Airline Pilot Life

What They Don't Tell You !

To most people an Airline Pilot is a very glamarous job, and it really is.

It's the kind of job you can take pride in as you walk through the airport in uniform, or even in conversation anywhere.

What the average person doesn't consider is that airline pilots and flight attendants can spend more time in hotels than at home, and depending on the airline it can be in less than glamarous locations, often with little or nothing to do. Five tv channels, mostly news, isn't fun when you arrive early in the morning, and don't leave to the next day. Getting up in the middle of the night in winter (or summer) isn't always fun either.

And take the pay, pilot's pay is usually quoted by the hour, but pilot's can't work more than 30 hours a week (by regulation) because they are only paid when the airplane doors are closed, which means lots and lots of time lost during the day unpaid. If the aircraft is broken, and the crew sit waiting for repairs, all they are making is a 'per diem' which barely would cover lunch at airport prices. Infact many crews bring in frozen food to save money, do without, or eat hardly anything, hotel and airport restaurants are very expensive, and when you are away most of the week, it adds up.

Averaging out the time spent at work, against time paid, and suddenly it's not so good.

It's a personal choice, and not every pilot wants to fly for an airline for the reasons above, some choosing flying positions that enable them to go home at nights.

Being away from family for four or more days a week is tough, and many relationships suffer.

But flying is a bug, and while a lot of pilots would give it up if they could make the save money elsewhere, there's still a love of flying that makes it worthwhile.