Flying and kids

gromm44

gromm44

Well-Known Member
Thinking about finishing up my hours and getting my Atp. I have one daughter and looking to have one more kid. Can't get flying out of my blood, but need to hear how you guys with kids feel being away four days a week affects your children. I have a strong , loving wife , but understand she can't do it all alone. Can you be home 3 days a week and be enough of a father for your kids and wife? I'm sure some of you are but what does that entail? Also how much seniority does it take ( very generally ) and what is the likelihood of ever getting "turns" on a regular basis , either at the regional or major level? Thanks for the input.
 
Just as you would with any other career choice, sacrifices have to be made.

I can tell you from personal experience that YOU have to adjust your family time to your best needs. I see my daughters (4 and 1 y/o) about 4 nights a week. Some days I fly in the morning and come home to see them after school, and theres days when get up with them to give them breakfast and then go to work in the afternoon. It is very hard not being able to spend every weekend and holiday with them, but setting up for days at the park in the middle of the week will make up for it. This year we had christmas on the 23rd, which the girls loved because they got their presents a day earlier. I am also very lucky to have a supporting wife that puts up with all of the weird schedules.

As a Captain once told me (more or less) "you fly the big jets and make big bucks to be the one that is never on the official pictures, but you can always take your own"
 
I have twin boys who are 2.5 y/o at home and my previous 135 had a lot of positives for home time. I was only 15 minutes from my base and since we did a lot of corporate shuttle type work ( CE-550 and CE-560) I was home most nights.

But the big killer was the non-schedule. I wasn't on call 24/7, but we caught Hell for not answering our phones. No scheduled days off unless requested and even then, you weren't guaranteed the time. Same with vacations. The big boss ran a very lean ship and we almost had enough coverage for our planes, which ran from Citations to G-550. This is typical of most small to medium 135 operators from what I understand. My last three months of working for said operator were 20+ days, only being contracted for 16 days (salaried)

So, my kids were in daycare 3 days a week and my mother in law would watch them two days, unless I wasn't working, then I would watch them. We'd make up for some time then and any weekends I had free, but it never got any easier. Still isn't easier, especially since they are really starting to become little boys.

Now I am looking for work and have an interview with a regional and another 135 but a national one. The regional offers poor pay and commuting but fast upgrade time(to still low pay). But it's a foot back in to 121, which I think I'd rather do. The 135 offers decent pay, way more than I was making, but also an 8 on 6 off arrangement,also knowing schedule possibly 3 months out. There is also the chance of having to work 16 on, depending on schedule, staffing and vacations. But my resume has a black mark or two and the phone isn't ringing off the hook. There are no easy choices here.

I am also blessed with having a strong and loving wife with a good job and healthcare. But I can't be a stay at home Dad, it's just not in me, because I have thought about it. I try to give as much of myself to my wife and kids when I am home when I can, that's the only way to make it work.
 
Thanks guys for the input. I guess it is a little optimistic to think I am going to work for an airline and get turns everyday. But maybe with enough seniority and the right place , I may get a few. It is good to hear Camposeco that
you are home 4 nights a week. I thought it was pretty much a rule that you are home for three and that was it.
 
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