Originally Posted by bryris

When I resigned from my last regional position, I went back to school as well and have thoroughly enjoyed the last 11 months in the pursuit of higher education. I'll be done with the program I am doing the first week of Feb. Then it'll be time to face the real world again and only time will tell what my true sanity level will settle in at as I work again in a non aviation field.

However, during my time as a regional pilot, I contemplated what life would be like on the road with little ones at home. My bro and his wife had their first kid in Dec 2007 while I was still thriving at the airline. I believe this is what spurred my thoughts on the likely lifestyle conflict.

Once I resigned in the face of the upcoming displacement/furlough, I made a pact with myself to utilize the downturn to get come professional credentials outside aviation and to have my first child - outside aviation.

I believe that there is more discomfort in the path of being a professional (commuting, especially, as I did) pilot while having your first child, to be tugged away from home by crew scheduling only to strap a jet to your ass that will haul you away from your kids at .80 the speed of sound, as compared to having the first child while at home every night and weekend, working in close proximity, etc - then deciding to go back to the airlines. I am not sure I had the ability to successfully judge what my feelings towards my wife and newborn child would be in the face of the airline lifestyle.

I am still hoping to break back into the cockpit when a good opportunity avails itself - if ever again - but one thing is for sure, kid #1 is coming out while I am NOT a professional pilot. I want to enjoy that up close and personal. You can't get that back once the opportunity has passed.