As an Airplane Pilot, are you away from home alot?

Question

I am seriously considering becoming an Airline pilot as I prepare for collage. I want to learn more about the life of a pilot and want to know if you are away from home for extended periods of time.

Answer 1

it all depends on who you fly for.. Airlines tend to overnight you quite a bit.. i work for a small cargo operator and im home after every trip.. ive only overnighted 3 times in the past 9 months.. but alot of my flights start at night and dont end till the next afternoon.. so it just all depends on the individual company

Answer 2

I am not a pilot but have had friends that are...In either commercial or passenger flights, they are most always away for 3 to 5 days in a row, with layovers, etc. It's not a good occupation with a new marriage or starting a family.

Answer 3

I fly jet charter and we don't fly as much as airline pilots, but we're typically gone a lot more.  I sit in hotel rooms ALOT.   Being on the road is very normal for this type of job, I think my longest trip away has been 13 days.  You just have to get creative with killing time... why do you think I browse this website!  Did I mention I don't have a schedule?

Hopefully someday I'll have one of those jobs where I do a few long haul legs a month and get to be home the rest of the time.

Answer 4

check out this link for information about this profession   http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos107.htm

Answer 5

Hmmm...I think that will be a 'yes' in the job description!...unless you can work the internal city hoppers...

Answer 6

Alot in an Air Traffic Controller sense?.......or Alot in a Truck Driver sense?

I work 6 days on 8 days off or 3 days on 2 days off. Im regional and choose to fly more.

AA pilots fly the lowest amount of hours out of any U.S carrier so it all depends.

Answer 7

I can't remember the last time I overnighted somewhere else.

Answer 8

Some are.  Some not.  But yes, typically an airline job keeps you away from home plenty.

Answer 9

Home? Home? What's that?

Well all kidding aside, bet on being away 50 to 60% of the time

Answer 10

I am a pilot for a corporate dept.  I am only averaging about 3 overnights a month.  Thats really low for a pilot though.  Most are gone 10-15 nights a month.