ThomasMcCray

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

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

It’s is entirely what you make of it.

dera

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.