Life as a cargo pilot?
07-10-2007, 04:19 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: C-172, Left Seat
Posts: 5
Life as a cargo pilot?
Hey guys hows it going? Im 22 and im just getting ready to go for my CFI. My goal is to hopefully fly for a cargo outfit.I heard my girlfriend talking to one of her friends about getting married and it got me thinking. I was just wondering how hard is it to be a pilot and be married. How much time do you spend at or away from home ETC? Or what is the normal work schedule for a pilot?
07-10-2007, 05:55 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
The earlier you are in your career the more difficult it is to be married. Money and benefits vary greatly so I can't be specific. It takes a special person to go along for the ride...one reason the divorce rate in the industry is as bad as it is. There is no normal schedule for a pilot. You can be home every night or gone 2-4 weeks at a pop. Depends on the airline, seniority, living in domicile, etc. Many questions can be answered by searching the board. If you want more specific answers, you'll need to ask more specific questions. If you are flying a 172 and aspire to fly for UPS or FedEx, plan a 5-10 year journey...and I'd lean more towards the 10 side.
07-10-2007, 07:16 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 519
Your 22! What the F*%# are you even doing saying the "M" word! I otta slap you silly son!
You have two choices IMHO, be single until you get hired by a major or marry rich. If she is the one just make sure she can hold down the fort while your on the road and DON'T ever ever ever ever tell her how easy your job easy!
Ok seriously...its tough. She has to be a strong women, be able to be a single mother half the month and you gotta be able to trust her while your gone and vice versa.
You still thinking about it now!?!?
You have two choices IMHO, be single until you get hired by a major or marry rich. If she is the one just make sure she can hold down the fort while your on the road and DON'T ever ever ever ever tell her how easy your job easy!
Ok seriously...its tough. She has to be a strong women, be able to be a single mother half the month and you gotta be able to trust her while your gone and vice versa.
You still thinking about it now!?!?
07-10-2007, 09:12 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,333
Originally Posted by Kilgore112
Hey guys hows it going? Im 22 and im just getting ready to go for my CFI. My goal is to hopefully fly for a cargo outfit.I heard my girlfriend talking to one of her friends about getting married and it got me thinking. I was just wondering how hard is it to be a pilot and be married. How much time do you spend at or away from home ETC? Or what is the normal work schedule for a pilot?
I am not married so what do I know? (
) however since you posted your question in a cargo forum I wanna clarify that I believe there's no difference between a passenger pilot and a cargo pilot career as far as difficulties in having a "normal married life." Both types of flying are not very “family friendly,” however it can be done. At least several of my friends will vouch for it. 
Just stay away from gold-diggers...
07-10-2007, 10:23 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: DD->DH->RU/XE soon to be EV
Posts: 3,732
Originally Posted by 767pilot
Might be easier for a guy to stay married at a freight carrier as there is less temptation on the job. Unless of course you go both ways <G>
I think there would be more temptation flying for a cargo carrier with layovers in places like DXB, BKK, AMS, ect.
07-11-2007, 05:52 AM
#9
Flying Farmer
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Turbo-props' and John Deere's
Posts: 3,160
Your life as a pilot has only begun. I was already "Seriously" involved when I got my first CFI job(5hrs away). So after a year and a half of that, only seeing her every 2-3 weeks, I moved closer(1.5hrs). Then we did get married last november, but it was still as if we were long distance with where her job was etc.... Now she quit that and is going back to school, and after 6 months of marriage, we are actually living together full time like a normal couple. This is a total of 3 years after I graduated, and a year after she got out. I CFI'd for 1.5yrs, then have been flying for a 135 the last yr and a half. Just got a new job, so it'll keep me home even more so. Eventually things fall into place.
07-11-2007, 07:21 AM
#10
Freightmama!
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 757/767 FO
Posts: 2,880
Originally Posted by PurpleTail
Your 22! What the F*%# are you even doing saying the "M" word! I otta slap you silly son!
You have two choices IMHO, be single until you get hired by a major or marry rich. If she is the one just make sure she can hold down the fort while your on the road and DON'T ever ever ever ever tell her how easy your job easy!
Ok seriously...its tough. She has to be a strong women, be able to be a single mother half the month and you gotta be able to trust her while your gone and vice versa.
You still thinking about it now!?!?
You have two choices IMHO, be single until you get hired by a major or marry rich. If she is the one just make sure she can hold down the fort while your on the road and DON'T ever ever ever ever tell her how easy your job easy!
Ok seriously...its tough. She has to be a strong women, be able to be a single mother half the month and you gotta be able to trust her while your gone and vice versa.
You still thinking about it now!?!?
I'm with PurpleTail on this one. It can be like on the movie Airplane.....I will line up behind purple tail and slap you silly too!
Maybe I'm just spoiled because my honey is almost perfect! We don't have issues with any of these concerns. Of course it helps he is a pilot too.
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