Lack of understanding of FAA regulations
- No experience with airline scheduling systems
- Unable to explain relationship between block hours and operational costs
Related Terms
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