Having a family vs. working as a pilot - Opinions?

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Steiger

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Steiger
Hi

I am studying to become an airline pilot at a flight academy in Sweden. In the final semester of the education is is included to make a research project with focus on the airline industry.

During my studies at the flight academy and of all the people I have met along the way, I have got the impression that it is rather complicated to create a family while working as a pilot. Of the pilots I have spoken to, many are living alone and some have even separated because of their work. I would like to investigate if this is true, what causes it and how it could be avoided.

I have created a survey that I have sent to various airline companies, but I would need help form you guys too. The survey is for pilots only and it is completely anonymous. It will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

I would really appreciate if you could help me out!

You can find the survey on the link down below:

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=NE-wV4nXpPgUHOAvfywfuQ
 
I don't think you need a survey to realize that professional flying takes you away from your home and your loved ones as a career. Some places are better than others and for the most part, you only hear about the ones that really suck the life out of you because the good ones are too busy with pilots having families :)
 
There's a lot of careers that are detrimental to families, including many military jobs. If you want to fly, then fly, you wouldn't be the first airline pilot with a family.
 
Seeing as there's about a 50% divorce rate these days, it seems like being a pilot doesn't hurt your odds a ton...
 
...but the divorce rate amongst pilots and military is higher than 50% in aggregate. This is not a mystery; jobs that incur frequent physical dislocation experience higher infidelity and divorce rate. It is what it is.
 
I've been a pilot for 47 years and a professional pilot for 35 years. My wife and I have been married for nearly 41 years. We've got 5 kids and 16 grand kids. Yes you can do it. Just set your priorities (family first) and everything will fall into place sooner or later.
 
You only need an independent, faithful, and wealthy spouse.
 
It's tough, but doable. With the advent of things like Skype, it's far easier to stay "connected" with home. I think there are also generational issues. The big, mobile party has given way, in the USA, to minimum overnights where many crews don't even go out together anymore. I won't say that there aren't big issues and picking the correct spouse is critical. The problem being that generally you won't really know until you're committed.

I'm on wife number two and we have been married 10 years. I was a victim of the second type of AIDS. My first wife had trouble staying committed when I was on the road. I still had two great kids. I still see the occasional guy who has trouble keeping it in his pants, but the numbers seem fewer than I have seen in the past. It still makes for great stories, so you continue to hear about the pilot with a women in every port.

As someone else said. The divorce rate is high to start. I don't have firm numbers from professional pilots. Where's a Riddle student when we need him :rofl:
 
Anecdotally, where I work most of the pilots are married with families. Of course that might be one of the reasons they work there since we generally don't travel for extended amounts of time.
 
supernovae said:
I don't think you need a survey to realize that professional flying takes you away from your home and your loved ones as a career. Some places are better than others and for the most part, you only hear about the ones that really suck the life out of you because the good ones are too busy with pilots having families :)
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Yes, and there are many other jobs that require too much time away from home. ANY career that causes too much time away from home is not conducive to a good family life that will give children the attention and nurturing that they need and deserve.

My $0.02,
 
Threefingeredjack said:
Exactly.......which is why I've kept her around so long. Who knew putting her through law school would turn out so well???? Other than her questionable taste in men she's perfect. :D
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She's looking over your shoulder now, Isn't she ?:yes:;):lol:
 
WHY I WANT TO BE A PILOT

When I grow up I want to be a pilot because it's a fun job and easy to do. That's why there are so many pilots flying around these days.

Pilots don't need much school. They just have to learn to read numbers so they can read their instruments.

I guess they should be able to read a road map, too.

Pilots should be brave to they won't get scared it it's foggy and they can't see, or if a wing or motor falls off.

Pilots have to have good eyes to see through the clouds, and they can't be afraid of thunder or lightning because they are much closer to them than we are.

The salary pilots make is another thing I like. They make more money than they know what to do with. This is because most people think that flying a plane is dangerous, except pilots don't because they know how easy it is.

I hope I don't get airsick because I get carsick and if I get airsick, I couldn't be a pilot and then I would have to go to work.

— purported to have been written by a fifth grade student at Jefferson School, Beaufort, SC. It was first published in the South Carolina Aviation News.
 
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