I'm an airline pilot, with 40 years in this industry. who stumbled across your channel. I have absolutely NOTHING to add to your video, I couldn't "improve" it if I tried. You absolutely NAILED it. My parents were both with Pan Am as well. I also actively discouraged my 3 kids from getting into aviation (2nd generation is enough) for all the same reasons even though I couldn't imagine doing anything different for myself.
Well that just made my day!! Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave such a kind comment.😍 And yes to 2 generations is enough - exactly how I feel.☺️
As a 10 year army veteran that is struggling to find his way in the civilian world and is highly considering aviation, this was disheartening to read. I’m going to go back to suffering in silence now 👍🏽
I met my husband in my early 40s while he was a captain on UA 767s. No kids. It is the best thing that ever happened to both of us. I am a loner so I enjoy my alone time but whenever he came home, it was always in the honeymoon phase. He just retired but he got bored so he had to take another part-time job in the airline industry. We are happy and secure in our retirement, happy to be together on trips, and just being together through our old age. I wouldn't change anything about our life/love story.
Daughter of commercial pilots over here🙋♀️. Agree 100% with the good and the bad you mentioned! My mom has always said that the toughest part of being married to a pilot was that she had no choice but to be the good cop and the bad cop when it came to parenting. However on the positive side whenever my dad was home he was completely present - no late conference calls/deadlines that my friends parents had. I don’t think I appreciated that when I was younger!
I am a pilot in training and appreciate having videos like this available to watch! I plan on having children in the future and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can. Thank you Jen!
Amber that's awesome!! We have friends where BOTH of them are pilots and I honestly have always admired how well they manage it all. Good luck with your training!!
This video was filmed almost 4 years ago. In that time, the aviation industry has changed and specifically the work conditions and seniority of my husband, who is now a captain at a major airline. Keep in mind that the beginning of an aviation career looks very different then the last decade which is where we are now (mandatory retirement age is currently 65 for major carriers). Having said that, everything about family life and coping with a spouse who travels is still 100% accurate and true of my own experience (which is all I can speak to with authority;). I hope you enjoy the video!
I have to say I am a pilot’s wife as well as was a flight attendant. I have to disagree. I 110% encourage my boys being pilot. Yes they are away from home but they can see the world. The job starts bottom of the totem pole but once you move up life does get better. You have to pay your dues. 9-11 also set us back as well. That being said my kids have enjoyed flying standby to 17 countries and counting. My husband wouldn’t change his job for the world. Friends do have a hard time understanding why I come alone to things a lot but when he is home we value our family time way more then others. Fly the friendly skies. Aviation is an amazing career just like any job you have to work your way up!!
As a pilot that lives on base I’m home more than most 9-5ers . My wife sometimes wonders if I’ve been laid off since I’m often in and out of a trip all while she’s still asleep
A nice, balanced view to the industry! I never regret my career, but I always tell people that if you want to do it, make sure you really love it first, otherwise you'll quickly grow to hate it.
Daughter of Pilot, and have had the privilege of growing up with a family that was incomparable to all my friends. Many thought my life strange, but normal to me. I have had to freedom to reach for the skies and the support to know anything is possible. Yes I would encourage my children to be aviators. I hope the passion it takes is in the DNA. Honestly, I I feel sorry for the 9-5ers exempt from living a dream as a profession. You are going to struggle financially for many years but the rewards are incomparable. I just knew nothing else, when dad was there he was truly there. Mom was a nurse and terrible flyer but even she loved what made my dad my dad. I once asked him if he worried about the responsibility of the people he flew and he responded (paraphrasing) he would be the first person to arrive anywhere he went (ie trouble) and he was coming home to mom and myself. The old tale of a girl in every port is just that, a tale. A person that strays is going to do so no matter what their occupation. I actually didn’t even go on a car trip until my teens. I realized that was different but actually it is a very strong perk. I was unable to follow that dream but I was encouraged to have confidence in myself, and follow my dreams. I know some professionals because of their jobs have an almost egotistical approach, ie doctors, lawyers, pharmacists etc, to those they are responsible for, but!!!! THEY DO NOT RISK THEIR OWN LIVES WHEN THEY SERVE THE PUBLIC. THEY still GO HOME AT NIGHT. Frankly they have no skin in the game. I am not putting them down, but I have heard a doc say a pilot was a glorified BUS driver, or worse , can be less trained. I would be my life your opinion would be a bit different if you happened to be on a difficult flight. I will get off my soapbox, just know you are lucky to have a pilot as a spouse or parent
Well said. While having kids and pursuing aviation, I was second guessing myself but after reading your message I feel more encouraged with following my dream career.
