Expecting a baby but want to be a pilot

[hydrographer2004]

Hi everyone,

I was all ready and set to start my PPL/CPL training next year in Calgary to start the long road to becoming a commercial airline pilot.

Last week I found out I was 5 weeks pregnant which is exciting but scary at the same time.

Obviously this puts things on hold for a while. I guess I could start training towards the end of 2017 but now I have doubts...

This is something I have wanted to do for years, I'm not getting any younger (28) and my husband is fully supportive of it.

My questions are would this be a really irresponsible thing to do? I don't want to pay for the training, have no money and no job at the end of it.

We love travel and would be happy to move for the first job but with a young baby/child in tow would this be madness?

Has any one else done this?

Thanks

[Liftdump]

YES

[aviatrix444]

I know plenty of Ladyaviators with families. One of my instructors at flight school didn't start flying until she was into her 30's, and had 2 older children and 1 in diapers. I know I'd kind of given up the idea of kids and family when I was initially going through my training, but awesome women like her showed me I didn't necessarily have to give up one to have the other.

Instructing would be a fantastic avenue for you while your new little bundle of joy is young. It's one of the few ways you'll be home every night early in your career. Instructing has it's ups and downs and many of the threads in this forum will tell you, but I've seen first hand instructors managing a decent work/life balance with young families. Planning on instructing at the school you train at is also the best way to ensure yourself a job after graduation. Just remember that from your first day at the school, you're interviewing for future employment!

If this is really what you'd like to do, then don't let anything get in your way. Will you be working UN contracts in Africa for months at a time, or saving sick scientists in Antarctica? (until your kids get a bit older at least)Probably not... But if that's not what you had in mind long term anyway, then you're not missing out on anything

Good luck, and congrats!

[niss]

Congratulations! And trust me this actually an asset for entering aviation!

By the time you get to it you will already be used to having no money, used to endless shit, and used listening to the incessant crying and whining of others.

[frog]

It is a lot easier to move around for jobs when the kids are not in school yet. So i’d do it rather sooner than later.

[MrWings]

Congratulations! And trust me this actually an asset for entering aviation!

By the time you get to it you will already be used to having no money, used to endless shit, and used listening to the incessant crying and whining of others.

This is the best response. Early on, even if you have a job, you will still have no money.

[lazyeight]

Maybe work on your PPL now, have that... then take a bit of time off when you have your baby. Rent a bit here and there when they area few months old, build a bit of time. Then when they are the age you feel OK leaving them with a sitter regularly go finish your CPL. You could be done fairly fast.

[hydrographer2004]

Thanks for all the replies - nice to hear that it is do-able!

[cfall]

While it is doable, I think people are doing a you a disservice to not point out the difficulties. Getting a commercial license is difficult for anyone one and doing it on little sleep is even harder And possibly dangerous. (Yes fatigue kills as can pregnancy brain). If you make it through flight school you now face the challenge of finding a job and building hours. Ask any 200 hour wonder out there, it's hard. Harder still if you are a female. I personally have been told by business owners that they have a policy against hiring female pilots. One place told me that if a plane broke while I was flying it would be because I was a female. Even places that I have worked have had so few females that they don't have uniforms that fit over a girls hips and goodness know if you get pregnant they have no clue what to do with you. So say you are one of the "lucky ones" who manages to land that first job and does build hours. Is your husband going to be willing to move again in a couple years so you can gain experience on bigger, faster machines. Most pilots I know work at least a couple places between their first job and airlines. And once you get there are you going to be ok with leaving husband and kiddo for multi day pairings?
Once again I'm not saying it can't be done just that it is a super long hard road and that I've seen way to many females spend 40 grand plus on an education to drop out and raise kids. Nothing is wrong with raising kids, I just wish more people would be willing to talk about the challenges before blindly encouraging people to spend money.

[complexintentions]

Nothing is wrong with raising kids, I just wish more people would be willing to talk about the challenges before blindly encouraging people to spend money.

Sorry, are we talking about becoming a pilot or having children? 'Cause both require a shedload of money.

I think the key variable in the original poster's question is actually the partner: his ability to contribute financially, his job mobility, and general tolerance of the uh...unique challenges...of the aviation profession.

