FlyBoys Wife

Hey guys,

I wanted to ask all you seasoned pilots ... what is the general norm among pilot families in terms of living where your hub is versus commuting? Do you all live at your hub or do you commute, and if so, what are your thoughts or suggestions on it?

We don't know where my husband's FOB will be yet, but for career reasons (mine) I'd like to at least do some resarch and plan a little but it's hard when I don't know what the norm is or how most pilot families are set up in terms of living and commuting.

Would appreciate all and any feedback! Thanks!

ERJ135

Hey,

I am not seasoned pilot only 900hrs, trying to get hired by someone right now, but I have friend that is on furlogh from UAL, flew the A320, he lives in my town near BOS and he was based in San Francisco so he commuted BOS to SFO for trips. He said he never minded it but that a long commute. So its definitly possible.

Kill Bill

i've done both for long periods. if you like living at the base city, it's great. if you don't, live where you want and consider it your pennance for having a job that gives you the ability to live where you want.

SkyHigh

Commuting,

Unless you get hired at a large company that has frequent flights commuting can be a nightmare. It can considerably cut days at home.

SkyHigh

JayDub

Believe it or not, it all depends on you (the spouse). If you want to live where you like, there might be times the hubby might not make it on that last flight. If you are ok with that, kudos to you. If it really, really bugs you consider moving. Nothing sucks more than a screwed up commute, except a pi$$ed off wife. Believe me when I tell you a lot of his mood while commuting will be directly imported from you. (i.e.) You tell him 'honey, you just do what you need to do and I'll be ok with it' will improve his outlook immeasurably.

Just my 1/50th of a buck. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time a woman proved me wrong.

Respectfully,

JayDub

Speed

I second Jay Dub, my wife and I made a mutual decision not to live at the domicile and she's accepted the consequences of that. She doesn't put undue pressure on my schedule/commuting decisions and it makes all the difference. It wouldn't work without her support.

At my company I think I've heard that over half the pilots commute.

Just about anything is possible, but some situations are much less desirable than others. When I was flying at the regionals the schedules weren't very conducive: not enough guaranteed days off. Living in a city that is not served by your airline makes things more difficult. The size of your hometown airport makes a big difference, ie: commuting from the CA Bay area gives you tons more options than living in Eureka/Arcata.

dckozak

Commuting is a function of senority, system form, and your distance (in time, not miles) to your domicle. If your junior, live in Bum *******, any where with three (off line jumpseats ) and five commutes a month, well..........
If on the other hand, you do one or two trips a month, you could live most places (cities) and not find commuting too intolerable. You could, depending on your employers system form, find your self home more than if you live in domicle if you fly out of your home town when your airline has to postion you to fly there anyway
Al this is dependent on, 1. how popular your home town is with other (company) pilots, senior to you, who are also are commuting to the same domicle, flying the same AC and flying the same seat as you. 2. How much flying at your home airport has trips that start with a dead head (or end, sometimes both (!!!) and wheather you can hold such trips (see above). 3. How senior in seat are you willing to get (fore going upgrades to hold/stay senior/protect your "good deal").
As you can see there is a lot to commuting that involves, where you work, where you live, luck (is the guys just senior to you living in the same area), and other factors related to how much your time (away from home) is worth to you, off the clock.
I hope this helps, (the wife advise in earlier posts is right on too)

LAfrequentflyer

My father spend most of his career as a commuter. My mom supported him from day on in aviation - as a military wife - and it made all the difference in his QOL...Commuting / being gone from home was a non-issue...We made up our own holidays / celebrated b-days before /after his trips...

He took care of flying , she took care of kids/home/bills/etc...

-LA

CactusCrew

I have probably lived in base (70%) for longer than I have spent as a commuter (30%).

But I have experience with both.



I prefer NOT to commute ... your base has to be the real armpit of the universe to deal with the commute.

My bases have included BWI, PHX, MDT, SYR, BGM ... for some perspective. Four armpits total, I have lived in 2 of them and commuted to 3. One that I don't consider an armpit, I actually did not live in.

BUT consider these issues before taking the plunge:

Does your airline have a "commuter-friendly" policy ? ... here's a hint, if you don't know what that is, they DON'T have one.

Stay one leg on your own airline ... with at least 3 flights a day or more.

Use other airlines as a back-up. In other words, don't live in a place that only your airline serves.

Check into parking at both locations. Would you need a car at base ?

Check into crash pads and the cost if needed.

Realize that a commuter typically spends an extra day or so a month on days off in the back of an airplane getting to/from work.

Surscribe to Readers Digest or a book of the month club !

I am sure I missed something. And the advice about your family's attitude towards the whole adventure is priceless as well !

Good Luck, CC

rickair7777

CactusCrew mus be an authentic cactus guy...I can tell by the picture of Glamis