I have been on the 7/7 since its inception at NJA. Now, I cannot imagine another schedule. I have young children. Factor this in your thinking...
1) Knowing your schedule years in advance. (absolutely priceless)
2) Each vacation is 3 weeks long. ( I have four)
3)Each break is a week off. (you can have many vacations a year with that)
4) Many fewer airline cycles. (believe me this becomes important!)
5) Just like NJW said, fewer "daddy's going to work" days. (kids seem to like that.)
6)When I get home, work doesn't even cross my mind vs. old 17 day where it always weighed on my mind. (getting the dry cleaning done in time...)
7) First and last days are pirimarily positioning to and from work days.
8) Arrive to work refreshed.
I agree. I've only been here a few months but I can tell you my wife is
thrilled to know my schedule in advance. It's good to hear that other
pilots w/ families like it so much. This is how I like to think of it. In five years
time, I'll have three weeks vacation and if I'm captain, I'll have almost 2 weeks recurrent training. So, this means for 5 months out of the year, I
will see my family 3 weeks out of each month. And in 10 years I will be with
them 3 weeks out of the month for six months. That is a lot of time home
and that's not including 12 days of sick time. So far, I love the quality of life here at NJA.