@@vibedup7005 sociology major huh? mmnn, you'll need a bit of knowledge in mathematics and science esp physics. If you are into these subjects too and have interest in all things flying, yea, go for it girl..
This is the first time seeing your channel. My wife could have posted this. I am a retired corporate pilot I flew long haul for about 20 years. Enjoy your videos.
I work in art and dating a pilot. It’s like we are from totally different worlds. When I googled “dating a pilot”, I found many articles and videos which quite surprised me. It seems like we need a manual or a guidance of how to date a pilot 😂
My husband is currently a trucker & sometimes he is gone for 4-7 days. One time, he was gone for a whole month. So as a mom, I’m pretty accustomed to doing things alone. But he just started aviation school and I’m actually excited about the pilot schedule considering it isn’t as gruesome. Also, we live by a main hub, so it’ll cut out any commute time. I’ll actually see him more as a pilot than as a trucker! 🎉 Wish us luck
Sounds like our early family days .. my husband is a nurse. Every other weekend and every other holiday. And working nights. I wish I had known about the Santa having a special crew for families who work on Christmas. That’s so sweet I love it
I'm 100% sure I stole the language from some genius pilot family but we've used that mentality for years about holidays and it's worked quite well! And yes, it's very similar to a nursing schedule but he's gone 3 - 4 days at a time with larger stretches of time off.
I totally understand the scheduling thing. One of my best friends is an overnight RN and her schedule is all over the place. I’ve even gotten the confused look when I tell someone I don’t know if I’m working Tuesday until 4pm Monday afternoon. I would love to hear Scott tell us all about being a pilot. I don’t know if it’s because I’m an airport nerd or what. One of the best things is watching the planes come in
This is the first “Wouldn’t Recommend” I’ve ever heard when It pertains to becoming a pilot. Love the opposing view rather than the “ITS ALL GREAT” view most people have! Keep making videos!!! Loved it!!! Regards, Son of an Airline Pilot And Aspiring Airline Pilot
I’m so glad you liked it! We love our life together but I think everyone has to walk in with eyes wide open to the not so great parts. Good luck on your journey and thank you for the kind words!
Great video! My husband is a pilot and we’ve got our first child on the way! We’ve been together since he was in flight school and I was a mere 19 years old. I’ve been through the bad regional pay, reserve, commuting. We are so blessed to finally be at a point where he is at his career major airline and home based. It’s a crazy lifestyle, but I couldn’t imagine it any other way. Would love a video on tips for parenting with an airline pilot. 🙂
I could write a BOOK on the parenting part, Cristina! Mostly filled with all the things I did wrong. Congratulations on your baby and on your husband's new role!
Being a firefighters wife, we r the same way with schedules and working holidays. The kids didn't mind celebrating on different days. Now that they are grown and family of their own, they enjoy having Christmas on a different day as one less place to hit in one day. Lol
Yes, able to spend more quality time when not competing for time. But even when younger they didn't seem to mind having holidays at different times, because they could spend the reg holiday with their dad or friends that wanted them to come over.
so many similarities to our military life of 20 years :) Even the finances, I can't tell you how many times people said to us: but you get 'free' housing - picture my eyes rolling!
Yes perceptions and reality are rarely the same thing! And thank you for your service, Tammy - having come from a military family i get it and you are all sacrificing!🥰
After reading some of the comments, you and Scott should do a Q&A or a thumbs up or thumbs down video on all things Disney, being a pilot, aviation, favorite overseas destinations, tips and tricks on airline travel, etc. You could also do the same type video with your son/sons on Disney! That would be fun! 🤗
thank you! i’m going to start dating a guy who’s training to be a pilot, so this info is good to hear 😂 i’m a little nervous about free time and scheduling and everything, but i think as long as we have each other, it’ll work out.
