Death of a close relative leave. How long?

[MaRiO FDZ]

Hi fellows

I have a question. Specially for those of you in Part 121. If a close relative of yours passed away, how much time off do you counsider reasonable (or prudent) one would need off for personal performance? And how much time does an airline would allow you off?

This given I saw this experience on AOPA Air Safety institute about this gentleman that lost his moher, went flying before he was ready and endedp up landing a sea plane with the gear down and his son payed the ultimate price.

Thanks for your inputs

Take Care

 

[ozziecat35]

I don't think there's a specific time frame, it's going to differ for each person I think.

 

[Fixtur]

IMSAFE?

 

[dhood84]

Yeah each person grieves differently. I wouldn't hop back in the saddle right away for any death that was close. I lost a close family member a year ago to drugs and I grieved for a month since it was such a close relative. That was just me and my employer was very accommodating with it. But that is just me, YMMV.

Derek

 

[FL350]

Each person is different. I was in the air a couple days after I lost my father, and I felt good because I knew he'd be proud to see me flying.
Do what feels right for you

 

[Baronman]

Hi fellows

I have a question. Specially for those of you in Part 121. If a close relative of yours passed away, how much time off do you counsider reasonable (or prudent) one would need off for personal performance? And how much time does an airline would allow you off?

This given I saw this experience on AOPA Air Safety institute about this gentleman that lost his moher, went flying before he was ready and endedp up landing a sea plane with the gear down and his son payed the ultimate price.

Thanks for your inputs

Take Care

Totally depends on the situation.

A sick elderly parent who passes is a totally different situation than a child passing unexpectedly. A few days for the former, the latter I couldn't imagine how long I'd need.

 

[MaRiO FDZ]

IMSAFE?

Precisely. Thanks for your replies. I agree it depends totally on the circumstances and the person involved. I'm curious as well as how do, say a prudent Part 121 or 135 employer would handle it. I'm curious.

Thanks again

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Totally depends on the situation.

A sick elderly parent who passes is a totally different situation than a child passing unexpectedly. A few days for the former, the latter I couldn't imagine how long I'd need.

Pretty much.

Good employer: "Take as long as you need."

 

[skypilot6]

Any half decent employer should give you as long as you need.

However Bereavement pay only lasts a day or two, to a week depending on how close the loss was, and what the company policy says. Beyond that one could expect time off to be unpaid, unless using vacation or sick time. This should not be a determining factor to going back to work if not ready, but it is important to note.

 

[MaRiO FDZ]

Any half decent employer should give you as long as you need.

However Bereavement pay only lasts a day or two, to a week depending on how close the loss was, and what the company policy says. Beyond that one could expect time off to be unpaid, unless using vacation or sick time. This should not be a determining factor to going back to work if not ready, but it is important to note.

A) Agreed, as long as it takes.
B) This is pearls right here, these type of answers are what I'm looking for. Common sense on all parts involved, but I'm curious how are these things usually handled.
C) Completely Agree. If your 100% is not the 100% the airplane demands, stay on the ground.

Thanks again

 

[Autothrust Blue]

A) Agreed, as long as it takes.
B) This is pearls right here, these type of answers are what I'm looking for. Common sense on all parts involved, but I'm curious how are these things usually handled.
C) Completely Agree. If your 100% is not the 100% the airplane demands, stay on the ground.

Thanks again

Indeed. Our BRMT leave is 3 days with pay at 100%.

 

[Hacker15e]

I think it is important to not cross the lines between what an employer will allow in terms of time off to ensure a pilot is mentally centered enough to be safe, and what that employer will pay for.

Two entirely different and separate issues.

 

[skypilot6]

I think it is important to not cross the lines between what an employer will allow in terms of time off to ensure a pilot is mentally centered enough to be safe, and what that employer will pay for.

Two entirely different and separate issues.

True, but not understanding how this works can turn one problem into several pretty quickly, only making the situation worse for some.

 

[Boris Badenov]

Pretty much.

Good employer: "Take as long as you need."

When my Mom died back in 2007, this is what Flight Express told me. They meant it, too. Always been grateful for and impressed by that, particularly for a little rinky dink 135 freight op which never had enough pilots to start with.

 

[Flying Saluki]

Hi fellows

I have a question. Specially for those of you in Part 121. If a close relative of yours passed away, how much time off do you counsider reasonable (or prudent) one would need off for personal performance? And how much time does an airline would allow you off?

This given I saw this experience on AOPA Air Safety institute about this gentleman that lost his moher, went flying before he was ready and endedp up landing a sea plane with the gear down and his son payed the ultimate price.

Thanks for your inputs

Take Care

My father went from being perfectly healthy (or so we thought) to gone in 10 days. I took that time, and about an equal amount of time off after he passed to deal with his affairs, and a few days for myself. Total time off work was about 3 weeks. Most of that was paid due to available vacation time.

A co-worker took an extended leave of absence after his wife passed (expectedly), but he had little girls that he had to help through. I assume he had personal resources that helped him finance that time off.

 

[MaRiO FDZ]

I think it is important to not cross the lines between what an employer will allow in terms of time off to ensure a pilot is mentally centered enough to be safe, and what that employer will pay for.

Two entirely different and separate issues.

Absolutely true. The minute we start basing decisions with an accounting stand point, aviation finds a way to drive the point in a very heartless, insenstivie manner.

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

My employer was fantastic after the early birth and subsequent death of my twin son and daughter. I took 7 days... in hindsight that was a bit too quick.

 

[derg]

Depends on the airline but any chief pilots office worth his khakis is going to give you whatever amount of time you need.

 

[MaRiO FDZ]

My employer was fantastic after the early birth and subsequent death of my twin son and daughter. I took 7 days... in hindsight that was a bit too quick.

Was your flying off?? Or why do you mean it was a but too quick?

Depends on the airline but any chief pilots office worth his khakis is going to give you whatever amount of time you need.

Nice. So it's usually a chief Pilot call? I would have expected it to be HR or Company Policy calling this. On my end, A) no funerals yet, thankfully, and B) If it does happen, since I'm on a Part 91 solo gig I'm trying to prepare as much as I can now for when that time comes.

Take care

 

[Pilot Fighter]

For those that have lost someone close, sometimes its a delayed reaction. I was okay for a few weeks after a loss and then it hit me. I took week off and that's all I needed. I hope that employers recognize this.