I have definitley noticed the trend of divorce in most of the pilots I have flown with. Although I have never been married, I think the type-A personality and arrogance of us pilots is the bigger problem than the schedules when it comes to being married. Take the advice I recieved from a production test pilot at RaytheonAircraft... "you wanna be married? Just save yourself the trouble... find a girl and buy her a house."

I thought it was funny although it doesn't reflect my thoughts on marriage or that it can't work with our chosen profession. I am really looking forward to being married someday!

 

Hey groovinaviator, is that a Tampico in your avatar?

 

[PHP][/PHP]Can I use my financing through Pilot Career Foundation on those rental fees?

 

I hear the only way to stay happily married is to cheat, easy for us we are away alot, agian just what I jave heard.

 

soon2bfo, You can start by not listening to anything Skyhigh says!!!
I have a high school sweetheart Ive been dating for 4 years this Christmas. We have been 3 1/2 hrs apart for 2 1/2 years because of college. During the summers we are still 1 hr apart. In addition to all this I play basketball and I also don't have a car. During the school year I only see her maybe for one weekend every 3-4 weeks. During the summer i see her one day a week. My girlfriend and I are actually looking forward to my regional flying days because we will see each other so much more than we do now.

Everyone told us we would be too far away during college and that it would never workout. I know we beat alot of odds but you have to follow your heart.

My advice to you is "DONT" listen to what all those haters have to say because if you do you will find yourself wondering what your life would have been like if you would have stayed with that one special girl.

I know having kids is a whole different ballgame but if you feel you have found the right girl to marry i say go for it!!

 

Well, from what I can tell it seems that there are pilots with marriages that are just fine, and pilots that have been divorced a lot. It looks like it comes down to how commited each party is in the marriage, and if you remain faithful. I have relatives who are doctors and lawyers, and they are never home either. At least a pilot leaves his work at the airport! Thanks for the input fellas.

 

Here's a piece of second hand advice -

"If you're going to be a pilot...do yourself a favor. Pick out 3 girls you absolutely hate and buy each of them a house and a car...you'll save money on the lawyers later..."

In all seriousness...I still say it depends on the person you're with and the relationship you have. Some make it, most don't. That's the way of the world. And if it makes you feel any better Soon2BFO, I have the same worry...but I'm not 30 yet so it's not a big worry.

 

You are correct my friend. Was VF at Miramar but the marines kicked our a$$es out. Those jarheads are so insensitive!

 

Tulsa and Omaha are the only two places I don't have women waiting for me when I get off the plane. I had a gal in Omaha but found out she was a he who liked wearing womens clothes, but that's another story. I have classified ads in both newspapers running this weekend. Perhaps next week I will have a girl in EVERY town! Aaahhh, the life!

 

Live by these rules at an airline pilot to being happily married....

1.) NEVER leave for a trip mad at each other....
2.) See Rule #1.
3.) See Rules #1 & #2
4.) Call her at some point EVERY day to let her know that you are thinking about her
5.) Random acts of kindness. Next time you are on your way home from you trip, stop by the grocery store and pick up a $5 bouquet of flowers. For no reason! When she asks why you bought them, tell her that you missed her while away.
6.) Make your time at home count! My wife and I try to spend my days off doing things together, just as if we were dating... Bike rides, museums, etc., and we even have a two year old now! We try to "do something" at least once beween trips.
7.) BE HONEST! I read an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal last week talking about the way to prevent cheating is to disclose when you like someone, with whom you may do something you regret BEFORE you cheat. If you are flying with a flight attendant that is getting flirty and you plan on going drinking that night, tell your wife about her before you go, and it will constantly be on your mind that night so that you will not cheat.... if you do cheat, this article said to disclose the event within 24 hours! (Last Friday or Saturdays' Personal Journal, cover..)
8.) Make sure that she knows that she is first in your book. You only get limited days off, so things like drinking with the guys, golf, etc... have to get put on hold, b/c she values your time at home more than you do.
9.) Take her out to eat once in a while. She will view that you go out all the time, have drinks with the rest of the crew, eating at restaurants, etc... all the time, while she is putting another Stouffers in the microwave. Even if you are a Slam-Clicker, she has a certain standard in her mind that you do on your trips. Even if you don't want to go out to eat b/c thats all you ever get to eat on the road, remember that she doesn't and deserves a treat every now and then.
10.) If you work for a company that has long overnights (more than 24 hours) in decent places, invite her to come with. It will make your trip more bearable when you are stuck in Dayton for 36 hours, AND it will make her feel wanted.

and finally

11.) SEE RULE #1! NEVER LEAVE FOR A TRIP MAD AT EACH OTHER! You are going to be gone for 4 days. Do you really want to wonder for those 4 days if someone else is keeping your bed warm for you?

Just a few thoughts on how to make your airline marriage work. If these don't work, I highly suggest a Swiss bank account where you can start funneling your money to, so you can start saving for your divorce and still have something left after it.