US man reveals why choosing to become a short call reserve pilot on a Boeing 787 is the best decision of his life

Flying a Boeing 787 as a short call reserve pilot might sound stressful, but for one American pilot, it turned out to be the secret to living his dream life.

Instead of constantly flying scheduled routes, the Boeing 787 pilot remained on standby, ready to report for duty if the airline needed him.

The role includes flying one of the world’s most advanced aircraft at a moment’s notice.

And according to YouTuber Garrett Ray, it completely changed how he balanced work and life.

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A short call reserve pilot can get paid without actually flying

In a recent YouTube video, Ray explained that switching from a traditional scheduled roster to a short call reserve position had been one of the most important career decisions he made.

As a reserve pilot, he needed to stay within a certain distance of the airport so he could quickly report for duty if called.

In his case, that meant living about 45 minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport and making sure he could get home quickly if necessary.

Despite being on standby, the arrangement often meant he spent more time at home than many airline pilots.

Unlike ‘line holder’ pilots who were assigned fixed schedules and routes, reserve pilots waited to be called when an airline needed someone to cover a flight.

If that call never came, they still remained on standby but were paid for their availability.

During quieter months, that could mean long stretches without actually flying.

The Boeing 787 pilot traded more money for free time

For Ray, that downtime allowed him to focus on other parts of his life.

He said he spent his free time working on personal projects, including his personal business, as well as building his social media presence.

He also did consulting work and collaborated with aviation communities, occasionally spending time around high-end flight simulators.

His daily routine often included workouts, sports, filming YouTube videos, and spending time with his dog Bella.

At the same time, he always kept his phone nearby and his flight bag packed in case he was called to report for duty.

Even though there were months when he barely flew, Ray said he still felt incredibly fortunate.

Ultimately, he said the role allowed him to pursue other ambitions while still staying connected to the cockpit.

While he might be making less money that he did before, Ray seemed to think it was worth it.

Listen to his full justification below:

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