[mschuster91]

> Even with a day or two off, that's an insanely hard schedule.

...not to mention borderline illegal. Yes on long haul flights the pilots can and do sleep, but God hope nothing ever happens.

[mantas]

That's why they had other pilots. Dickinson was flying the plane only if the schedule was loose enough.

[FabHK]

I'm wondering whether he could fly the plane with a PPL under FAR part 91, general aviation? Then he wouldn't be subject to airline rest restrictions.

[cyberferret]

Pretty sure there is a weight limit for PPL? At least I think there is here in Australia.

If memory serves me correctly, I think PPL allows you to fly aircraft up to 5700Kg MTOW. Even one of the 747 engines might bust that limit. :)

[FabHK]

From what I recall above a certain MTOW a type rating is required. So, certainly you need multi-engine category & class, the complex, high-performance, and pressurised-cabin endorsement, and a type rating, and then you could fly your 747, but only VFR :)

Here some related discussion:

https://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/266790-john-travolta-his-70...

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091129142010A...