work life balance

[Liveforthesky]

Hi team,

Been looking at becoming a pilot for a couple of years now and I think I have found a way to raise the cash over the next number of years. Going down the module route.

I'm thinking about future jobs, whether to go passenger, cargo, privet work, or even helicopter stuff. I think the overriding factor for me will be work life balance as when I have the cash I'll be looking to settle down, so short haul would trump long haul. I understand that Christmas and holidays etc are often worked and that hours are long but I want to minimise this impact while also enjoying a career in aviation. Anyone know of any resources or articles out there that can give me an insight into various careers piloting and the work life balance generally involved.

Thanks.

[rudestuff]

This forum is a great resource. There are flying jobs with a great work life balance, but the reality is the first flying job is usually whatever you can get, if you can get one at all. If you're are lucky enough to get offered a decent job, it'll almost certainly involve moving away, probably to a country you won't really want to live in for the first three or four years until you can get a UK base.

Do plenty of research. The first money you should spend is on a trial lesson or two and a class one medical. Decide what you want to do - there is a big difference between aeroplanes and helicopters. At the moment there are more jobs than ever fixed-wing, and hardly any rotary. And Helicopter training is twice the price.

[Nurse2Pilot]

I think the short story is that you won't have much work-life balance for the first 3+ years as even if you can get a job, you're essentially training for that first year and bottom-of-the-food chain for the next two. Also doubt you'll get long haul as first options so it'll definitely be short haul.

[VFE]

It is possible to eventually get a pilot job that offers a good work/life balance but invariably this will involve a degree of compromise, be it salary, home/work location, days/weeks away in return for days/weeks at home, etc etc ...

Before you begin a career in aviation you'd be wise to plan for the worst case scenario (but by all means hope for the best!) and go into the career with the mindest that you will take any job, anywhere because 80% of the time that's the only way into your first job.

Once you gain experience then your options widen and the potential to carve a decent work/life balance increase.

For me it was a long struggle. Many give up in the time it took me to land my first airline job. Prior to that I lived a hand to mouth existence doing instructing and other general aviation gigs whilst being financially strangled by the requirement to maintain a home location (for various reasons).

After 10+ years I now fly for an airline that currently offers a great work/life balance and am happier now than ever. But it's been a struggle. Go in with eyes wide open!

[Dracarys]

I agree with the above comments.

I was fortunate enough to make it through a sponsorship programme so didn't have the same struggle that most people have to get an airline job. But the only wise thing to do is to take what you can get until you can get something better. Getting your foot on the ladder initially is the most important thing.

After a while other opportunities and better living conditions / pay come along. I'm not sure how it works in other airlines, but at BA there are a significant number of pilots who work part time and they still earn very good money. And after a while when you get more senior you get much more control over the work you do. So work life balance can be very good.

Hope it's helpful in some way.