Pilot Lifestyles

[JBHewlett]

Hey folks,

I have a question for you. I live in Murray Kentucky. I don't know if any of you know where that is or not, but its a small town in far western Kentucky, that has a population of about 18,000 people in perminant residence. The population shoots up about 9 to 10,000 when MSU is in session. I am willing to bet that some of you are from small towns as well. I personally love this little town.

There is a senior airline pilot that lives here. He has lived here many, many years. He just drives to BNA and jump seats to Cleveland where he is based.

My dad sat next to a 767 pilot on a flight who lived in the town of Fayettville TN. He too, drove to BNA and jump seated to Chicago to go work.

There is yet another airline pilot that flies one of Northwest Airlines asia routes. He is based in Minnesota. He is a resident of a small town called "Water Valley". I mean this place is tiny and out in the middle of no where, south of Mayfield Ky.

I find this interesting yet comforting that these people can live in a small, non crime infested town and still fly for the Airlines. Is this sort of thing fairly common to people of the airline industry?

Thanks,
J.

 

[JBHewlett]

No

No

 

[CL600Pilot]

Fairly common? Yes Is it practical? If you're at a major or are a very very senior commuter pilot then yes - otherwise probably not.

When I was at a regional I lived in Cincy and was based in upstate NY - I typically flew 4 or 5 on and 2 off(sometimes 3 off if I was really really lucky that month). On my 2 days off if I was lucky and my commute options weren't full then I averaged 24 to 30 hours at home. What a life huh?? Alot of pilots commute but it's rough unless you have a really good schedule.


CL

 

[Flyer7SA]

Been there

Murray - stopped there for gas once when coming back from Fulton, MO. Neat little airport.

~flyer7sa

 

[501261]

I think if you want to be upwardly mobile in this industry you need to be able to move. You need to be able to move to BFE if there is a job. Eventually you will be successful or senior enough to live where you want to live, but commuting while on reserve will eventually drive you out of aviation! And who knows? Once you move out of Podunk, (JJ) you might not want to move back.

 

[Fast8945]

I met a pilot at the security checkpoint in SJT that just moved out there from HOU. He had a nice piece of land with a landing strip. and worked for eagle



(the only airline that flys to SJT)

 

[Vik]

I'm not an airline pilot but the day I sign on with a major, I'm moving the heck out of Southern California.

Pollution (including sound pollution), traffic (there is rarely a drive where I don't encounter at least some stop and go), crowded public areas and crime are all present here in some form or another. I live in a city where the mean salary is $85k/yr yet we have domestic distrubances up the ying yang and cops at all odd hours keeping neighbors and couples from killing each other.

Ridiculous.

I am outta here. I don't care if it means I have to add an extra 4 hours to each end of my trip to make it back home.

California is also one of the worst states in which to raise kids.

I know quite a few airline pilots that commute by jumpseating. I am not surprised nor do I blame them.

 

[jetexas]

...Newark - EWR - sEWeR

If you ever plan to be a an airline pilot AND have a family or a permanent address to yourself, you almost have to commute at one point in your career. Bases open and close (especially at regionals) As you upgrade to captain, change equipment, etc, your base can change
Or..you can stay single and move from base to base and city to city like a gypsy (gypsies have more possesions than many regional pilots by the way).

 

[mckpickle]

...Newark - EWR - sEWeR


Or..you can stay single and move from base to base and city to city like a gypsy (gypsies have more possesions than many regional pilots by the way).

not to mention self respect!

 

[bobbysamd]

Commuting

You're talking about an airline pilot who commutes. Commuting from where you live to where you are domiciled is extremely common. Pilots who do so mostly have it down to a science.

Whether it is for you is up to you. I don't think I would have commuted. I don't think I could have stood the stress of wondering if I could make it in to work on time. I am sure most pilots commute in the day before they report to work, so that kills a day off. Unless you are very senior and work very few days per month, you will lose quite a few days off by commuting.

Maybe an exception would have been if I worked for a regional that flew into the big hub where I live. Then, it might have been easier because of less distance to travel. But, commuting two-thousand miles to work, especially during busy travel periods, would not have been for me.