[rolly117]

people now adays that are successful in aviation and living the dream have no children
career first and family don't matter, they are selfish, I know plenty of women and men that are successful and have no family, most have dogs and in my opinion it is the norm and its hard when you are on the other side of the fence.
Aviation takes a lot of you and I can't think of any profession that is demanding like aviation
A/C fly 24/7 and they don't care who or what your situation is, you must go no matter what, or they will get someone else to do it
There are plenty of people in line and they will back stab and do you wrong
You will find people in aviation are so selfish and back stabers to out do you
Its like racing team trying to get in the fastest plane
Its the worst profession you could possibly get in if you want to raise bambinos
Try something like a heath care and it will be more friendly to your family life and it will pay better
Your EGO has got a hold of you be carful what you wish for
Fly something on your days off to quench your thirst

[complexintentions]

A complete generalization. A little bitter, perhaps? I'm sorry if you have encountered some ladder-climbers, perhaps people who have done so at your expense. But those types exist in all professions and walks of life. You have to learn how to deal with them.

It's true that putting career first and choosing not to have kids will probably make for an easier path. But I've seen people who've been able to balance their aviation career with having a family. It's much like any high-level, demanding profession such as law or medicine - you will have to make some compromises on both sides. Occasionally as a the parent, occasionally as the pilot. But if it was easy everyone would do it.

I still say it comes down to how well things work with the partner. If you have the right person, pretty much anything is possible. I totally disagree that flying has to be relegated to a hobby just because you have a family. As some have pointed out, the fact that this lady's family is starting at the same time as her flying career could be an advantage. Kids don't really care where they live for the first few years of their life as long as they have their parents!

[AuxBatOn]

I would personally advise on waiting before you make a commitment to aviation as a career. See how the baby thing goes: it will change your life and it will put strain on your couple. See, after the baby is born, how your husband like taking care of the baby by himself as your job will require you to be away, sometimes a lot.

Rolly117: Bitter? I have what most everybody would say is a succesful aviation career and I have a family that is fully supportive. I can balance work/family just fine.

[JasonE]

If you enjoy flying get your PPL anyways and start working on it. Decide later about how far you want to take it after the little one arrives.

[EPR]

As has been mentioned, if I were you I would get a private pilots license and enjoy the occasional trip around the patch with the family on a nice day.
Having a child will totally change your current priorities and goals to the extent that you can not fathom until it is experienced.
Resume your training later if it still fits your lifestyle.

[co-joe]

Thanks for all the replies - nice to hear that it is do-able!

Call; Canadian Women In Aviation, or look up their local chapter, they will probably be of tremendous help to you.

http://cwia.ca/

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewforum.php?f=57 might be helpful as well, I wouldn't know, I'm not equipped to gain permission to enter.

[KAG]

Its a tough call. is it do able? yes. is it going to be very hard? yes.
Having 2 small kids myself, and Im at the airline level I can say the kids require/deserve all of you. Aviation requires a lot as well, more so then most careers when it comes to demands of your time.
Things to consider: where do you live? what does your partner do? is his job transferable? do you have family that can help out? if not the financial resources to hire a nanny?
do you have the money required to get trained?

What you have going for you is your timing. The industry is looking at a pilot shortage, and there are fewer pilots being trained. I recently worked with a 25 year old FO at Westjet, so time to get to the airline level is reducing. 1500 hours "can" (doesn't mean will) land you a regional job, and the majors are leaning toward flow through agreements to meet future hiring demands.
Let me point out not everyone makes it to the airline level. either bad luck, poor skills (flying OR interviewing), or not wanting to go that route. There are many career opportunities here. You may find you love living in Whitehorse flying a twin otter for a living. You may like instructing, who knows.

I would caution starting your training until you can dedicate yourself fully to it. it'll end up saving you money in the long run. What you could do instead is get a job at a local school or FBO, make contacts and get a feel for aviation. Dip your toe in the water to test it. Meanwhile read and study the material for your PPL/CPL so when the time comes you can blast through the training and you have paid your dues all at once.

I will say this, as a parent your life is about to change in ways you cannot fathom. Its the greatest hardest thing you'll do. its going to test you, your marriage and your priorities will change. In the end flying while fun becomes just a job. Just make sure its what you really want to do, and if it is then do it.
Just understand its no cake walk.

[chipmunk]

See, after the baby is born, how your husband like taking care of the baby by himself as your job will require you to be away, sometimes a lot.

Female flight attendants and their husbands have been doing this and "managing" quite well for decades.

[AuxBatOn]

Becauss one does it doesn't mean in her particular situation it'll be something feasible.

[Cat Driver]

hydrographer2004, despite what some people believe there is only a guarantee of one life.

If you really have the desire to fly do it.

