In the airlines, whats the hardest part of the work?
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Getting up for work very early in the morning. I just hated it.
Having to put up with some jerks in the left seat, but you learn to manage.
I was single so I had no problem with lifestyle and family issues. It makes it a lot easier if you're single.
I avoided long haul, can't stand it.
Having to put up with some jerks in the left seat, but you learn to manage.
I was single so I had no problem with lifestyle and family issues. It makes it a lot easier if you're single.
I avoided long haul, can't stand it.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Circumstances conspire against you and life is full of traps. If it wasn't for very helpful parents to mind my child when I am away for 3 to 5 days I would have to give up flying. My ex having her struggles to cope with life. My point being, have your better half support you on this journey of yours. If not, be ready to give it up. Or your dream will turn into a nightmare. Sounds dramatic? Possibly. But I am sure many can say "been there, done that". Depending on who you end up flying for, you could be spending up to 2/3rds of your life in hotels. Or in a crash pad. Away from home, regardless. Long haul a tad better, but you'll be jetlagged instead.
The flying, the crew, the irregularities is grand. Not much to say there.
It's tough on families. It's a young man's game.
The flying, the crew, the irregularities is grand. Not much to say there.
It's tough on families. It's a young man's game.
By far and away the biggest hassle is the constant tension between work and social/family life. The best mitigation is part time and planning to retire as early as you are able. The aggravating factors depend on the airline, but poor rostering, inefficient leave systems, commuting, sleep management, job insecurity, stress around sim/medicals and poor management are all to be considered.
I have rarely met a pilot who doesn't enjoy the job between doors closed and doors opening, but I have met some who find any of the above factors unbearable.
Perhaps, it is a career most suited to single people!
I have rarely met a pilot who doesn't enjoy the job between doors closed and doors opening, but I have met some who find any of the above factors unbearable.
Perhaps, it is a career most suited to single people!
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Hardest thing for me is getting called out of standby at 6pm for a 2-sector 2-crew night turn and trying to land at 8am having being on duty for 12 hours and awake for nearly 24 hrs.
Otherwise the hardest bit is keeping fatigue at bay and finding time to do all those things which work gets in the way of: eating healthily, exercising and sleeping.
When the aircraft doors are shut it's the best job. When the doors are open you have no authority or control.
Otherwise the hardest bit is keeping fatigue at bay and finding time to do all those things which work gets in the way of: eating healthily, exercising and sleeping.
When the aircraft doors are shut it's the best job. When the doors are open you have no authority or control.
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Join Date: Oct 2006
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Isn’t the circadian low ‘Am’? I’m talking about being adjusted to day time flying and then suddenly being asked to do a 2 crew night flight. Impossible to adjust for properly. Sometimes I’ll nap immediately after being called out and sometimes I’ll nap while on standby but then if you don’t get called out it affects your sleep at home. No-win hence the hardest aspect of the job for me personally.
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Forgive my ignorance!
I'd really love to see what an ATP contract looks like!
Join Date: Sep 2007
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You don’t need to be in an Irish airline to do a 12 hour home standby starting at 6am. I’ve just finished 2 in a row. I didn’t get up at 6am though. As AluminBird alluded to, I just put my phone on loud near my pillow and had a normal lie in!
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But consider you would have gone to bed early the night before to accomodate a 0600 call-out, so sleeping in will be tough. And if you do sleep in to accomodate the possibility of a 1759 call-out, consider that you may be on standby again at 0600 the following morning and now unable to get the early night you require.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that its all well and good saying 'crew responsibilities' - but to be rested enough for a standby callout at the beginning and end of a 12 hour standby, especialliy with multiple days of it in a row, is (in my experience) impossible.
The number one rule if you have a family is that your spouse has to be 100% behind you. No doubts that they will be able to cope. Because at the end of the day they will be the ones keeping the household together. Picking up the kids from school, doing the parents evenings, Mopping up the tears and the tantrums while you are at work. Your hours are long and irregular and there is virtually no set pattern. You live your roster month to month. And even if you do split up, which is a possibility, they will still be dependant on your roster until your children are 18.
The he job is great, but it’s just a job. Make sure you have a life outside of work.
Its also has its family life benefits. I’m the only dad that regularly can drop my kids off and pick them up from the school gates exactly because I have that irregular shift pattern. Not always, but very often.
The job is like any other. Some days are good some are bad and some are downright awful. Most of the people you work with are great, because you all understand the job. Some are absolute idiots, but they are thankfully reducing.
Get your our life out of work sorted and keep nurturing it.
The he job is great, but it’s just a job. Make sure you have a life outside of work.
Its also has its family life benefits. I’m the only dad that regularly can drop my kids off and pick them up from the school gates exactly because I have that irregular shift pattern. Not always, but very often.
The job is like any other. Some days are good some are bad and some are downright awful. Most of the people you work with are great, because you all understand the job. Some are absolute idiots, but they are thankfully reducing.
Get your our life out of work sorted and keep nurturing it.
medicals and the simulator. The older you get (been flying since 23 and now 43) the harder it seems! I've had two small blips in the medical since turning 40...and although I haven't had an issue with a simulator before, the older I get the more pressure I put on myself to perform well! will enjoy retirement in just over 10 yrs when I wont have to worry about either!
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The social side of things can really take a knock from the job. However, in reality, I don’t know if I could do anything else now? I’ve done the daily grind, and even with weekends off, I still hate the thought of going back to a desk and doing something that I would only do for money.
Dealing with people with ego. The industry seemed to be a magnet for people with very high opinions of themselves, however it’s getting a little less so; possibly? There’s nothing worse than having to listen to some prat self gratify themselves all the way to the Canaries and back. It makes a long day waaaaaayyy longer. The lowest form of conversation & personality on the flight deck imho
Dealing with people with ego. The industry seemed to be a magnet for people with very high opinions of themselves, however it’s getting a little less so; possibly? There’s nothing worse than having to listen to some prat self gratify themselves all the way to the Canaries and back. It makes a long day waaaaaayyy longer. The lowest form of conversation & personality on the flight deck imho