 

[enigma]

There are so many variables in this equation it's hard to come to a definitive answer. BTW, JetTexas is pretty much right on. Progression during your career almost guarantees a mobile lifestyle. Even during good times, a pilot makes frequent moves in order to take advantage of the opportunity for advancement.
During harder times, the instability is forced by such things as base closures, etc.
One way to help negate the effects of that instability on our families is to leave them in a stable situation; and become a gypsey ourselves as it relates to bases. The obvious drawback is that we lose time at home due to the commute.
Commuting works best when one can ride on his own carrier. It's hardest on us who must commute "offline". As in everything else in this job, seniority is golden. Seniority is the tool that allows for a non ulcer inducing commute. The senior guys are able to bid the commutable lines, and seniority is used to decide who gets the seat when there are more butts than seats.
I guess that the short answer to your question is that the industry is presently in such a state of change, there is no definitive answer. On one hand, there are more commuters due to circumstance, while on the other there are fewer commuters of convienience.
Personally, I have had less trouble getting to work post 9/11 than pre. NWA actually added to the number of JS'ers that they would put on a flight. Additionally, it seems that there are fewer company JS'ers on the AA and DL flights that I take.
regards
8N

 

[jetexas]

Does anyone understand why most majors will only take one offline jumpseater even if there are many empty seats in the back? It makes no sense to me.

 

[enigma]

Does anyone understand why most majors will only take one offline jumpseater even if there are many empty seats in the back? It makes no sense to me.

It's a labor vs management issue. It wasn't that long ago that DAL pilots didn't have the privilge at all. Management uses it as a negotiation tool, ie, if you want that you must give up something and gaining an extra seat for non-company pilots is not high on the list.

regards
8N

 

[JBHewlett]

Hey Vik

Move to Murray Kentucky, trust me it is very much the opposite of you current location. Most Kentucky rumors are extremely overly exagerrated, or just plain untrue all together. People are kind and friendly. Crime is very low. Its clean here. There is a nice University here, so it is a prosperous little town with a comforting atmosphere (I guess I might be a little partial since I was born here, but hey I love it, and not many people can say that about their little home in rural america). Come hang out with the folks at KCEY!

J.

 

[TurboS7]

Looks to me that you need to be a pilot for UPS-your destiny.

 

[JBHewlett]

UPS

UPS or FedEx would be Peachy!

J.

 

[mckpickle]

dude can i borrow your car and pull into your driveway?

 

[mckpickle]

Re: Hey Vik

Move to Murray Kentucky, trust me it is very much the opposite of you current location. Most Kentucky rumors are extremely overly exagerrated, or just plain untrue all together. People are kind and friendly. Crime is very low. Its clean here. There is a nice University here, so it is a prosperous little town with a comforting atmosphere (I guess I might be a little partial since I was born here, but hey I love it, and not many people can say that about their little home in rural america). Come hang out with the folks at KCEY!

J.

Sooooooooooooo your saying no banjos???

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

Personally, I'd get away from the big city of Murray and either go to Fancy Farm, Pottsville, Beulah, Tobacco, or Future City. Did Monkey's Eyebrow and Possum Trot fall off the map?
Murray State University "Racers"...."Harvard without shoes"

Since I'm not in the biz, can't offer advice regarding commuting. However, having lived in several states and towns (small and big), I'd say the quality of life is better in a small town and usually your costs of living is less. But to each their own. Ideally, live in a small town but be close enough to a big city for the purposes of employment and entertainment.
And if anyone can clue me in on the virtues of Orlando I'm all ears! "Welcome to Orlando, please wait" should be the motto here. No offense to any Orlando lovers.

 

[Rvrrat]

Outta SoCal

Vik,
My better half just surpassed the 30 yr mark with PacBell, depending on what happens in the next year with my employer we're outta here too. You know you've been here too long when... A; the cop-copters don't bother you at o-dark-ugly & B; the pop-pop-pop of 9mm from across the river doesn't catch your ear either.

 

[Ravengirl]

Vik, Rvrrat...

Yeah, the 2 hour drives to go 35 miles are beginning to get to me. I actually like SoCal, but all these PEOPLE are getting old. I'll get home at 7 pm or so, thoroughly enraged after hours of stop-n-go on the way home from class, and then the lovely Huntington Beach Police spend all night making circles over this end of town at roughly 300 feet. Talk about road rage the next morning! If the FAA decides to send me to some tower in BFE when they hire me, I'm GONE.

Stephanie

 

[JBHewlett]

Hey SDF

You live in louisville? I may fly up there either tommorow or monday, for a little visit.

Which is easiest SDF or Bowman? I heard SDF is easier to get in and out of.

Trust me possum trot and monkeys eye brow still exist and fancy farm, ehhhhh might as well live in mayfield if you going to fancy farm. Water Valley is a interesting place, or hey how about the city of Kirksy.

J.

