Airline Pilot's lifestyle

lowandslow · October 14th, 2005, 15:24

How does a pilot learn to adjust to the lifestyle of a professional pilot. Particularly, being away for numerous days on end and lack of sleep for those days?

What about the days then that a pilot does not work?

The irregularities of the lifestyle seem as though they would take a toll on a person and their personal life.

Baronman · October 14th, 2005, 18:03

Personally I don't have too much of a problem with the odd hours, I just try to make sure I sleep enough. Especially if I'm on a boring overnight then I'll try to catch up a bit.

As far as my personal life....This is difficult. And it's something on my mind alot because I live at my base and basically commute to see my g-friend. I feel like I'm never at home, of course I could live out where she is and become a commuter....We'll see....I'd say it's important to make clear w/ your significant other that you'll be away 4 days a week sometimes, if they are "clingy" then the relationship could suffer.

Damff01 · October 16th, 2005, 00:00

If you are ever get tired of commuting, give Corporate aviation a try. I flew for AE for a while and commuted to Chicago. The commute wasn't bad but I was never home. I mean never home! I was able to find a job with a great Corporation our of my home town and life could not be any better. I have had this job for 8 years and it is the BEST! I typically have 1 overnight a week and usually work around 2 1/2 to 3 days a week. Some people say corporate is a bad thing, but in some cases its the best.

MQAAord · October 16th, 2005, 10:49

You commuted to ORD for Eagle 8 years ago? You would have been there same time as me.

Bandit_Driver · October 16th, 2005, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowandslow

How does a pilot learn to adjust to the lifestyle of a professional pilot. Particularly, being away for numerous days on end and lack of sleep for those days?

What about the days then that a pilot does not work?

The irregularities of the lifestyle seem as though they would take a toll on a person and their personal life.

It is just something you get used to in time. As others have mentioned try and get enough sleep when you can. Spend as much time with your wife or gf as possible when you are home. Make sure it is quality time.

The family life is a little harder. Your wife or girl friend has to understand that you may be away for 3 - 6 days on average and me gone for up to 30 for training events. Being open with your partner is best and they need to be supportive of your career and this lifestyle for things to work. If they are not you will absolutely hate the job.

Bring kids into the mix and it even gets harder because you don't want to leave home. I have a 4 month old and I didn't want to leave for the month. I have picutres of her all over my hotel room. This is definately one part of the job that I don't like. Being gone for so long is hard on everyone...

jtrain609 · October 17th, 2005, 11:15

You finally get upgraded, Eric?

Doug Taylor · October 17th, 2005, 15:22

I really didn't have an adjustment period because I was single when I started professional aviation. So the scheduling headaches and time away was 'baked right in' to our relationship.

You need a prairie wife of sorts. Staunchly independent, supportive and able to figuratively load a shotgun and chase off coyotes when you're in town looking at a horse. The type that are looking simply for spiffy non-rev benefits and the 'glamour' of being married to a flyboy are going to eventually drag you through divorce court.

It certainly does take a toll on your personal life because everything starts to revolve around your availability and you really can't plan much in advance. A good example would be that if there are any special events in November, I've got to have Kristie let me know no later than the 14th of the prior month so I can attempt to bid it off.

It all depends on what you're in to. And as much as it pains me to say this, but getting married did cause me to 'recategorize' what I feel is important and what isn't.

I guess it's like when I was single, I'd focus on career and building upon that. But once I got married, I'm way more into building a life with her rather than chasing airplanes and bases and I'm much more reluctant to sacrifice family for my job. And no, I'm not saying that because she's going to probably read this.

Airline families that have children, my hats off to them. I find balancing job and family challenging enough with a wife and three cats!

I'm not sure if that's a positive or negative post, but that's the way I see it October 17, 2005 at 12:23pm PDT.

seagull · October 18th, 2005, 05:42

Right on target, Doug.