That is a good question. Which way is the best way? That is similar to asking what are the winning lottery numbers! All kidding aside, first ask yourself.....why? Why do you want to fly? If the answer is anything but "that you would love to fly and be around airplanes etc etc", then I am going to save you years of time and heartache and vast sums of money and tell you to look elsewhere for a career.

This isn't meant to come across like a lecture, but very few ask themselves that very question. Worse, they get into aviation for the wrong reasons, with expectations, and with a rigid thought process. Look, I am not going to say go military, or go charter, or go airline....because I really don't know what you want in life. Sounds like you are proactively thinking about a future family quality of life, and that is great! How does your gf/wife feel about aviation currently. You both need to have a serious chat about what your values and beliefs are, because if your wife isnt "on board" with you being gone, then the #1 seniority postion at a SWA or a UPS wouldn't make things better!

Your wife needs to know about the many pitfalls, risks, fluctuations tha come with the aviation industry. It doesn't matter if you are military, corporate, or airline, they all are affected, and one day you can be sitting pretty, and the next be at another class starting at the bottom again.

If your wife is on board, and if you really love to fly, then I will now say that being a pilot is one of the most challenging professions that takes a high degree of commitment for your entire career. If you get into it for the love of it, then the best part is....that it will also be one of the most rewarding things that you can do professionally, and depending on what path you take, it can also be a good experience for your family as they will get to see many different things that aviation brings to your doorstep, that the average family will never get to see or experience.

Generally the best corporate job will have you flying very little with few overnights, while the worst one will have you on a pager 24/7, with ****ty equipment and get treated like **** for very little money.

The best airline job will have you living in your base, with decent pay and good amount of home time, while the worst one will have you away from home 20ish days a month, be very hard to commute to, reserve assignments that suck and have you at the very bottom of a seniority list with little to no movement making sure that your conditions prevail for longer.

As far as military, that is the one area where i dont have experience, but Im sure that if you go that route, during peacetime, it may not be so bad, but since we are in a war now....expect to be alot more active. I fly with ex military/NATO guys that flew heavies in the military and their families have had some of the best and most varied experiences around the world. Some have had children born in other countries, others still have homes in others, and other can't wait for their time to be up.

In all my friend, it is really hard to say....THIS is the best way....now go forward. You and your wife MUST know what you want for your lives, and then based on that, you may take the path that gets you there the best.
If your wife wants to experience other cultures and see the world, then perhaps the military is the best way initially. if she loves where she lives and isnt interested in seeing outside her town, then perhaps a small corporate outfit in your local airport would be the best for both of you.

I have been in aviation for 14 years and have 5 uniforms in my closet, so job security and longevity has eluded me. However, I have had the privelage of flying corporate, airline pax and "heavy" cargo. I have flown 7 different types of jets and still have the better part of 34 years before i hit 65. I am married and I am fortunate that my wife's value and beliefs are similar to mine, so that certainly makes it possible.

It's a way of life, for you and your family, which is why it really boils down to:
WHY?


hope this provides some points of thought for you and yours.