 

[flywithruss]

SDF

I don't live in KY, but my company goes there a lot on business. I would vote for SDF. AvCenter is a nice FBO and SDF is convenient to most of town. Land 17L/35R for closest access to the GA ramp.

Of course, I'm biased toward the big airports ... our King Air will do 4000' runways just fine, but I still like seeing two miles of concrete in front of me when I'm left seat ... even if I do stop the airplane in a third of it without touching the brakes. Beta rocks!

To add to the lifestyle conversation, it is entirely a matter of personal taste. I am a big city guy living in a small city for the job ... you have to have that flexibility in aviation, I think. If and when I head for the airline game, commute vs. live in domicile for me will depend entirely on the domicile. I have no desire to live in Minnesota or South Florida, but if I were domiciled at DFW, I'd move in a minute and be loving life.

Like I said, depends on what you want in life. The turbulent living situation is part of the price of admission in this business.

Tailwinds, y'all ...

R

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

Hey JB, don't live any Louisville any longer. Moved away in 2000. Really enjoyed living there. As far as flying into SDF or LOU. Timing is everything. There is also Clark County (Indiana) which is about 7 miles north of Louisville off I-65. Nice airport and two decent FBO's - Aircraft Specialist and Haps. Both LOU and JVY are your best bets for GA.

I thought Orlando was bad traffic wise and congestion, but it sounds like Southern Cal (and Chicago, Newark, etc.) are much worse.

 

[EWRJ0225]

If you go into JVY, ASI has the cheapest fuel in a 5 state region(disclaimer not factual data).

 

[Fugawe]

Hey folks,

I have a question for you. I live in Murray Kentucky. I don't know if any of you know where that is or not, but its a small town in far western Kentucky, that has a population of about 18,000 people in perminant residence. The population shoots up about 9 to 10,000 when MSU is in session. I am willing to bet that some of you are from small towns as well. I personally love this little town.

There is a senior airline pilot that lives here. He has lived here many, many years. He just drives to BNA and jump seats to Cleveland where he is based.

My dad sat next to a 767 pilot on a flight who lived in the town of Fayettville TN. He too, drove to BNA and jump seated to Chicago to go work.

There is yet another airline pilot that flies one of Northwest Airlines asia routes. He is based in Minnesota. He is a resident of a small town called "Water Valley". I mean this place is tiny and out in the middle of no where, south of Mayfield Ky.

I find this interesting yet comforting that these people can live in a small, non crime infested town and still fly for the Airlines. Is this sort of thing fairly common to people of the airline industry?

Thanks,
J.

Just under half or our pilots and FAs commute. They live at least one flight away from their base. Many live in nice areas and don't want to live near the major hubs. Many drive an hour or so to catch the flight that takes them to their hub to start their trip. Takes planning and flexibility, and sometimes adds a day to your trip (or a day to time away from home, however you look at it).

I commuted over 3 years, most of the time it was 2 flights to my hub. It sucked IMO. Stress of full flights, missing flights, extra days gone, etc was not worth it. Some don't mind it and/or have no choice -- ie, spouse must live in XYZ, kids are there, other family is there, etc.

I moved to be within a 2 hr drive of my base. Much less stress.

Commuting works for many. Gives you lots of options if you can handle it. To each his own.


Fugawe

 

[Fugawe]

From The Dallas Morning News, Aug 2006

---MANY IN AIRLINE INDUSTRY CHOOSE TO COMMUTE, DESPITE HASSLES---
Pilot David Groves lives a 15-minute drive from DFW Airport. But his
trip from Colleyville to DFW is only the first part of his commute.
Groves' job is based in New York. Getting there takes six hours, assuming
he secures a seat on the first flight he tries.

"You just feel lucky to get a seat," said flight attendant
Kathryn Scott, a Memphis resident who was on her way to New York.
Commuting is worth the hassles, she said. By living in Tennessee, she's
closer to her family, and "when you get to be in London for the day, it's
still glamorous," she said. "You have to plan ahead more. You can't count
on being on a flight anymore."

Even with the headaches, Flight Attendant Nancy Simonton isn't
willing to change careers. "It's worth it to me," she said. "I get to the
live in the place that I love and still have a great job."

(Web address for the above Dallas Morning News article below. Internet
access required)

 

[Superpilot92]

I met a pilot at the security checkpoint in SJT that just moved out there from HOU. He had a nice piece of land with a landing strip. and worked for eagle

(the only airline that flys to SJT)

Not true. Continental via Colgan flys there also. Just keeping you honest!!