Originally Posted by
Valiant
Hi guys. Been busy past few days. I've had some more queries pop into my mind some of em. You might've already addressed. But here they are.
If you live in base are you home more often?? (Compared to commuting)
Yes. Extreme example at some airlines, at some bases, a senior pilot can do day trips, so home every night.
Originally Posted by
Valiant
Do you reach a point in your career/seniority that you can minimize days away from home by clever bidding and seniority obv??
Generally, yes. Senior schedules will typically have more days off.
Also seniority will allow selective bidding of trips which are commutable, ie start late enough on day one day one and end early enough on the last day that you can commute same day on both ends. But some airlines do not have trips which are commutable on both ends.
Originally Posted by
Valiant
Just how do pilots cope with being away from home?? Especially if you have young wife and kids.
Like anyone else who travels, salesman, military, oil worker, even firefighters. Actually the spouse is the one who needs to be able to cope.
Daily phone check-in with the family is nice. You can also spend your downtime on the road taking care of as much personal/family admin as possible so you have more time for the fam when home. You really don't need to binge watch TV on every single layover. I actually watch TV at the hotel only if I run out of admin and have already worked out.