30 years old, been flying since 18. I couldn't imagine doing anything else! Definitely has been hard on my relationships and friendships. The last 10 years of aviation are not a projection of the next 10. You are very right in saying this industry is very volatile, I decided to go the cargo route. Nice upload.
@@Casey_Closed keep your record clean, try not to fail any check rides. If you am get a 4 year degree while flight instructing and keep a good gpa. Get your licenses, become an instructor, after you get the hours go to a regional airline, upgrade to captain asap. Once you get 1000 hours of turbine pilot in command,apply to a low tier cargo airline like ABX, Atlas, after a year of wide body flying you should be qualified for UPS or FedEx
Thank you for the enlightment! I feel like we might not have a big problem with the scheduling because we're already in a long-distance relationship and requieres tons of effort on both parts when it comes to planning. He's a biggie plane enthusiast and will be starting his PPL this fall hopefully
My fiance is a pilot and just getting started with his career. Thank you for being really honest with this video - I have always thought of myself as very independent, but not going to lie, it is hard having him gone so frequently, and the unpredictability of his work schedule. I would love any more advice that you have to get you through the times that he is gone. Also, did you have to move around a lot depending on where he was based?! Thank you again!
We have moved quite a bit and you do have to adjust to the weirdness. I may add that to our future video because we’ve both developed a few strategies over the years that have helped!!😍
What a GREAT idea for a video! I, too, would love to see Scott on the channel, but I absolutely understand if he can’t or doesn’t want to. Thank you so much Scott for working so hard to keep us safe in the air!!
Great Video ! My boyfriend of 2 years is a Captain of over 30 years and everything you said was spot on. Glad I found your channel. I am over 50 and in the process of starting my first You Tube channel and still in the very overwhelmed stage. I have a professional career, and wanting to develop a You Tube channel or two to have built well by the time I retire. Became very inspired when watching a few of your videos---- thank you !
My husband worked as a Railroad Engineer. He was gone days at a time including holidays. We had a great life and we are having a great retirement! Sounds like being a pilot is like being an Engineer!
Awesome video as always 😀. I grew up as a military kid and am now a nurse. And as a nurse who works nights, I completely understand the crazy schedule. Working holidays and weekends was tough when I started but I now like the flexibility. And growing up military, as a family we had to be prepared for dad being deployed and then our every three year moves. Kudos to your husband for flying us passengers to our destinations. I’m not one to say “Hey! You’re Jen’s husband!” so thank him for me. Lol
Thanks for the video. The whole time I watched this, a little piece of my heart toward being a pilot started to get bigger. Well I should look up for more informations about aviations but I can tell this video is a good start. Thanks again, have a lovely day!
Thank you for posting this! My fiancé is in flight school, aiming to work with commercial airlines and these topics are ones we frequently discuss. Very good information for myself as I only know what he tells me about it.
I’ve been dating a flight attendant for over 5 years now, so I can definitely relate to the good and the bad! I also experienced being on standby and ending up not getting on the flight my boyfriend was on. This happened twice so far. That really sucks 😄
My husband has been in Aircraft Maintenance for 16 years. Military for the first 8, and a major airline for the last 8. He's finally moved up to be a Maintenance Operations Rep, with a more "normal" schedule. I respect anyone in/married in that field!
It’s not all fabulous but he lives it so it’s worth it. Thank your husband from me for his service!! And I have encouraged our boys to look at aircraft maintenance 😍
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge I will tell him, thank you! And yes, it's a good career! One that most people don't ever think of, and they definitely need A&P mechanics!
I am definitely not married to any pilot in fact I litterely know no one who is a pilot but for some reason even without knowing how a plane looks like when I was 5 I had always wanted to be a pilot and now I'm 15 next year I go to a flight school and in general I just love watching videos about people's perspective on aviation
I love those memes that basically state "the Life of XXXX" and then show pictures of what your friends, family or other people thing that is like versus reality. So after watching this video, I googled "life of an airline pilot meme" and then looked at the photos. Always worth a good laugh. Thanks for sharing!
