Just told the missus
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: UK
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Its a fact that people who aren't in the kno think pilots all earn 100K and live a lavish lifestyle.
How little they know.......
How little they know.......
As for this 100K sh*te...I wish...you're only in this industry if you are passionate about it as you could earn more elsewhere for sure.
And yes, its a crying shame that there are some naughty boys out there who run off with a "fresher model" once flying the line. IMHO they are in the minority though - this Leonardo Di Caprio pilot image is just another myth perpetuated by the media and people who don't know better.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Malta
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was wondering if pilots in training take their significant others with them while traveling to train?
My partner intends to come with me when I head overseas for training. However haven't seen too many threads of similar situations.
My partner intends to come with me when I head overseas for training. However haven't seen too many threads of similar situations.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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fabiensf,
My G/f came with me when I went to do my PPL and stayed for the first 2 weeks. She amused herself during the day by going to the beach and the shops and popping to the flying club to have lunch with me at lunch time, then we would spend the evening together.
As long as she understands you are there to train, and she WILL come 2nd to that, then there should be no problems. If she has it in her mind that once you get there, you will forget about the flying and hang out with her and just have a holiday with a bit of flying here and there, then you need to set her straight before you go.
My G/f came with me when I went to do my PPL and stayed for the first 2 weeks. She amused herself during the day by going to the beach and the shops and popping to the flying club to have lunch with me at lunch time, then we would spend the evening together.
As long as she understands you are there to train, and she WILL come 2nd to that, then there should be no problems. If she has it in her mind that once you get there, you will forget about the flying and hang out with her and just have a holiday with a bit of flying here and there, then you need to set her straight before you go.
Join Date: May 2008
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Interesting topic, my wife is 100% supportive to wards my training (so far) I guess the fact that my biz is paying for half of it helps! However, I would never do anything to jeopardizes my families financial stability to pursue personal goals. I think family support is crucial when taking on large challenges both mentally and financially.
I'm 29 and wish I did it younger while still living at home and just worked to pay for schooling!
I'm 29 and wish I did it younger while still living at home and just worked to pay for schooling!
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I did not take my partner anywhere near an aircraft when I was training, or hour building. It was partly due to the fact that I didn't feel completely safe, and besides, she would have found it boring - particularly the hour building which I did abroad.
Pilots pay is piss poor. I still get some nut-jock asking how many days I stay in Spain before flying home - when I tell them it is about 30 mins, they are shocked. It is just like a bus driver, except the view is better, there are more buttons to press, it requires more skill, and it is a damn sight more dangerous.
I find it incredibly difficult to survive with a decent standard of living, as a result I have a separate income now, based on my previous career. In real terms, pilot salaries are falling each year. The average jet f/o salary is about what it was 10 years ago - so in real terms it is much lower. The average Capt salary is also about the same as 10 years ago, except now the extra benefits are minimal, and in my airline there is no increment. Pilots are their own worst enemy, they look after themselves at the expense of their colleagues. It'll be no different when the current crop of 1-4 year f/o want their command, as they accept lower pay and conditions to get that coveted position.
Read the Aer lingus thread in airports & airlines to see how the management of airlines think.
Pilots pay is piss poor. I still get some nut-jock asking how many days I stay in Spain before flying home - when I tell them it is about 30 mins, they are shocked. It is just like a bus driver, except the view is better, there are more buttons to press, it requires more skill, and it is a damn sight more dangerous.
I find it incredibly difficult to survive with a decent standard of living, as a result I have a separate income now, based on my previous career. In real terms, pilot salaries are falling each year. The average jet f/o salary is about what it was 10 years ago - so in real terms it is much lower. The average Capt salary is also about the same as 10 years ago, except now the extra benefits are minimal, and in my airline there is no increment. Pilots are their own worst enemy, they look after themselves at the expense of their colleagues. It'll be no different when the current crop of 1-4 year f/o want their command, as they accept lower pay and conditions to get that coveted position.
Read the Aer lingus thread in airports & airlines to see how the management of airlines think.
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brisbane, Qld
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Becoming a pilot has always been a dream for me but I actually gave it up and concentrated on my real job (accounting) which is as exciting as cat sh#t but it does pay me $125k+ a year (+ bonus). I guess it comes down to enjoyment which for me is about -50%.
