Are pilots away from home a lot?

The amount of time spent away from home depends on a crew member's seniority, preferences, and aircraft. The most labor-intensive schedule might place a pilot out of base for 12-15 nights in a month. An entire month's schedule for a "line holder" commonly includes four 4-day trips.

Do pilots have to stay away from home?

Flight instructors and pilots who fly short-haul domestic flights are able to be home every night more or less; however, airline pilots who fly longer routes are unable to go home every night and can be away from home for up to two weeks at a time.

Do pilots get a lot of vacation time?

We average 11-14 days off per month and most pilots will fly several weekends and most holidays unless you are senior. This usually means four 4-day trips (for me) with 2-4 days off between trips. Some senior pilots can get weekends off and choose to only fly 60-70 hours with 16-17 days off.

Do pilots stay away from family?

Yes, being a pilot more than often means that you'll have to spend a night or two…or a couple away from home, but it also means that when you are off you will be there all the time, from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night. If you ask me, I think it´s only healthy to get some alone time away sometimes.

How long do pilots stay in a destination?

Long-haul pilots will fly one leg to another country, layover for a day or more, and fly back. Most pilots will work for four days and then have three days off. This results in an average of 15 days off a month.

Are you ever home?! Life as a Regional Airline Pilot

Do pilots go home every night?

Every pilot has a different schedule, and every pilot's schedule changes from month to month. The amount of time spent away from home depends on a crew member's seniority, preferences, and aircraft. The most labor-intensive schedule might place a pilot out of base for 12-15 nights in a month.

What is the divorce rate for pilots?

Pilots - 30.5%

Just as with flight attendants, the pilot divorce rate is high at 30.5%. Divorce is so common among pilots that there's a term for it in the industry: Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome.

Is dating a pilot hard?

Not trying to dissuade you, but dating a pilot can be hard since they are often away and can't be contacted easily. You have to be ready to deal with being alone much of the time. If you want to have a weekend getaway, it may not always be possible.

Do pilots have a busy life?

Pilots have variable work schedules that may include several days of work followed by some days off. Airline pilots may spend several nights a week away from home because flight assignments often involve overnight layovers.

Do pilots stay in hotels a lot?

Depending on the type of flying that we do, we can spend a lot of time in hotels. Time in hotels can range from 12 hours to sometimes a week or more depending on the airline we work for and the type of trip we are flying.

Do pilots ever get a day off?

This depends on the airline, whether a pilot is a long haul or short haul. However, airline pilots will work fewer days than a 'normal job', with most pilots having at least ten days off a month. This may be a slightly surprising amount of time off, especially as the job as a pilot is seen as many by well-paid.

Do pilots get paid by trip?

A per diem is pay they receive for time away from their base and is meant to cover food and other expenses while on the trip. It generally ranges between $1.50 and $3 per hour. So if a pilot is away from base for 15 hours and their per diem was $2.25 they would receive $33.75.

Can I live anywhere as a pilot?

The majority of office workers live in or at least near the same city they are based. However, commercial pilots don't have such a limitation. You will basically have the freedom to live anywhere you want, whether that's “in base” or a completely different location.

How many days are you home as a pilot?

In terms of actual days, some publications say most short-haul pilots will either travel home every day if possible or work for five days and then spend three or four days at home. Long-haul pilots are said to spend more time away from home, although they do get 10 to 15 days off per month to see their families.

How long can pilots fly without a break?

Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots. The 8-hour and 10-hour flight time limitations include any additional commercial flying performed by the flight crew during the period.

Why not to date pilots?

On the other hand, here are some of the cons of dating a pilot: Unpredictable Schedules: Pilots often work irregular hours, including early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays. Their unpredictable schedules can make it challenging to plan activities and spend quality time together.

What is the hardest thing to do as a pilot?

What is the stereotype of pilots?

The longtime stereotype of airline pilots is that they are male, fearless, perfectly fit, good at math, trained in the military, blessed with perfect vision, all paid like super senior 747 captains (regardless of what they really fly) and only at work three days every other month.

Is pilot a stressful career?

Being a pilot can be stressful at times. It requires immense concentration, quick decision-making, and a lot of patience. A pilot is responsible for the well-being of all crew members and passengers on board, and they sometimes have to fly under unpredictable conditions.

What is the fail rate of pilots?

Prepared pilots are more likely to pass. In 2021, FAA data showed that 78% of all PPL pilots passed on their first attempt. In that same year, 79.5% of pilots passed their commercial pilot checkride, and the pass rate for CFI checkrides was 77.9%.

Is pilot a very stressful job?

An airline pilot can be an extremely stressful job due to the workload, responsibilities and safety of the thousands of passengers they transport around the world. Chronic levels of stress can negatively impact one's health, job performance and cognitive functioning.

Do siblings of pilots fly free?

Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

Do pilots get weekends off?

It depends on many factors, some covered here, but on average, pilots work weekends half the time. Some months will be more, some less, but this average is based on my own experience and that of several other airline pilots I know or work with.

Do pilots get homesick?

Being a Pilot Can be Lonely

Living in and out of hotel rooms can leave many feeling disjointed and homesick.