One issue of clarification from a 33 year commercial career: like all professions, there's a BIG difference between a new pilot, mid level pilot and senior captains. When you're "junior" on any seat, you'll fly weekends and holidays, at night, between base and Fargo for about 1/3rd the pay of a senior captain who flies between base and Tokyo, Beijing, London and/or Paris on a heavy that includes TWO co-pilots and a nap period. Also, just like the difference between working at a local computer repair shop and Microsoft, so it is between a "cut rate" airline and one of the "big three". Currently, as a senior international "wide-body" captain you may work 12 days a month, flying eight "legs", stay in 4-5 star hotels with 24-48 hours off, full benefits and a half-million dollar a year salary is not a bad way to make a living. So when you speak of an airline pilot's life and lifestyle, keeping the above in mind would be wise. Yes, it is a looooooong road to the "jumbo" Left Seat, but it is so with all professions that have the benefits of a Commercial Airline Pilot. IMHO.
I have probably said this before but I respect pilots sooooo much. Of course I am terrified of flying but I do it for my daughter so we can go to Disney! But every time I know that I am putting our lives in the pilots hands and I am always beyond appreciative to them when we land. Sometimes they probably think I am crazy but that is ok. To me with every flight they have something so amazing so I always want them to know how amazing I think they are.
Thanks so much for the info. I'm glad you're able to make it work for your family. I'm in my mid-20s and have wrestled with the idea of switching into aviation from time to time, but I feel like I just wouldn't want to deal with years of odd hours, being away during holidays and missing out on special events when I eventually have a family of my own. Luckily, I'm at a pay grade where I can afford general aviation and am currently pursuing my PPL, so I'll at least have that.
I was a flight attendant.retired now.travel intl alot. Never home,worked every holiday,weekend, those days off were for 35yr flight attendants .got vacations 6 weeks a yr but worked some for extra money. But loved it and miss it. But I get home when I get home..delays,weather,mechanicals, if u can think it,done it! Living the dream!!
It’s the aviation industry in general. My Dad was a mechanic for TWA and America West. 40+ years in the business. Absolutely great memories from him being in this job. On the other hand, he had to move 13 times in his career to get promotions or keep a job when the base was closed. He was gone many birthdays & holidays as airplanes need wrenched on. He fixed planes starting the piston age and retired in the jet age. He could fix anything and was one of the smartest guys I ever met.
Wow. This was great. I loved what you had to say. My fiancé enjoyed it as well. I love the “my husband works really hard”. Lol. We know what you mean. I’m a commercial pilot myself waiting desperately to get to the majors. Keep up the good work.
Good luck on your journey!! It's not the easiest road but certainly not the hardest either. Lots of retirements right now so hopefully you'll be in that major spot before you know it!
The medical field is very similar in schedules and days off and folks think you’re rolling in cash. Lol. I have such a respect for those work in fields that require time away from family, especially on holidays, because I lived it once. Thank goodness no more! But we are “joyful” because we are blessed! Great video!!
Thanks, Cheri! It’s funny it’s so normal to me that I didn’t even mention the downside of him being literally out of town at least 60% of the time!🤣😍😍😍but yes, JOYFUL STILL!!
Hey Jen, my son is a pilot with a major airline, as is my daughter-in-law. The best part of that arrangement is Granddad (me) gets to baby set a lot. Twin granddaughters, six years old.
Thanks Jen~ great video! In the few "moments" Scott has appeared in your other videos I found him adorable! Loved the interaction between the two of you on the beach in Newport! I fly a lot and would love to see him do a Q & A with you! Keep up the great work Jen!
What a wonderful sharing experience Jen…thank you. My husband was a teacher and we ran into all sorts of “misconceptions “ about how cushy a teaching job was…HAHA! I love your channel and so thankful I found it. 🥰
I really enjoy this channel. So many great different topics. I don't watch much tv anymore therefore I prefer to watch videos like these as well as your other channel.
Thanks for the video and for your complete honesty. I just discovered your channel and you are a new subscriber As an ex-airline staff (Emirates), I can certainly relate to the stand-by adventures 😅. Sometimes I used to be stuck in Dubai 2 to 3 days to get on a JFK bound flight. Keep up the good work !
It is a small world, my ex husband is GM of Delta in Georgia, you may know him, too funny, and yes my adult children get to fly standby and it is great but not what I thought it would be. I know this video is a couple of years old at this point but I am really enjoying your videos, just found you, I am 53 and you are so positive and uplifting.
