Yes! Stay away from the gold-diggers. For example, if you overhear your fiancee telling her friend how she has to find a pilot that's gonna make a lot of money like she did, it's probably not a good idea to go ahead with the wedding.

Of course, there is less "temptation" in cargo (ie. Flight Attendants if you are into that).

 

My wife told me that she had always wanted to marry a rich airline pilot. I told her I did too <G> Worked pretty well for a while. Still married, she's just not as "rich" as she used to be

 

Man. My wife is almost perfect as well. I was hoping to marry into some money myself so I could go to work for a regional airline but it turns out she doesn't have any! Oh well, like I said.....ALMOST perfect.

 

Like flying a combi?

 

dojetdriver...But have you SERIOUSLY looked at what you might consider the "temptation" these days? I think there would be more temptation flying for a cargo carrier with layovers in places like DXB, BKK, AMS, ect...

I totally agree - there's very little temptation at the pax carriers. Sometimes I wonder if the flight attendants get recruited at local AARP clubs nowadays.

Of course, we all know that the flight attendants are here for our safety…


freightpuppy...Of course, there is less "temptation" in cargo (ie. Flight Attendants if you are into that)...

I don’t know - I’ve seen some ‘smokin’ IROs!

 

While I am not in the Cargo arena yet, I am flying for a regional, and have been so for the past 6 years. A typical month for us is 4 on 2 off, with a possible extra day off to be taken away later on a junior assignment(not to bad for us though, paid time and a half for JA's). So if you go to work for a carrier with similar schedules, expect to be in your own bed with your wife only 10 days a month; otherwise, you'll be in a hotel for the other 21 days. That kind of sepparation can be(and is) rough on a marrage. My wife and I have been successfull so far at 10 years, it does however take a lot of work and sympathy to keep it going.

 

Cargo carrier pilots would have MORE temptation I think. Overseas trips, particularly to Asia...and they also have the one adult toy that seems to matter most to the opposite sex...CASH, and lots of it!

This would certainly be more tempting than the episode of "Golden Girls" that Stewardess Attendants are becoming these days.

 

Cat ranchers aren't sexy. They are a pain to share a crew van with for 10 minutes. I cannot imagine being on a weeklong trip with most of them that I have to hear.

 

I won't slap you silly, but I'll agree with PurpleTail, too. You should wait until you get that first job AFTER building a little time as a CFI. The life of a CFI will NOT be an indicator of what life as a line pilot is like. If she can tolerate the schedule and pay of that first post-CFI job then chances are she'll tolerate most other jobs (assuming the pay and schedule get better with later jobs). I've got many children and my wife is supporting me to pursue the fractionals with a 7/7 schedule.... there's a lot to be said about stability when married with children.

 

Kilgore, I am not in the freight or commercial ailrline side as yet, but I do have 18 yrs in the Canadian Air Force as a Pilot. I agree that if you can delay any commitment outside flying until life is a little more stable, DO IT! Right now you need to build marketable hours and lots of them. The only way to do this is to not be home, unless you can put wings on the house!?! I know that there is a way to balance your professional life with your personal but if you try to do it now, your goal of flying anything major will only take longer because YOU WILL sacrifice flying time for your family or you will not have a family long.

BUT if you decide to hook up anyway, be totally up front with the life style ahead (your off to a good start asking questions here). You may even stretch the truth alittle to the negative because she will never think that it is hard to be apart for 15 days-ish a month!

Good luck in your career pursuit, and remember "quality hours" are all that count.

Cheers,

Creek