Crew Planning
Crew Planning is a specialized area in the airline industry that focuses on organizing and scheduling flight crews (pilots and flight attendants) to ensure all flights are properly staffed. This role involves making sure airlines have the right number of qualified crew members available at the right time and place, while following safety regulations, labor laws, and union agreements. It's similar to staff scheduling in other industries, but much more complex due to aviation rules, such as maximum flight hours and required rest periods.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Crew Planning for a fleet of 50 aircraft, ensuring optimal crew utilization
Reduced crew costs by 15% through efficient Crew Planning and roster optimization
Led the implementation of new Crew Planning software for international flight operations
Coordinated Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling for 500+ flight attendants and pilots
Typical job title: "Crew Planners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Crew Planners
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Industry Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a situation where multiple crews call in sick during peak season?
Expected Answer: Should discuss contingency planning, standby crew management, and prioritization strategies while maintaining regulatory compliance and minimizing disruption to operations.
Q: What strategies have you implemented to reduce crew costs while maintaining operational efficiency?
Expected Answer: Should explain balanced approaches to optimization, including efficient pairing creation, strategic use of standby crews, and smart scheduling to minimize overnight stays while ensuring crew satisfaction.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure compliance with crew rest requirements when planning schedules?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of regulatory requirements, explain methods for tracking duty times and rest periods, and discuss tools used to maintain compliance.
Q: Explain how you would handle schedule disruptions due to weather events.
Expected Answer: Should discuss procedures for re-planning crew assignments, managing crew duty limitations, and coordinating with other departments to minimize operational impact.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic elements you need to consider when creating a crew schedule?
Expected Answer: Should mention flight times, required qualifications, rest periods, and basic regulatory requirements for duty time limitations.
Q: How would you handle a crew member's request for schedule changes?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic process for evaluating schedule change requests, checking availability of replacement crew, and ensuring compliance with basic scheduling rules.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of airline operations
- Familiarity with crew scheduling software
- Knowledge of basic aviation regulations
- Communication with crew members
Mid (2-5 years)
- Handling schedule disruptions
- Managing crew rotations
- Understanding of labor agreements
- Problem-solving during irregular operations
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic crew utilization planning
- Budget management
- Team leadership
- Process optimization
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of aviation regulations regarding crew duty times
- Lack of experience with crew scheduling software
- Poor understanding of airline operations
- Limited problem-solving abilities in high-pressure situations