The job sounds similar (schedule wise) to my husband who is in the military. My brother and father were both military so that's in my blood and I like your wording about Christmas/holidays, I will have to use that when my son gets a little older. Another great video Jen 🙂.
I’m sure I borrowed the language from another aviation family, but my boys never struggled with it and they looked at it almost like 2 holidays as we usually did something special on the actual day even without Scott being home. And similar to military but without the long deployments - those are tough for everyone! Thank you to you ALL for your service!
I will be retiring from law enforcement in 2 years, at the age of 43. I started training to be a pilot a year and a half ago with the intention of being with an airline in the next 5 years. This video was helpful. It reminds me of the the life we have now. After 18 years I have not had Christmas off unless it fell on a regular scheduled day off. Sounds like something my wife and I could handle.
I completely agree with you. We have had friends over the years in law enforcement and we have sort of spoken the same language when it comes to an untraditional schedule. Good luck on your journey!!!
Great video! I have a few patients that are pilots and I always tell them how amazing I think they are. That has to be one of the most stressful jobs to have as you have so many lives in your hands!
Actually, having other's lives in my hands is no stress at all, because I'm taking care of myself, and my passengers directly benefit from that. I love when people say "Thank you for getting me here safely!" My response is, "I didn't get you here safely, I got ME here safely!" I know it sounds kind of flippant, but stop and think about it...
As always, a great video, filled with lotsa information for anyone considering a career in aviation but also, great tips on parents that work on Christmas. My daughter is a nurse and my brother is a policeman. Big thumbs up here! 👍
Thank you, Anne Marie! It’s the kind of thing people generally don’t think about but it’s a big deal when kids are little, especially. Nurses, fire fighters, policemen, pilots and so many others who serve the community have some very specific challenges but there are also perks! Thanks for watching!
I recently found your channel - LOVE IT!! Best packing & travel tips!!! My husband works in Flight-Ops at an airline (pilot training) and we love our flight benefits when they work . . . 😄. I loved your Jerry Seinfeld quote!! Our son is studying Aviation and hopes to become a pilot, but it IS a different lifestyle. I appreciate your honest opinions on airline life. 👍 And . . . My husband's name is Scott, too!!! 😊
Thank You So Much for the informative tutorial! Have worked in the Logistic Side in the Aviation Industries , yes it was tough on the Shift Schedule issue , & yes we had to work on Holidays if our work schedule fell on these days ... Stay Safe & Stay Grateful! 🌷🌿🌍
You’re not alone! Scott always says remember that he has a family to get home to as well so he’s doing everything he can to get himself there safely, too!
I know major carrier pilots do well while connector pilots do not do as well. However, in the 80's, I knew pilots who were making $160,000 annually. My manager's salary was less than $30K in 1990 & we were doing quite well. I realize pilot salaries did not increase a lot since then. I never even hit $100K when I retired in 2018 & was doing well then. Thanks for sharing this video. Money management & planning is a big part of how successful you are. My wife is great at it. Stay safe
Christmas for us has always been a day but not a date. Our daughters loved dad not being home for their birthday as they always had birthday with mom and then a family birthday; birthdays x 2 they loved it!
I am a pediatrician who is switching career to become a commercial airline pilot at age 50. My grandfather was in the first Chinese naval air force, and both of my uncles were fighter jet pilots. My dad failed the physical because his eye sight was inadequate. See you in the sky!
Pilot here. Was Airline based out of DFW but I do Cargo now long haul. Love it. Plus Retired U.S.M.C. & Reserve Police Officer. I have a 2 & 5 year old son. Both have the aviation bug which was not by my doing. We shall see 🤷♂️AWESOME Video spot on.
I am a 27-year-old mother of a three year old, and I have always dreamed of becoming a pilot. I just reached out to the flight school out of Van Nuys airport and I am taking the first step to starting my journey. My one concern is my relationship with my three-year-old as she grows up. Will it drastically change with the time I will be gone or are the hours similar to a job that you would have otherwise? Will I be gone for days on end? Or can I schedule my hours to where I will be home in the mornings and again in the evening?
