What hobbies on overnights? Just a fun convo
 

So I’ve been in the airlines for 6 years and find myself constantly thinking that I’m wasting my time on overnights (which is well over half the month). I sit in my room, watch tv, occasionally go out with the crew, maybe get a workout in, but other than than that may as well watch the paint dry on the walls..

Just curious what you’re all into when you aren’t working? Anyone bring gaming systems..I remember a guy years ago that did that. Do you have a side job, working on a degree on the side? How do you keep yourself entertained? Can’t wait from 10 years from now when I can go back to day trips.

Just looking for different ideas. I’ve already tried brainstorming😁

You might consider something like this:

The Great Courses Plus Review | A Practical Pursuit

Many of the courses don’t really require video (e.g. the ones on music, philosophy, law, etc.), so you can listen to a lecture on your smartphone while walking around.

Groupies! :D

I have a gaming laptop, so if all else fails and we’re in a hotel in the middle of nowhere I’ll do that. Brought an Xbox one with me for awhile when red dead redemption 2 came out but it was bulky.

I try to use the time to catch up on volunteer work and other odds and ends stuff. I know some people do web design on the side which is pretty lucrative but more work than I want to put in.

Otherwise I’ll look up where I’m at on Atlas Obscura and see if there is anything odd nearby I can go explore. I try to at least go for a long walk at the non-murdery hotels. I’ve also toyed with the idea of starting an insect collection.

Planning to work on my 4 yr degree. How boring....

Union volunteer work.

Poker. Find a nearby casino or play online. Once you get good enough, then the Uber to the casino and back pays for itself and then some.

Geocaching. Gets you out of the room

What interests do you have?

Off hand I would recommend reading The intelligent investor by Benjamin Graham. Every one should start educating themselves as early as possible and plan for retirement.

I usually will workout durning the good time of the years, go running to see different trails and explore the city/town I am in.


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Yeah work out first and foremost... if your financial plan includes flying after age 55.

Then might as well do your other job if you have one, or personal development, college or other learning interests.

I never watch much TV, and over the years that adds up to thousands of hours that I didn't waste.

Just think of all the time you spend on APC. I’m just as guilty.

Everyone loses their first class medical eventually, it's preferable to lose it at 65 versus 45 or 55. What are the most frequent causes for loss of medical prior to 65?

I would like to know in order to take preventative action. I don't want to end up on that list, I doubt anyone intentionally sabotages their own health.

I would suspect diabetes, cancer, or heart conditions, but what are the real-life circumstances that have ended 121 flying careers?

Check in some uniques on Untappd.

Yeah, but that's at least interactive and possibly enlightening. And if I'm here, I'm usually doing one of my other gigs in another browser.

Most typically in my observation, in no particular order...

Cardiovascular (arrhythmia can often be treated quickly with pacemaker/beta blockers, back to work in a matter of weeks, clogged arteries obviously more problematic).

Cancer. Get all the checkups you're supposed to. Healthy lifestyle. Sunblock.

Diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar, if you fail the AME's test you're waaaay far gone. If you catch it early, you can usually completely reverse it with exercise and diet. If it's in the family may want to go ahead and get started now. You'll need to lose a lot of weight by typical standards... google your ideal weight, you're probably way over it unless you run marathons. Most (not all) adult diabetes is totally preventable, and even reversible. I'm nowhere near ideal weight, but it's mostly muscle mass. That's better than fat but still extra work for your pancreas. I'm prepared to quickly transition to a distance runner physique if needed.

Back Problems. The AME doesn't know how much it hurts, so folks usually quit aviation of their accord rather than keep suffering. Some airplane seats don't help, but the root cause is either/both:

a) Extreme sports/military duty as a kid.
b) Excess weight, no exercise, and age.

Maintain a good core routine, assuming you haven't already jacked it up.

Loss of Consciousness. This is more likely as you age and HAS to be explained. if no explanation, you'll be grounded for 3+ years. No biggy if obviously caused by illness, exertion, extreme environment, or even fatigue/hunger. If due to impact injury, expect 3+ years off... so helmets for risky outdoor activities.

Vertigo. Inner problems are common as you age. Usually a quick fix but there's a common inner ear cancer which causes vertigo so get it checked out asap.

This should be a thread of its own. Interesting to know

Bingo: Happened to me 4.5 years ago. Loss of License and LTD, still
out, but fairly painless compared to some of the LTD horror stories out there. :(

Used to read on layovers also internet surfing and if 3-4 days, go to town bar-hopping. :cool:

Study another language. Makes the time pass quick, especially on long overnights, long legs or sits and you feel like you actually accomplished something in the end. Plus it’s a great add on to the resume.

It adds one line of text to your resume, but nothing else.

Yeah, no way a large corporation with tons of international business would appreciate someone being bilingual 🙄.

If they cared, it would be on the app. I don't recall any airline pilot job apps that asked. I didn't put it on my resume because I was out of room and being a volunteer was obviously more important.

But good as a hobby. Even more fun when you travel, and speak the local language. Only to have them reply in fluent, colloquial English :rolleyes:

Learning a language on overnights is pretty damn far from being bilingual.

I'm quadrilingual and I don't even list it on my resume. It's not important.

It's a fun hobby. But to be fluent enough to actually list it on your resume, you won't learn that on overnights.

And a hoot at parties no less.

I should add that to my resume.

🤪😂😂
Under special skills.

Does sitting on the bed and staring at the hotel wall count?

You need better porn.

Immerse self in far/fc!!!!

Hookup aps... :D

Only if you have some company

No you’re really not. If you actually were, you would never admit that “it’s not important.”

Studying to achieve fluency in a secondary language is identical to earning an additional college degree. It arguably takes more discipline and motivation actually and most HR departments are aware of this. The only difference is you get no “supporting documentation” to prove anything (a piece of paper called a degree). You can though if you become a certified translator.

So you have never encountered an application that gave you the opportunity to list any “extracurricular activities” on it? I have very limited experience with aviation apps thus far, but the few that I have encountered all had some section to list fluency in secondary languages. This is a skill that separates one from the crowd and that’s exactly what employers are looking for in this industry. I know this for a fact.

Airline apps has a specific language section on it. So it definitely doesn't go unnoticed.

Yes, I really am. Actual fluency in 4 languages. Not just your "learnt in school" kind.
So you're saying it's like having 3 degrees? I wonder why Delta hasn't called yet.

Union work, returning/answering phone calls and emails, and reading. If I have a later show I like to get out in the mornings and go for at least 2-3 mile walk.

Computer programming. Namely for iOS, and Android. Learning Android right now with Android studio and Kotlin. I like Swift for iOS and MacOS.

meth-making in the hotel coffee pot.