You can always find a way around any problem so go for it.

Better to have done it and have the satisfaction of the enjoyment than not do t and always wonder what you missed..

By the way gender has SFA to do with being able to fly for a living.

My best teachers were female instructors...

. E.

[pelmet]

There is always the option of pursuing a career that allows you to be home more and becoming a private pilot a little later in life, thereby achieveing both dreams. There are a lot of female air traffic controllers who don't have to leave town very often.

[HiFlyChick]

While it is doable, I think people are doing a you a disservice to not point out the difficulties....

+1!

As a woman pilot, I have often said that I was very fortunate in that I actually never really wanted kids anyway, because having to decide when to have them is really difficult. Given that you're already pregnant, it's now a case of when to fly as opposed to when to have kids when you're flying. I can't speak to the difficulties from a first hand perspective, but I have had a few friends who faced this truly difficult situation and here are a few thoughts/questions you need to consider:

- How long are you grounded for during and after the pregnancy? There is a point in the pregnancy where you are ground and a minimum time afterwards, but I knew of one friend who ended up being a year off because of a medical issue that happened during the pregnancy. Even though it was a direct result of being pregnant, TC at that time looked only at the fact that this issue had occurred, not the timing/reason.

- Some people want to have more than one child and want their children close together, so consider how long you will have to train around the above limitations on your medical vs. not flying for large chunks of time and having to repeat a bunch of stuff.

- Just because you're allowed to fly to a late stage of the pregnancy doesn't mean that you will be able to train fully. I knew a woman who was a flight instructor and who was teaching spins fairly late in the pregnancy and during a rough pull-out by the student got a scare due to pulling g's and feeling it in a bad way. Her doc told her she could continue to fly, but no manoeuvres that might pull extra g's.

- You're not apt to be able to complete the training get a job right away within the timeframe of your pregnancy, but down the road if you have another child, you need to consider the breastfeeding issue with regards to how long you may be away on a charter vs. the amount you can pump.

- It's great that your husband is supportive, but be sure that he fully understands what it means to be married to a pilot. Not just overnights, but in the beginning stages, if you are at a charter company, that could mean middle of the night call outs. I have a friend at the airlines with a lot of years in who still often misses Christmas. He bids to get certain family days off, but that doesn't mean that he necessarily does. Ask your husband how he will feel if/when you miss your anniversary or your child's birthday (maybe several years in a row)?

- Look at the cost of getting to a point where you are employable - commercial, multi-IFR. Now look at how much pilots with no time in get paid on their first job, how long it takes to even get the first job, and how long they are stuck earning terrible wages while paying off their flight training debts. Can your family finances handle that?

It's great that people are encouraging, but saying things about how if you want to fly badly enough you can make it work is rather like saying that as long as you're in love that's all you need. Lovely, idealistic, simplistic and not terribly realistic. Financial woes put a great strain on a marriage, as does a perception of one spouse not being there when the other one needs you.

I've worked with a number of people at the entry level stages who left flying altogether because they couldn't make it work financially. One guy was single and couldn't afford to move out of his parents home or even make car payments. Another woman who was married realized that with her current financial situation (huge debt, small salary), even though her husband had a reasonable job, they could afford to buy a house and/or start a family. Having said all of that, many more did eventually pay off their debts and went on to fly for the airlines, but I don't know how their personal relationships are.

I'm not trying to be just negative, but I want to make sure that you've answered all of the tough questions before you spend $80,000 or more on training. Now is the time to work out the big plan...

[floats4fun]

Not to hijack the thread, but how did/do some of you guys/gals manage being away (and same for your other half) while having a new born at home? This is more directed at pilots who are away quite a bit with low seniority and not much support from family (ie living in a new province, base is not where family is).

Experiences, knowledge, tips are welcome.

[co-joe]

Kind of funny that this thread and the divorce thread ended up side by side. I don't know how you guys and gals keep a family together in this business...ok those of you that DO keep a family together I am in awe. Crazy the sacrifices you must have to make. A good friend of mine is in a spot where her options are so limited right now because her husband works crazy shiftwork and they have to juggle chainsaws while riding a unicycle across a tight rope to make child care work. Sometimes the babysitter costs almost eat up her salary, and other times it works.

[frog]

About the issue of not being home.

At the airline level, there are some jobs where you leave in the morning and you come back in the evening. You do that 10 days a month, and the odd time you have a layover. About 2 or 3 nights a months. Quite doable to enjoy a good family life.

These are the charters airlines jobs.