I just stumbled onto this video and you seem lovely! I really liked your explanation for your kids and Santa. My husband is in law enforcement and we have a 2.5 yo daughter. Love the explanation that lots of people work on Christmas. Even though our husbands have completely different careers, there's a lot of commonality in unique lifestyles and schedules. It takes a lot of people to keep our worlds running smoothly, even on christmas! 😀
You’re so right, Alison! And yes the schedules are very similar and through the years we’ve found some great friends in law enforcement and fire fighting because they get our weird life and the spouses are often gone so being solo at a gathering is very normal! We all need our village!
Yes, bring on Scott! Tell him, his public awaits! ;-) This was fascinating, Jen, thank you! Something occurred to me as you spoke of the perception others have of the 'wealthy, jet-set life of a pilot': In the early days of commercial flight, it was introduced in such a glamorous way. I'm recalling the Delta Dreamflight attraction at Disney World, with the tables set with fine china and table cloths in the cabin scene, for example, the stewardesses had to look a certain way, the pilots possessed skills that only few had achieved, and the mystery of flight is pretty mind-blowing if you think about it - seemingly magical to most mere mortals that may lack the scientific skills to begin to understand how it works. And how cool is it to be able to say, "Good bye, darling! I'll be back from Madrid on Tuesday!" ;-) BTW: your Mom gets a million cool points for being a stewardess for Pan Am! [I've always wanted one of those Pan Am stewardess bags!]
Evelyn she had a monthly weigh in and as soon as she was married they fired her! So yes, there were cool things about back then but also some less cool things.🤣🥰
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge Yes, the less-than-glamorous behind-the-scenes stuff the stewardesses endured make her 'cool points' all the more deserving. I admire her for that! But also, flight attendants have to put up with so much, the good and the not-so-good, while dealing face-to-face with passengers that they have just as much respect from me as I have for the cockpit crew for keeping us safe. [There was a short-lived TV show with Christina Ricci a while back called Pan Am, set in the '60s, that I was into and was very disappointed when ABC cancelled it mid-season. ]
Thanks so much for putting this out there! (From someone who’s also worked retail and now in my 15th year of 911-Emergency Services Dispatching while also working on my commercial pilots license) #whatsanormalschedule?
Good Description, really good take on aviation, I do international air cargo and it’s spot on minus we work a 16 day on 14 day off rotation thank you for posting!
I'm 25 years old and only recently thought about becoming a pilot. Since I've hit many road blocks on career choices, I feel like flying is my best bet on a job I can really enjoy and put a lot of effort in, but my road block with this has family on it and I never want to give that up. My sister in law who is a pilot would advise not to be one if I want to be with family a lot, but I am desperate to follow through with something I feel passionate about despite all things considered of other careers. I am so overwhelmed about the thought of divorce and not being there for my love ones. Working home base would be my dream.
Loved this! You had a very great answer and wow! I can’t tell you how cool it was to hear you speak of it the way you did and congrats on your long marriage with that challenge
Of course! So I have a question, with how “corky” you would call this lifestyle what have been a few “corky” traditions you have developed as a family?
I'm an airline pilot, with 40 years in this industry. who stumbled across your channel. I have absolutely NOTHING to add to your video, I couldn't "improve" it if I tried. You absolutely NAILED it. My parents were both with Pan Am as well. I also actively discouraged my 3 kids from getting into aviation (2nd generation is enough) for all the same reasons even though I couldn't imagine doing anything different for myself.
Well that just made my day!! Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave such a kind comment.😍 And yes to 2 generations is enough - exactly how I feel.☺️
I second Apack's reply
As a 10 year army veteran that is struggling to find his way in the civilian world and is highly considering aviation, this was disheartening to read.
I’m going to go back to suffering in silence now 👍🏽
😊😊😊
@@chief5981 thank you for your service
I met my husband in my early 40s while he was a captain on UA 767s. No kids. It is the best thing that ever happened to both of us. I am a loner so I enjoy my alone time but whenever he came home, it was always in the honeymoon phase. He just retired but he got bored so he had to take another part-time job in the airline industry. We are happy and secure in our retirement, happy to be together on trips, and just being together through our old age. I wouldn't change anything about our life/love story.
Thanks ma'am for sharing your story❤,Lots of love from future female pilot.
