Jordon11

Hi all,

I am at a crossroad and need some guidance (preferably from someone recently on at FedEx from a feeder)
I am 25 and have a baby on the way. I am about $1,000 in to schooling for private pilot with the idea of continuing on to get everything else and make it to the big boys eventually.
BUT recently I got to thinking, if I do this my daughter will be probably 6-7 before I get on at any major and kind of get settled into a schedule that isn’t so rough. I have been hearing horror story’s about guys spending 17-20 nights in different beds than at home and quite frankly that scares me. I don’t want to have to look at my daughter when she’s 18 and tell her I missed her childhood because I wanted a paycheck. Where I am at now in my head is, I can stop now gather my marbles and come back later if I am truly called to it. I believe my daughter would rather have a dad that’s present than a rich dad.

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated my wife doesn’t understand and I don’t want to stress her out by having her worry about it.

Phoenix21

Live in base and bid reserve. You’ll fly less and get paid less but you’ll be home more.

Until you’re at FedEx etc or another major, don’t go to companies known for poor quality of life.

rickair7777

x2. With just a little seniority you can greatly mitigate the schedule issues. Also select a regional with bases, fleet types and schedules which are more conducive to QOL (typically larger RJ's, flying longer legs but you'd have to research specifics for each regional being considered).

I was Mr. Mom when I was a regional FO, it can be done.

Unless YOUR Dad is a senior flight ops manager at FDX, do not get hung up on a particular major employer. Unless you're a fighter pilot with all the gucci tickets + top gun you will need to take the first good major airline job offer you get... because that may be the only offer you ever get.

Jordon11

Yeah I’ll take whatever I can get major wise. My fear is just sitting at a regional bending over backwards for hours while my daughter is getting older. No amount of money will buy back the time I lose with her. I guess, honestly, I am waiting on someone to say I won’t regret giving up this small fortune to be with my kid.

The annual medical, check rides, getting laid off ect. Just so many things that could go wrong after I spend 10 years dishing out time I don’t have to waste. Then I look up, my daughter is in high school I am a failure that lost his medical, lost time with his kid and never made it to the Majors.

galaxy flyer

Too late for any advice I’d have.

GF

Rama

The reality of the pilot life is being away from home for most jobs.
Flew long haul cargo for quite while. Tough on my wife, kids and me. At least the days off were in a row and I had no other commitments to work.
Now work for HA flying the 717 and am at home very night, but it means giving up a higher paying slot.

ZippyNH

There are jobs that are more nontraditional that get you home more....but the nature of the job lots of time away from home.
It's largely pick your poison....
Know guys who sleep at home EVERY NIGHT....but are away from 5 am till 9 pm.....or sleep in hotels 5 nights a week ....but home from 9 am till 7 pm...typical feeder cargo hours (hub based vs outstation), for typical ups/FedEx/DHL routes.
Honestly if you have this many misgivings.... doesn't sound like your lifestyle.
You might find a corporate job....that does mostly out and backs....but maybe not...they are somewhat rare, and largely go to friends of friends with experience.

TheRaven

$1000 into your private, and you’re worried about what life will be like after you pass about 8 checkrides, accumulate 1500 hrs and get hired by an airline?

If you have reservations now, I’d suggest exploring other careers. You’ll be away from home a lot, especially in the beginning, and the control over your schedule will not always be to your liking. You’ll miss Holidays, birthdays, graduations, scout meetings, little league games, proms, etc.....no matter how much control you think you ever have over your schedule, there are other forces at work that tend to flex their control at inopportune times.

Ihateusernames

If you’re just getting your private now....you ain’t going to be at a Major in 6-7 years. Sorry. As for having the child. Congrats. Maybe should have planned for that along with your aviation career. Do you have a degree. I assume yes since your expectations are 6-7 years. Good luck. Yes. You will be gone a lot. It’s being a pilot. Your kids will thank you later in life for a great QOL you can provide. Sure it sucks missing stuff but having your kids grow up in a better world will be worth it. Good luck. Seriously


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Riverside

Two threads concerning this issue? I'm sorry, but you really need to rethink your career choice.