Hi Everyone,

I am interested in becoming a professional pilot, flying corporate, or something other than airlines. But I also am a sabbath keeper (keeping friday sunset to saturday sunset), and so I want know what my chances are of getting a job, with no saturday work, before launching into this as a career.
I figure thats nearly impossible wih the airlines, but for other jobs, that would depend on the employer?

So what are my chances of getting a job with all Sabbaths off?
I would work any and all other times.

I would guess that you guys haven't really tried, if you don't keep sabbaths.
But Thanks for answering.

Nat

There was a chap at BA who managed on shorthaul for his whole career without working Sundays - religious reasons. That was however a while in the past, so I doubt it would be possible in the current day and age.

I doubt the corporate operators would be able to accomodate, as their model is by nature far less planned than a scheduled, charter or lo-co operator. Lo-co would, I expect, be far easier to work around, though even then you might have to make a compromise in case of delays on occassion?

You really need to find another Sabbath-observer who has successfully experienced life in this career for the best advice.

I know of bloke who currently works for BA who manages to get pretty much every Sunday off (his Sabbath, being a Christian) through the bidding system. Not a guarantee, but not too bad, either..

With lots of other airlines - lo-costs and charters - I don't think you'd have a hope, to be honest.

Absolutely no chance whatsoever.and remember there are loads of 'wannabes' who will work every day offered.
Forget it.

I'd quite like every Friday and Saturday night off too!:}

Seriously, I think this has been brought up before and the consensus was that El Al is your best bet! You might have to relocate though.

Do EL Al not fly on Saturdays?

Fat chance.

Most express parcel post and mail doesn't fly at weekends so the likes of Air Contractors and DHL UK would have most a/c parked over Friday/Saturday evenings. Contractors do a Saturday Warsaw-Paris run now so nothing is set in stone.

no chance. you would not be flexable. if a trip scheduled for Thurs runs on till Friday (as they frequently do) everyone is scuppered...

With all due respect, what is more important to you? Religion, or your career? If you really want to fly, religion be buggered, fly on Saturdays. If you believe anyone other than yourself and your deity of choice cares which day of the week you have off, then get a public service job in the city instead.
Dont expect airlines, especially small GA operators or major airlines to give two hoots about your Sabbath.

I remember a thread like this from some Jewish guy in NY a few years back, did a search for it but cant find it. Basically the same kind of replies as this. When does the Sabbath actually run from, checked the EL AL website and some of their flights depart NY 11.30pm local time, is this outwith the sabbath? Is it sunset Friday to sunset Saturday? What happens if you are fling late on a Friday get delayed or diverted, you're pretty much scuppered then? Good luck.

"With all due respect, what is more important to you? Religion, or your career? If you really want to fly, religion be buggered, fly on Saturdays."

Lasiorhinus, that is the most stupid ignorant comment you could have made. Obviously to an atheist like yourself, where religion means nothing, the career would take precedence. Please understand that every religious person in the world, will ALWAYS choose their god and religion over any job, no matter how gratifying the job is.

Take a minute and think over what you posted, its not necessarily the smartest thing you've said.

Actually, you may have a better chance at an airline, especially one that's doing a lotr of hiring. You may have enough seniority to pick your days off pretty soon.

Lots of cargo feeders only fly during the week. Check Ameriflight.

www.ameriflight.com

Please understand that every religious person in the world, will ALWAYS choose their god and religion over any job, no matter how gratifying the job is.



Good for them. One more job for me.

Sorry, but this just isn't the kind of job where you can expect to pick and choose your days off for any reason. If you're a pilot, you'll be working on the Sabbath. You're also likely to be working for any number of major milestones in the life and development of your family - nobody cares if your son is about to take his first step, there's a plane that needs a pilot. If you hope to go corporate, you can normally expect to be on call essentially whenever you're needed, be it the Sabbath, a major holiday, or the end of the world. If you manage to meet someone at a small corporation with an aviation program, they are sometimes quite accomodating toward the pilots they like. Of course, those jobs generally aren't very stable. If you've simply got to fly, then there are many flight instructor jobs where you can essentially make your own hours. One of the best instructors I ever had was a very devout Jew, and he always had plenty of work to do on the days when his faith allowed it. These jobs don't normally pay very much, but they are one option. Even if you become senior at a company someday and can bid the Sabbath off, you'll only make it that far by working every day you're needed while you're young.

Your devotion to your religion isn't something I share, but it is something I respect. As blunt as Lasiorhinus and flyboyike are being, they're right. This job market is brutally competitive, and employers want pilots with as few strings attached as possible. God may be our co-pilot, but He doesn't work in the scheduling department (apologies to Col. Scott). We've all sacrificed something to get to where we are, it's just a matter of what we're willing and able to do.