Daughter of commercial pilots over here🙋♀️. Agree 100% with the good and the bad you mentioned! My mom has always said that the toughest part of being married to a pilot was that she had no choice but to be the good cop and the bad cop when it came to parenting. However on the positive side whenever my dad was home he was completely present - no late conference calls/deadlines that my friends parents had. I don’t think I appreciated that when I was younger!
It’s true and I didn’t even get into the raising the boys with him gone as much as he was but YES to having a job you don’t take home with you!!😍
I am a pilot in training and appreciate having videos like this available to watch! I plan on having children in the future and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can. Thank you Jen!
Amber that's awesome!! We have friends where BOTH of them are pilots and I honestly have always admired how well they manage it all. Good luck with your training!!
Have kids with me🤗🤰
How's training been?
This video was filmed almost 4 years ago. In that time, the aviation industry has changed and specifically the work conditions and seniority of my husband, who is now a captain at a major airline. Keep in mind that the beginning of an aviation career looks very different then the last decade which is where we are now (mandatory retirement age is currently 65 for major carriers). Having said that, everything about family life and coping with a spouse who travels is still 100% accurate and true of my own experience (which is all I can speak to with authority;). I hope you enjoy the video!
I love this video, I’m a student pilot and my future wife is becoming a nurse, so think that our future is going to be interesting.
Best of luck aspiring pilot here too.
Nurse... yep one of us.
lol same NICE :)
Go to ' 74 GEAR ' . He just made a video on the women pilots marry. Nurse is # 2 ! lol
Wayne Everett I already saw it, I follow Mr. Kelsey. He is a nice pilot
I have to say I am a pilot’s wife as well as was a flight attendant. I have to disagree. I 110% encourage my boys being pilot. Yes they are away from home but they can see the world. The job starts bottom of the totem pole but once you move up life does get better. You have to pay your dues. 9-11 also set us back as well. That being said my kids have enjoyed flying standby to 17 countries and counting. My husband wouldn’t change his job for the world. Friends do have a hard time understanding why I come alone to things a lot but when he is home we value our family time way more then others. Fly the friendly skies. Aviation is an amazing career just like any job you have to work your way up!!
This is encouraging. Thank you
As a pilot that lives on base I’m home more than most 9-5ers . My wife sometimes wonders if I’ve been laid off since I’m often in and out of a trip all while she’s still asleep
The dream 😩💕
Do you live near your base airport and fly regional?
Cameron Cooke I work for a major airline
Joe Joey, is it an airline that is regional?
Cameron Cooke we had some regional routes when I was flying the A-320 , I’ve since gone to fly long haul on the A330 / A350
A nice, balanced view to the industry! I never regret my career, but I always tell people that if you want to do it, make sure you really love it first, otherwise you'll quickly grow to hate it.
Perfectly stated, Winslow!
Daughter of Pilot, and have had the privilege of growing up with a family that was incomparable to all my friends. Many thought my life strange, but normal to me. I have had to freedom to reach for the skies and the support to know anything is possible. Yes I would encourage my children to be aviators. I hope the passion it takes is in the DNA. Honestly, I I feel sorry for the 9-5ers exempt from living a dream as a profession. You are going to struggle financially for many years but the rewards are incomparable. I just knew nothing else, when dad was there he was truly there. Mom was a nurse and terrible flyer but even she loved what made my dad my dad. I once asked him if he worried about the responsibility of the people he flew and he responded (paraphrasing) he would be the first person to arrive anywhere he went (ie trouble) and he was coming home to mom and myself. The old tale of a girl in every port is just that, a tale. A person that strays is going to do so no matter what their occupation. I actually didn’t even go on a car trip until my teens. I realized that was different but actually it is a very strong perk. I was unable to follow that dream but I was encouraged to have confidence in myself, and follow my dreams. I know some professionals because of their jobs have an almost egotistical approach, ie doctors, lawyers, pharmacists etc, to those they are responsible for, but!!!! THEY DO NOT RISK THEIR OWN LIVES WHEN THEY SERVE THE PUBLIC. THEY still GO HOME AT NIGHT. Frankly they have no skin in the game. I am not putting them down, but I have heard a doc say a pilot was a glorified BUS driver, or worse , can be less trained. I would be my life your opinion would be a bit different if you happened to be on a difficult flight. I will get off my soapbox, just know you are lucky to have a pilot as a spouse or parent
Well said. While having kids and pursuing aviation, I was second guessing myself but after reading your message I feel more encouraged with following my dream career.
