Commercial Pilot + Sport = ???
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Commercial Pilot + Sport = ???
Hey guys just wondering if anyone has had any experiences trying to play sport whilst being a commercial pilot. Main reason im asking is cause I really like playing soccer but I know that if I get injured it will definately impact on me performing my duties as a commercial pilot so as much as I'd love to keep playing im at a bit of a cross roads about it.
Any opinions/personal experiences/pros and cons would be appreciated!!
Cheers
Any opinions/personal experiences/pros and cons would be appreciated!!
Cheers
What if its an eye injury or you are knocked unconscious? Just having sick leave is only half the problem getting your class 1 back is the other. In that way being a commercial pilot is a big consideration if you are going to play a contact sport.
I have also been thinking about this. Footy is a big part of my life, and would be interesting to see if any of the pilots who moved interstate have joined the local clubs.
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Rory Underwood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rory Underwood.
England Rugby Union International and RAF jet pilot.
Lace your boots up mate.
Rory Underwood.
England Rugby Union International and RAF jet pilot.
Lace your boots up mate.
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A friend of mine who later became a captain at Ansett was also an AFL footballer for Essendon. But he had to give up footy at that level because of the risk of injury.
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What about playing sport while actually flying, combining both at the same time?? Just don't do it from a Choppa, CASA don't approve!
Last edited by gobbledock; 2nd Sep 2012 at 10:18.
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I think some of you guys are overthinking this.
You can get injured playing sport, and that injury can prevent you from flying, but so what? There are plenty of normal everyday activities that can leave you permanently injured and not be able to fly again.
Are you going to stop driving a car? Are you going to stop drinking at the pub with your mates? Use power tools in the shed at home?
There's an amazing amount of stuff out there that can kill or injure you.
One of my mates was an FO with Ansett. Didn't stop him from being an Army reserve Commando. I took a year off flying and did a tour of Iraq for six months as a soldier. Plenty of my pilot friends race cars, ride motorcross, ride horses, shoot, hunt, etc.
If you're going to stop doing things that you enjoy, simply because it may
then you run the risk of becoming a very sad individual, IMHO.
DIVOSH!
P.S. Gobbledock LOL!
You can get injured playing sport, and that injury can prevent you from flying, but so what? There are plenty of normal everyday activities that can leave you permanently injured and not be able to fly again.
Are you going to stop driving a car? Are you going to stop drinking at the pub with your mates? Use power tools in the shed at home?
There's an amazing amount of stuff out there that can kill or injure you.
One of my mates was an FO with Ansett. Didn't stop him from being an Army reserve Commando. I took a year off flying and did a tour of Iraq for six months as a soldier. Plenty of my pilot friends race cars, ride motorcross, ride horses, shoot, hunt, etc.
If you're going to stop doing things that you enjoy, simply because it may
impact on me performing my duties as a commercial pilot
DIVOSH!
P.S. Gobbledock LOL!
Last edited by Di_Vosh; 2nd Sep 2012 at 10:41.
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I played Aussie Rules and A Squash and had a bit of a run in Rugger right up until I was 30. Then I took up triathlon as it was non contact. I had lots of injuries black eyes concussions and various ankle and knee injuries.
My employers never seemed to mind. But then again I hardly ever took sick days just for the concussions.
It is good for the soul to have an Interest away from flying and your job.
Maybe tennis or golf if you are really worried about your future. Safest sports I can think of. Plus soccer is pretty much non contact anyway.
Craven
My employers never seemed to mind. But then again I hardly ever took sick days just for the concussions.
It is good for the soul to have an Interest away from flying and your job.
Maybe tennis or golf if you are really worried about your future. Safest sports I can think of. Plus soccer is pretty much non contact anyway.
Craven
The main problem isn't injury, it's time.
VERY hard to commit to a team sport with the irregular hours you fly as an Airline pilot.
VERY hard to commit to a team sport with the irregular hours you fly as an Airline pilot.
Alas, I think this was my last year playing footy. I have been saying that for the last 8 years tho. I've gotta a bung everything, fortunately nothing to stop me flying tho. In recent years I have thought more about the risks tho, and thats probably a good time to stop.
I have trained (sometimes played) with local clubs all over the place on my travels, and particularly in regional areas they're always keen to have an old hack run around, or certainly dont seem to mind if you join in anyway.
I think I might just stay involved by training as it keeps the verandah away from the tool shed, and its great to get out and have a kick even if you dont get the fix of the game.
I guess there are other inferior sports to participate in
, but there's nothing like chasing the pigskin with ya mates...
The thing is, are you gonna wrap yourself up in cotton wool for your whole life?Maybe its a good idea, but maybe you miss out.
