Maths
I have no dog in this fight and I am not a pilot but I have done some simple maths, based on an average job in the South East of England with a one hour commute to work each way.
hours worked
52 weeks X 40 hours is 2080 hours
5 weeks leave a year is 200 hours
7 bank holidays is 56 hours
total hours working in the year 1824 hours (assuming no O/T)
the commute to/from work adds 2 Hrs. per day for 228 days totalling 456 hours
total time away from home 2280 hours per year.
number of days worked
52 weeks at 5 days 260 days
5 weeks leave 25 days
less seven public holidays 7 days
total days worked 228 days per year.
most people earn less than £40K per year and have to pay full PAYE and NI contributions deducted at source. On the positives you do get weekends off, you do get to go to work at normal times (with the rest of humanity).
the grass always appears greener and for some people it sometimes is.