Is it worth it in the end??

[G21Agoose]

Don't do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wives and children are a hugely expensive option- sure there is some fun and you can occasionally pick up women with the line "yeah, I'm married with kids"
but the downside is sacrificing so much for so little.
On the plus side if you become a pro pilot you have joy, happiness and a real sense of fulfillment. There is no diaper changing (unless you fly regional), no having to buy expensive jewellry (unless you fly a Gulfstreams- the Captains like nice earrings) and a real sense of accomplishment as you sit in a motel room in a crappy town on Christmas day and realize you can watch all the porn you like...................sweet. It's the only life for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gofish]

I like the job. It definately isn't for everyone and can take a toll on a family. The reality is that some families and marriages fail but the same can be said for any profession..

 

[CHQFA00]

Im just a student in college debating if I want to become a professional pilot. I will be married in a few years and will have kids in the future. How much time is spent away from family? Is there any time with family? Is it worth it for the love of flying? I love flying so much but i want to keep a happy family. Should i go for it or is it too hard on the family? Is it practible and enjoyable to be a pilot and have a family? Any feedback is great, Thanks.

Okay, maybe I'm not the "norm" but I actually don't mind when my husband leaves for a trip. Granted, we have no rug rats running around... YET... however, going from seeing each other 3 days a week to 7 days a week when he went into the military, it's no wonder he's alive and walking on two legs at the moment. Although, the woodchipper is oiled up and ready to go if I need it

Point saying, you need to find a strong woman. If she can't handle you being gone for more than a day and your already stuck with her, don't go into the aviation industry. Become a doctor. If she's a strong woman, she will be able to handle it and you will work it all out...

 

[Flydaplane]

First off, I love my job....., but just when you think things will start to go well...boom, you're furloughed, reassigned to a new domicile or giving back up to 40% of your wages. Then your retirement will disappear, days off will disappear (just ask the 90 hr a month NWA pilots), the upgrade in 4 years plan will extend to only about 15 years...but wait, if they change the age 60 rule then it will be 20 years, plus when you get recalled from furlough you'll sit reserve for a year and then once you get a line you'll have no weekends off for about 5 years. Still more than a decade away from making 6 figures and I'm flying a pretty good sized jet.
Go get your MBA and get a career with skills you can more broadly market.

 

[HA25]

Im just a student in college debating if I want to become a professional pilot.

No! Stop before it's too late! Save your money, marriage, and years of pre-mature aging and become anything else!

Also, we could use a few less guys (or especially girls) to compete with, it's getting a bit crowded in the AirInc seminars!



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Ok serious, it's not the job that it used to be, and the life style that made it the best job in the world is long gone.. now a days you spend an extra ordinary amount of time away from home (living out of a suitcase), and you get paid (adjusting for inflation) about 1/3 what you got paid in the 60's 70's and early 80's..

 

[g4800xp]

I had some crap jobs, but life is good now. It was a struggle but my wife to be, knew fairly well that it would be a long hard road, ahead of time.I will average 10 days a month of work, this year maybe 11, and each year average about 80 overnights. About the time she is ready to choke me I leave on a trip for a day or two. It has a lot to do with your expectations well in advance. I know I have been blessed, but to me it is the greatest job on the planet. I fly part 91, fortune 500, been to 49 states, 33 countries and circled the globe. We adjust a birthday a few days one way or the other, the anniversary the same to try to compensate for schedule. It is a toss up, I am home so much, but it never fails that fly days and our schedule will conflict. Just make sure that your wife to be understands the tradeoffs. If she melts down over missing a birthday, find a 9 to 5 and enjoy the cubicle, but believe me, the view from my office beats the cubicle's view.

 

[climbhappy]

this is a typical week

been laid off, started flying a baron. just made five hundred on a trip....
my daughter needed meds costing 145.00 she lost her retainer ...another two hundred. the flying was fun. the wife is out of money.. cannot keep the Dave Ramsey approach (he's a syndicated radio finaince guru who preahces restraint) my daughter needs fifty today for a field trip.
I just ran out of high life....good news...it's only $5.99 for a twelve pack

 

[HA25]

been laid off, started flying a baron. just made five hundred on a trip....
my daughter needed meds costing 145.00 she lost her retainer ...another two hundred. the flying was fun. the wife is out of money.. cannot keep the Dave Ramsey approach (he's a syndicated radio finaince guru who preahces restraint) my daughter needs fifty today for a field trip.
I just ran out of high life....good news...it's only $5.99 for a twelve pack

Damn dude.. accept my best wishes.

 

[SSDD]

Notice that all these people telling you its a crappy carreer have not themselves gotten out. Its not without its challenges, but what carreer is? As the first reply said, make sure the future wife understands and supports what you're trying to do. If there is any hint to the contrary, then things will get worse after marriage.

 

[gringo]

I got out- and I couldn't be happier. Life is getting better and better every day, and my relationship with my wife is unlike anything it's ever been before. Best decision I ever made was to get out early!