cptmel98

I am a college student enrolled in a professional pilot program. I would like to know how is family life like being an airline pilot. Considering the fact that you are more than likely away from home.

#1 DO you have a good family life?

#2 Are you happy with your job and quality of life with family?

Thank you, I would like to be informed therefore I can know what to expect for the future.

Riverside

Airline changes every year. All you can do is find a supportive wife.

iFlyRC

I hate the pilot life. It is hard on families, and requires a special wife. I am lucky in that regard, most aren't. Most important thing is time at home. You can live on base, but your family won't want to move every time your base changes. 70% of pilots commute. Good luck!

Toonces

This is less about the job and more about the people. There are lots of jobs where you spend a lot of time apart, and if either you or your partner are not ok with that, then this segment of the industry (or your partner) are not a good fit.

Statistically, the divorce rate in the industry is high, if that is what you are getting after...


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satpak77

any pilot job will be hard on the family. By definition, a Pilot means travel and an airplane typically means long distances aka overnight.

remember, the family "pays" in emotional costs, lack of dad, etc etc while you are out there earning the "big bucks".

Divorce rates very high in the Pilot career track. Kids that hate dad, etc not uncommon.

Good Luck

ACessential

I would never recommend this job to a true "family man". Personally, I decided I never want kids. I couldn't bring myself to be away from them so much. So I'm looking for the adventurous wife type that is on the same boat. We can travel together and spoil the hell out of each other and be great Uncles and Aunts in the mean time. Good luck though, some guys can make it work.

ArcherDvr

Let you know in a few months. Going back in January, but in the past it's been tough relationship wise. The kids seem to do okay with it, but we do a lot of face time.

wmupilot85

Married, just over a year. Been with the same girl for going on 5 years. We're both happy, and knew what was involved going into being a pilot.

PilotLife4me

Married almost 9 years with three kids, airline pilot for the last three. It's hard being away, no way of sugar coating it.

The best advice I've received "If your heart is in the cockpit your marriage will suffer, if you leave it at home it will continue to flourish."

Being gone is hard, but having multiple days off is really nice. You can do things with wife and kids during the week that would be difficult working the 9-5. I love taking my kids to school and picking them up for example.

Come home with the right attitude and ready to help around the house.

zondaracer

Married over 9 years. Got married before I was a pilot but the wife knew I wanted to be a pilot. Now, I am flying for a regional. The wife is cool with it. The kids are usually concerned about me being home for the special days, and so far I have had a pretty good record of being home for birthdays and Christmas. I missed thanksgiving but we just celebrated on a different day. Commuting was tough but now I live in base and it's pretty nice actually. 4 day trips are the hardest but I try to get max days off and then pick up 1 day trips on my day off to bring my pay back up. Overall, I feel quality of life is better than when I was a flight instructor, but that's just my personal opinion. As a flight instructor, the schedule was a lot more flexible but I worked a lot. I work less at a regional for about the same pay, but I'm not home every night, but I'm home a lot more days.

Second year should see a good improvement in QOL as I get a pay bump. Also, the wife loves the non-rev benefits and we've already traveled a couple times in the US, and twice out of country with the whole family.