Airline Pilot Central Forums

Airline Pilot Central Forums (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/)
-   Flight Schools and Training (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/)
-   -   Your life as a Pilot (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/113670-your-life-pilot.html)

ThomasMcCray 05-14-2018 08:56 AM

Your life as a Pilot
 
What is your experience earning a living as a Pilot? Your work/home balance? Your experiences. What would you change, good or bad?

galaxy flyer 05-14-2018 03:49 PM


Originally Posted by ThomasMcCray (Post 2593682)
What is your experience earning a living as a Pilot? Your work/home balance? Your experiences. What would you change, good or bad?

It’s NOT a job, it’s a lifestyle that pretty much consumes you. You’ll miss holidays, miss family events, be away for when someone at home is ill, etc. I told one friend of both parents dying while he away away. A friend had his basement flooded while on the other side of the world. As ranchers say, “don’t buy a ranch to big that your wife can’t manage if you’re away. Same in aviation.

GF

TiredSoul 05-14-2018 05:58 PM

It’s is entirely what you make of it.

dera 05-14-2018 07:53 PM


Originally Posted by galaxy flyer (Post 2593992)
It’s NOT a job, it’s a lifestyle that pretty much consumes you. You’ll miss holidays, miss family events, be away for when someone at home is ill, etc. I told one friend of both parents dying while he away away. A friend had his basement flooded while on the other side of the world. As ranchers say, “don’t buy a ranch to big that your wife can’t manage if you’re away. Same in aviation.

GF

Depends. I currently fly 3 days a week, home every night, and no flying on holidays/weekends. And I make close to 6 figures.
There are many different career pathways in aviation.

tomgoodman 05-15-2018 04:50 AM


Originally Posted by TiredSoul (Post 2594070)
It’s is entirely what you make of it.

I agree. Give an unhappy pilot any other job of his choosing, and chances are that within a year he will be unhappy again. :(

galaxy flyer 05-15-2018 05:41 AM


Originally Posted by tomgoodman (Post 2594282)
I agree. Give an unhappy pilot any other job of his choosing, and chances are that within a year he will be unhappy again. :(

Truer words were never posted! As I leaned early, flying would be a great job, if I made as much money as my brother-in-law thought, as much time off as my neighbor thought and as much a** as my wife thought. But, it is a lifestyle, not a 9-5 deal, don’t forget that.

GF

galaxy flyer 05-15-2018 05:42 AM


Originally Posted by dera (Post 2594157)
Depends. I currently fly 3 days a week, home every night, and no flying on holidays/weekends. And I make close to 6 figures.
There are many different career pathways in aviation.

I’d be bored stiff. Married happy as anyone, have things to do and interests at home, but I really liked flying. Retired but will probably start contracting.

GF

CAPILOTAIN 05-15-2018 06:00 AM

Im home 6 nights a week. I make my own schedule, for the most part, meaning I still have time to skateboard 4 times a week, go to the gym 6 times a week, and play music 3 times a week. Im paid well above my standard of living and I live in Socal. I fly 800 hours a year. Life is good.

There's a pilot job for every type of personality/lifestyle, its just a matter of research and luck.

MadmanX2 05-18-2018 10:33 AM

It has its ups and downs.....

One day you are up and flying high....

Then suddenly one little artery blockage requiring a stent and you are down....

(hopefully I will have my medical back by the end of this summer, then I will be back up)

jarinawoz 06-18-2018 03:14 AM

Yes, there is the point.... its not a job it's a lifestyle.

Ok, it makes difference, small airfield pilot (like CFI or other) or airliner.... I find airliner job slavish, as I hear from budget airliner friends.... I am not sure anymore if I dream about it or not...really. Not as free as it seems...

With small, friendly airports even if you fly only 2hrs that day, it will take your whole day :D its not possible to go to an airport, fly the 2 hours and go home.....
and husband / wife, if an outsider, will calling and texting like crazy...- why are you still on the airport? - what can you do there all day? ...and when they are out with you on a sunday, they start to whining and getting bored.... :P

I think in this lifestyle is the most important thing is to have a partner who is into flying on ANY way (glider, ATC, or even just a hobby spotter)... because the main problems come not from flying an airplane but from your background.

OR if the partner is policeman, military, whatever, not an accountant in 8 hours, there is a chance than he/she will understand.


Originally Posted by galaxy flyer (Post 2593992)
It’s NOT a job, it’s a lifestyle that pretty much consumes you. You’ll miss holidays, miss family events, be away for when someone at home is ill, etc. I told one friend of both parents dying while he away away. A friend had his basement flooded while on the other side of the world. As ranchers say, “don’t buy a ranch to big that your wife can’t manage if you’re away. Same in aviation.

GF



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:07 AM.


User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Website Copyright ©2000 - 2017 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands