Originally Posted by
sfitz
I am considering an airline pilot job but have some questions about how much time I can expect to be away from my family. (I'm at about 550 hours now and instructing, so hope to get my ATP in the next year or two)
How probable is it to fly for a regional airline and be away less than 7 nights a month if I do not commute? Are there certain airlines that are better for this than others? I'm assuming that the less you are away the less money you'll be able to make (in picking up trips, etc. ).
I would appreciate any advice concerning the time away aspect. I know the pay is low for the first few years, but hopefully with a military retirement I can make up for that.
Thank you!
Sfitz,
Living in base is
the key to being out of your own bed as little as possible. That said, if you don't think you can handle living out of a suitcase for 15-20 nights a month, you will
NOT last long as an airline pilot. The job description is simple: travel. That means a lot of nights in hotel rooms, a lot of nights waking up and having no clue where you are; walking into walls on the way to the bathroom; not getting home when you planned; missing family time, and on and on.
I don't usually try to dissuade people, but you will be
years away from this kind of schedule, and that's if your company--when you are eventually hired--even has them. FAR 117 has made it much harder to schedule these kinds of trips, so if for some reason you don't want to be away from home more than 2 nights a week, or can't be away from home more than 2 nights a week (say, if you have a special needs kid, an elderly parent that needs help, etc.), you need to consider another line of work. Even in the airlines, there are jobs that don't require travel.
If I may be so bold, is this question based on a genuine need, or is this just something you prefer?