I have trained (sometimes played) with local clubs all over the place on my travels, and particularly in regional areas they're always keen to have an old hack run around, or certainly dont seem to mind if you join in anyway.
I think I might just stay involved by training as it keeps the verandah away from the tool shed, and its great to get out and have a kick even if you dont get the fix of the game.
I guess there are other inferior sports to participate in
, but there's nothing like chasing the pigskin with ya mates...The thing is, are you gonna wrap yourself up in cotton wool for your whole life?Maybe its a good idea, but maybe you miss out.
I raced sports cars for the entire time I was flying, never made a secret of it and it was never a problem for the company.
I finished with that flying stuff in 2009, ad my first heavy crash last year in the racer so fortunately my sport never interfered with my work.
(Though it helped pay for a lot of it!
)
I finished with that flying stuff in 2009, ad my first heavy crash last year in the racer so fortunately my sport never interfered with my work.
(Though it helped pay for a lot of it!
)
Jeez guys, stop stressing. I had 50 years as a pilot, during which time I raced motorbikes (one crash), drove in a major car rally (in which we crashed twice - no injuries), did 300 hours in hang gliders (three crashes) and so many solo offshore passages in my various boats I lost count.
To keep fit I ran with the HHH in stinking heat and made a point of always drinking a dozen beers after each run.
Injuries? Broken rib (motor bike) dislocated elbow (hang glider), broken ankle (HHH) and once laid my hand open with a knife while sailing and had to stitch it myself.
Not surprisingly I couldn't get loss of licence insurance, but what the hell - something's gonna get you in the end.
Soccer is surely fairly low risk anyway? From what I have seen of that game, it is more dangerous to be a supporter in the crowd than a player.
To keep fit I ran with the HHH in stinking heat and made a point of always drinking a dozen beers after each run.
Injuries? Broken rib (motor bike) dislocated elbow (hang glider), broken ankle (HHH) and once laid my hand open with a knife while sailing and had to stitch it myself.
Not surprisingly I couldn't get loss of licence insurance, but what the hell - something's gonna get you in the end.
Soccer is surely fairly low risk anyway? From what I have seen of that game, it is more dangerous to be a supporter in the crowd than a player.
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16 year old girl Netballers and 40 year old male Soccer players keep Orthopaedic Surgeons in fast cars, big boats and large mansions. Good luck with that!
I play sport 3 times a week (soccer and basketball), but the closest I've come to hurting myself lately was when I tripped and fell off the wing a few weeks back, thankfully on to soft ground
The positives of sport well out way the possible negatives.
Last edited by Wanderin_dave; 3rd Sep 2012 at 05:21.
I have also been thinking about this. Footy is a big part of my life, and would be interesting to see if any of the pilots who moved interstate have joined the local clubs.
Airlines like to see some form of sporting activity, I remember being asked about which sport I played during an interview.
Skills such as team work, leadership and coordination are developed which you will need during your career. The physical fitness side if things is also important, Emirates won't look at you with a BMI over 30. You may find the dangers of being an unfit slob out weigh the dangers of sporting injuries.
Probably best to stick to the safer mainstream sports. Being an adrenalin junkie who enjoys dangerous activities isn't what the airlines want.
Skills such as team work, leadership and coordination are developed which you will need during your career. The physical fitness side if things is also important, Emirates won't look at you with a BMI over 30. You may find the dangers of being an unfit slob out weigh the dangers of sporting injuries.
Probably best to stick to the safer mainstream sports. Being an adrenalin junkie who enjoys dangerous activities isn't what the airlines want.
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Being an adrenalin junkie who enjoys dangerous activities isn't what the airlines want.
Tech diving, climbing and so on are reasonably safe if you get proper training. More people get carted off to hospital after they decide to give soccer/surfing/running a crack for the first time in fifteen years without factoring in their lack of fitness.
I'm not a pilot but I have worked irregular hours for decades, and varied rosters can make team sports difficult. Not impossible, but difficult, particularly if it's the standard 'two nights a week training and game on Saturday' format.
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I was a Member of the Australian Olympic Drinking Team for many years and it didn't impact my airline career. Indeed, I think the inebriants I worked with in aviation probably enhanced my Olympic training. I also raced stock cars and sailed off shore yachts, often whilst engaged in serious Olympic training.
Never hurt me or affected my career!
How about Bruce Dickinson, B757 airline pilot, Iron Maiden musician, PPRuNe Mod and a good guy?
Never hurt me or affected my career!
How about Bruce Dickinson, B757 airline pilot, Iron Maiden musician, PPRuNe Mod and a good guy?