Quote:
Originally Posted by 3green  Gtylon This will never change. This happens everytime I commute to work. You find yourself putting on the uniform, packing the rollerboard and then asking yourself is this worth it on the ride to the airport? If you know now that you don't like this aspect, I would definitely not pursue the professional pilot route any further. Being an airline pilot means living on the road, out of a suitcase and away from your family. And if you don't commute, you never know when your base will close and you'll be forced too...
Toria Unfortunately, the time does go quickly when your working 14-16 hr duty days doing a bunch of quick turns! LOL. But, you can't get back those moments with family, friends and loved ones once you've missed them and that is where it hurts in the long run...
In the end, what is the pilot career worth to you? Being away from the family so you can be "liv'n the dream". Unfortunately, I've found the airline pilots with families that are the most content with the career and are not disgruntled are the ones that can put those thoughts(family, kids, etc) behind them on the road...
But hey it isn't all negative, I get to tell everyone "I fly for a living!" |
Honest post, very true.
It is fun when you're behind the controls, but after awhile its just a job. A job that keeps you away from the important things, long duty days, 4 day trips, staying in hotels half the year etc. And for what? To collect a paycheck easily matched at Home Depot or Lowes? But Home Depot and Lowes will actually put something away for your retirement.
So really when you break it down nice a simple, just exactly WHAT are you getting out of this job?? A chance to fly an airplane 3-4 days a week? Because you certainly aren't working you're way to the big $200k salary...and you definitely aren't putting in your time for a decent retirement.
I don't know...sometimes I love the job, sometimes I really hate it. I leave for a 4 day trip today, to get one day off and then go on a 3 day trip. That 7 days on the friggin road, 6 nights and brief 24hrs at home with my wife. Right now I hate it. I can't imagine having a child with these schedules sometimes.