Its my mrs that actually said (after the airshow we just had in Bris) "honey, this has always been your dream and I support you, why dont you just go for it".
thats the best support anyone can get eh? a bit of financial support would certainly help tho 
Its my mrs that actually said (after the airshow we just had in Bris) "honey, this has always been your dream and I support you, why dont you just go for it".
thats the best support anyone can get eh?
a bit of financial support would certainly help tho
Upto The Buffers
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If you're going to take them with you, make sure you've sorted out LOTS of stuff for them to do. The vast majority of women don't like playing second fiddle to anything, so if she's the type who's going to start giving you grief after a couple of days I'd think very carefully about the negative impact her presence will have on your training.
Fortunately mine as about as laid back as they come. We spent most of my post-PPL hours doing long weekends in interesting parts of the country, shoe-horning the Cardinal in and out of 400m farm strips etc... She's sat in the back during many a training session aswell, although wasn't so keen on the partial panel recovery from unusual attitudes.
As with everything, some are great, some are a pain in the ass, and most are somewhere in between. Give some thought to the planning and I don't see why it couldn't work out just fine.
Fortunately mine as about as laid back as they come. We spent most of my post-PPL hours doing long weekends in interesting parts of the country, shoe-horning the Cardinal in and out of 400m farm strips etc... She's sat in the back during many a training session aswell, although wasn't so keen on the partial panel recovery from unusual attitudes.
As with everything, some are great, some are a pain in the ass, and most are somewhere in between. Give some thought to the planning and I don't see why it couldn't work out just fine.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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well the plan is for us to find a flat to rent somewhere close to wherever I'll be doing my training, and she'll find a full time job in the vicinity.
She knows it's a big commitment & that money will be tight but is supporting me nonetheless. We were planning to leave Malta regardless of whether I started comercial training so hopeful will be a troublefree transition.
She knows it's a big commitment & that money will be tight but is supporting me nonetheless. We were planning to leave Malta regardless of whether I started comercial training so hopeful will be a troublefree transition.
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
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If you're going to take them with you, make sure you've sorted out LOTS of stuff for them to do.
You ARE talking about children aren't you?Cheers
Whirls
Upto The Buffers
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Oh, give over. I was, of course, referring to matching your potential living location with her interests (for example: shopping, horse-riding, gym, salon etc., whatever she's into). Stuff she can happily engage in without you needing to be there every second of the day. If she's working, great!
The only reason I say that is because a friend did his PPL in Florida and was of course pretty busy all day, every day. He and his Mrs thought they could combine it with a few weeks holiday but within 3 days she was bored out of her mind, he quickly felt her frustration and it had a decidedly negative influence on his flying progress (mind not on the job, feeling obligated to finish as early as possible etc). They ended up changing their accomodation from being near the airport to being near the town/beach. She ended up doing a 5 day diving course and went airboating in the Everglades.
The only reason I say that is because a friend did his PPL in Florida and was of course pretty busy all day, every day. He and his Mrs thought they could combine it with a few weeks holiday but within 3 days she was bored out of her mind, he quickly felt her frustration and it had a decidedly negative influence on his flying progress (mind not on the job, feeling obligated to finish as early as possible etc). They ended up changing their accomodation from being near the airport to being near the town/beach. She ended up doing a 5 day diving course and went airboating in the Everglades.
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My Dream
Thank God i have a very suppotive wife. I am 32 years old and starting my flight training in January 2009. It has been a good 16 yrs waiting for this day to come. Saving the little I could, and spending most of my weekends at airports just watching aircrafts landing and taking off. To me, that was spending my weekends doing what I loved. To those thinking of following your dreams i say to you, "Let nothing hold you back". I would rather live a poor life doing something I love, than be a miserable wealthy bastard. All jobs have a begining and an end, and all jobs have a low and a high. Follow the money and see if it makes you happy, follow your heart and passion and seee what life you lead. I am glad to be finally doing what i could only dream of and i know there a lot more people out there scared to follow their dreams. To then I say, "you never know until you do it, get balls and do what you were destined to do" 
You ARE talking about children aren't you?
