I'm a pilot's wife, AMA

[rubyjude]

If it's of any interest to anyone of course!

Rufus, definitely agree with you! My husband was in a career he hated. He'd reached the promotional ceiling at 30, and faced a future of never progressing. He was getting more and more depressed, so I asked him if he had any dreams when he was a little boy, and he instantly said he'd always dreamed of flying. He does the job now for the pleasure of it - even if he got paid a fraction of what he does, he'd still be happy. I don't think he's every met anyone who's only in it for the money.

"In fact, most of them would be the sort to have a crush on a new engine rather than an OW" - Haha, yes! He comes home and loves regaling me with either a) how the engines performed/how the landing was etc, or b) what food he ate (we love food, so that's his focus when he's away as well, haha).

Rubyjude That sounds so familiar! Even on his days off he's online checking which of their planes have technical problems, where there are delays etc etc. Must admit that it's rubbed off a bit on me too. I do sometimes take a peak at www.pprune.org/rumours-news-13/ !

Blimey, you all Iive and work with very different pilots to me

RainyAfternoon - thanks so much for the refs - very interesting!
I concur with the most recent posts on how pilots love their job..though only if not fatigued!

I know people have been criticised on here for making snippy comments but apart from them being somewhat blunt, I do tend to agree with those who are saying don't define yourself by your partner. You're eroding your own identity and living in the shadow of someone else by doing so. Independence and self esteem and self worth are waaaay more important than what your partner does. By far the most interesting thing in your post was the fact that you've started your own business. Now that would be a great subject for ama.....

Truckingonandon, I understand the point you are making, you are right of course - selfworth is so valuable. The impression I have is that OP has put a posting on here to share her experience of a non-traditional family life with a partner who is away a lot and whose job has a different kind of impact on motherhood and family than say a 9-5pm Mon-Fri office worker. I think the fact that she has started her own business is highly commendable, but also more commonly heard about than having such a different home situation.

Maybe I should've rephrased it "Married to a Pilot, AMA about what it's like on a daily basis with that kind of life" :)

Truckingonandon I hear what you're saying, but I think you'll find IRL partners of pilots would never define themselves in such a manner. I dont even say what job he does - tend to say he works in travel or at the airport. On the one occasion I was introduced by one neighbour to another as 'the pilot's wife' , I politely responded that he was 'the teacher's partner'. As the OP says, the intended focus here was more the impact on family life?

Truckonandon - I love your response to your neighbour! Exactly right.

Eh? What neighbour?

Oh sorry Truckingonandon, I read too quickly and thought it was you who made the comment correcting the neighbour that he is the teacher's wife. It was Rufus!

OP (or anyone else), have you ever gone on a standby long haul trip when your partner is flying the plane?

We have an opportunity to, but I'm just wondering if it's worth having an 8hr flight journey alone with an 18 month old for a 1 week holiday? Especially as we might not get on the plane on the way back if not enough seats? It's 1.5hrs to the hotel the other side too.

Thanks

Yes I do but always make sure more than one dept bk, and other carriers would take you etc.

Especially with a toddler.

My length of service is plus 20 years though so I don't generally have a problem.

1.5 hours to crew hotel is quite a long way though.

MamitaA When we do this we always check pax numbers a few hours before leaving home just in case!

Thanks a lot for the replies..I will probably decide closer to the flight time, when there are a few more certainties. A shame the crew hotel adds so long on afterwards too. I'm surprised they don't put them in closer hotels to the airport.