Is it hard to start a family as a pilot?

It can be very tough on family life. The universe has a way of making all the bad things happen while you are away on a trip. Car breaks down, plumbing gets clogged, kid gets sick on a day your spouse has an important meeting. It never happens when you are home, only when you are away.



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A career as an airline pilot is tough on a personal life. Being away 3-4 days at a time, on weekends, holidays, and during important events puts strain on relationships.

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Airline pilots can be home every night or could be away from their families for weeks at a time. It depends of the company they work for or the aircraft or routes they fly. Most quality of life issues that affect how much time a pilot can spent with his family is determined by a seniority based system.

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Additionally, many airlines offer generous vacation packages so pilots can take extended trips with their families or enjoy some much needed rest at home. With the right balance of work and play, being an airline pilot doesn't have to mean sacrificing your family life!

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This benefit varies from airline to airline. Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

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The most labor-intensive schedule might place a pilot out of base for 12-15 nights in a month. An entire month's schedule for a line holder commonly includes four 4-day trips. Three of these nights are spent away from home, while the fourth day of the trip lands the crew member back in their domicile city.

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The most labor-intensive schedule might place a pilot out of base for 12-15 nights in a month. An entire month's schedule for a line holder commonly includes four 4-day trips. Three of these nights are spent away from home, while the fourth day of the trip lands the crew member back in their domicile city.

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Every pilot has a different schedule, and every pilot's schedule changes from month to month. The amount of time spent away from home depends on a crew member's seniority, preferences, and aircraft. The most labor-intensive schedule might place a pilot out of base for 12-15 nights in a month.

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Airline pilots can be home every night or could be away from their families for weeks at a time. It depends of the company they work for or the aircraft or routes they fly. Most quality of life issues that affect how much time a pilot can spent with his family is determined by a seniority based system.

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Average Delta Air Lines Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $180,067, which is 171% above the national average. Salary information comes from 4 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

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Do pilots have free time? Yes, pilots have free time. Junior pilots have a minimum of 12 days off per month, whereas the average pilot gets 15 days off per month and a senior pilot can enjoy up to 20 days off per month.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

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When you work as a commercial airline pilot, you can look forward to having one of the best jobs in the world while enjoying the following benefits.
  • Travel the World. ...
  • Unbeatable Views. ...
  • Travel Discounts for Family and Friends. ...
  • Job Satisfaction. ...
  • Work Stays at Work. ...
  • Flex Schedule. ...
  • Challenging. ...
  • Meet New People.


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Do pilots pay for their own hotels? The airline handles and pays for accommodations for crewmembers when they are on a trip. Many pilots do not live where they are based and choose to commute.

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Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

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This one is a surprise to many, but it's true – pilots have a lower divorce rate. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year data, from 2009-2018, the divorce rate for pilots was 30.5%. Much lower than the 53% for the most divorce-prone group: casino gaming managers.

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Women make up less than 20% of the workforce in most aviation occupations, according to the Women in Aviation Advisory Board. At the end of 2022, Southwest Airlines had 413 female pilots, 4% of the total pilot workgroup.

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