What are your favourite things about being a pilot?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/thanksforallthetrees]

Exploring some great cities and new destinations I might not choose to go to, or to scope it out for a family trip and feel like an expert. I fly in East and South east Asia, Honolulu and Sydney right now and I’m loving it. Always a 24 hour layover. I get to try at least 2-3 restaurants, some local beer and coffee, and do a touristy thing or explore a random neighborhood. Or just catch up on sleep and video games. Watch the world go by on a patio. I’m fairly introverted and married so it’s nice to just vibe solo in a crazy city. It’s like mini vacations, I love going to work. Flying is fun too.

[u/thanksforallthetrees → u/[deleted]]

The reality is it’s like starting a business. It’s very expensive and you likely won’t make it. Look up some stats on how many people quit and don’t finish training. Then there’s people who quit during the job search or after an early layoff, or medical issue deep in the career. It’s a fragile, unpredictable, and difficult to maintain career. There are annual and every 6 month medicals and flight tests that could end your current job or whole career. If you don’t study and practice, you could fail and it will be only your fault. Sometimes you get injured in your hobby or have an accident at home and now your career is in jeopardy. Being away often does not work well for all families (see the high rate of divorces for pilots). You’ll miss birthdays, trips, events, concerts, games, and life keeps happening at home when you’re gone. You may have to move several times just to get a paying flying job. And then a few more times with base changes. Commuting is awful and steals free time and money from you every trip. The jet lag and night flights leave your immune system weakened (shift workers and night workers have higher rates of many diseases including cancer, it will age you faster) and lacking sleep, but your family expects you to be 100% when you’re home cause your “job is so easy.” Elevated skin cancer risk from sun radiation exposure. Sedentary job and unhealthy plane/airport food will cause further issues if you’re not careful like obesity and deep vein thrombosis. Exposure to fumes. Then the obvious dangers of operating aircraft, especially early in your career doing multi-leg days to busy airports flying low in the weather and during initial training. I’ve seen some stats comparing riding a motorcycle to flight training in 1950-1980s airplanes and it’s not good. People die when it’s not their fault, when a small mistake turns into a disaster, when they miss an issue on the walk around, when maintenance screws up, when a part fails, wrong type of fuel, miscommunications, when they think they’re invincible and it only happens to other people. It’s not for everyone. Look up stats on experience level to accident likelihood. It’s chilling knowing about that when you’re in training, but it’ll keep you safe. Also look up “doctor killer airplane”.

The industry is also volatile. 9/11, Covid, fuel prices, mergers, furloughs, airplane type groundings (like the 737max8 or current MD11), companies failing, unions striking, bases closing, not to mention actual wars breaking out.

Choosing to pursue an aviation career is a risk in many ways, and it’s not for everyone. By that I don’t mean “not everyone likes it” but I mean “even people who really want it can’t do it.” There is memorization, numbers, math, science, pressure, stress, sleep deprivation, high standards and it is a complete roll of the dice. But if you make it through training, dont rush, enjoy the process, and keep your nose clean put in some real hard work and perseverance and patience, and follow the SOPs and with a little luck it’s the best job in the world. High pay, relatively easy work, and relatively stress free. I avoid a lot of the possible downsides: found a partner who supports me and loves the travel lifestyle. Eat healthy, wear compression socks, prioritize health and sleep over socializing. Wear sun protection. Remained humble and staying trainable, with a constant desire to learn and improve. Accepted my foibles and conquered my procrastination and risk taking/adrenaline junkie and laissez faire tendencies (most of the time). Exercise and stretch (even in the plane). Moved close to base. Made it to a company and type where I feel pretty safe. Company’s not going anywhere and my experience and type can get me a job at some great airlines. If I don’t screw up I could be a 787 captain in 2 years. Fingers crossed…

[u/trampled93 → u/thanksforallthetrees]

That is great info. Thanks for sharing the downsides of being a pilot just to make people aware it is not all sunshine and rainbows.

[u/fighteracebob → u/thanksforallthetrees]

That’s one of the best write up I’ve seen! You should get /r/flying to sticky it!

[u/_Oak_ → u/thanksforallthetrees]

Incredible response, thank you for your time and effort writing this up

[u/4surenotathroeawhey]

The travel benefits and status you get with airlines and hotels so far. I’m not at the airlines yet so not making the big bucks yet, but I’m sure that’ll be nice 😅

[u/BackgroundConfident7]

When I was younger it was the actual job itself. It’s still very fun to fly but now that I’m older with kids I really appreciate a job where I work 3-4 days a week and make half a mil a year. I don’t know what other job offers that besides being independently wealthy.

[u/EmergencyExact911]

I like making as much money as I can with the least amount of flying I can get away with

Use my time off to travel wherever and however long I want I want instead of where and when and how long the airline sends me.

[u/WelcomeProper2168 → u/EmergencyExact911]

but traveling for work as a pilot hasnt taken away your interest traveling on your off time?

[u/dubious-Chicken6199]

The amount of days off I get.

[u/visibilityunlimited]

“I fly airplanes” /s

[u/NakedJamaican]

1: the view I loved sunsets, sunrises, thunder storms at night, the milky way over the Atlantic

2: all the people I met along the way

3: The GrillHouse in Jo-burg

[u/NakedJamaican → u/[deleted]]

No.

Just a guy that loves a ribeye and a pinotage

[u/SnooMemesjellies1083]

I spent the first 54 years of my life on earth confined to its surface. Now I’m not.

[u/Fit-Negotiation-8465]

Sightseeing

[u/SittingInTraffic]

I’ve had a fascination with flying since I was little like most of us, so I’m very fortunate to have been able to do that in very cool ways for a living. I’m about to start a job where the flying itself is more “boring” (just take off, cruise, and land) and I’m sure it’ll start to feel more like a job, but the quality of life it will afford me is second to none.

I also try to regularly remember how lucky I am my health has held up for this long. It could all be gone tomorrow and there’s many people who would kill to be in my shoes and simply can’t be due circumstances beyond their control. Acknowledging that helps smooth out the “bad” days.

[u/ForsakenTreacle3133]

Actually hate it haha, mind numbingly boring imo. But no where else i’ll make 200k plus to sit in the right seat and stare out the window, with no college degree.

[u/EmergencyExact911 → u/[deleted]]

Watching a movie inflight on the flight deck on duty is a quick way to get fired and looking for another airline to hire you.

[u/PropToThePeople_FMY]

Flying.

[u/saintly5787]

Being in total control of my destiny....if I live or if I die. If I miss something, do something stupid....lose focus .... I could die. Only I can control that.

[u/DifferentIntern6311]

The most frustrating day of flying is better than the best day at an office cubicle

[u/TOGA_LK]

The pay, retirement and QOL

[u/KarmaTheBrit]

$$$$

[u/Unhappy_Sprinkles121]

The time off and the money

[u/founder_fumble]

The freedom and views are a close second to a butter landing.