I’m 19 and thinking about going to flight school. Glad I watched this video! Btw you’re so beautiful! You should post you’re skin care routine!
Please do it!! They need more women in aviation! And thank you so much.🥰
Jacob Brewster yes my friend told me about it! Thank you! I’m a university sociology major... thinking about changing but we will see! 😊
@@vibedup7005 sociology major huh? mmnn, you'll need a bit of knowledge in mathematics and science esp physics. If you are into these subjects too and have interest in all things flying, yea, go for it girl..
Bahar Din I appreciate the advice! And thank you! 😊
Kirsten Limage oh wow i cant believe it, i am studying sociology myself and i am thinking of going to flight school. And im 19 too
This is the first time seeing your channel. My wife could have posted this. I am a retired corporate pilot I flew long haul for about 20 years. Enjoy your videos.
I work in art and dating a pilot. It’s like we are from totally different worlds. When I googled “dating a pilot”, I found many articles and videos which quite surprised me. It seems like we need a manual or a guidance of how to date a pilot 😂
My husband is currently a trucker & sometimes he is gone for 4-7 days. One time, he was gone for a whole month. So as a mom, I’m pretty accustomed to doing things alone. But he just started aviation school and I’m actually excited about the pilot schedule considering it isn’t as gruesome. Also, we live by a main hub, so it’ll cut out any commute time. I’ll actually see him more as a pilot than as a trucker! 🎉 Wish us luck
Sounds like our early family days .. my husband is a nurse. Every other weekend and every other holiday. And working nights. I wish I had known about the Santa having a special crew for families who work on Christmas. That’s so sweet I love it
I'm 100% sure I stole the language from some genius pilot family but we've used that mentality for years about holidays and it's worked quite well! And yes, it's very similar to a nursing schedule but he's gone 3 - 4 days at a time with larger stretches of time off.
I totally understand the scheduling thing. One of my best friends is an overnight RN and her schedule is all over the place. I’ve even gotten the confused look when I tell someone I don’t know if I’m working Tuesday until 4pm Monday afternoon. I would love to hear Scott tell us all about being a pilot. I don’t know if it’s because I’m an airport nerd or what. One of the best things is watching the planes come in
I’ll tell him!! And there are so many of us with unconventional jobs and honestly I have no idea what “normal” is?!🤣😍
I just came across your channel. I absolutely love it! It's very interesting and I can't wait for some stories over the years of being a pilots wife
This is the first “Wouldn’t Recommend” I’ve ever heard when It pertains to becoming a pilot. Love the opposing view rather than the “ITS ALL GREAT” view most people have!
Keep making videos!!! Loved it!!!
Regards, Son of an Airline Pilot
And Aspiring Airline Pilot
I’m so glad you liked it! We love our life together but I think everyone has to walk in with eyes wide open to the not so great parts. Good luck on your journey and thank you for the kind words!
“Santa Claus also works on Christmas” 🤣🤣😂😂
Well it's true! LOL!
Santa claus *only* works on Christmas 🤣🤣😂😂
Great video! My husband is a pilot and we’ve got our first child on the way! We’ve been together since he was in flight school and I was a mere 19 years old. I’ve been through the bad regional pay, reserve, commuting. We are so blessed to finally be at a point where he is at his career major airline and home based. It’s a crazy lifestyle, but I couldn’t imagine it any other way. Would love a video on tips for parenting with an airline pilot. 🙂
I could write a BOOK on the parenting part, Cristina! Mostly filled with all the things I did wrong. Congratulations on your baby and on your husband's new role!
Being a firefighters wife, we r the same way with schedules and working holidays. The kids didn't mind celebrating on different days. Now that they are grown and family of their own, they enjoy having Christmas on a different day as one less place to hit in one day. Lol
There is that!! Makes things slightly less complicated!😍
Yes, able to spend more quality time when not competing for time. But even when younger they didn't seem to mind having holidays at different times, because they could spend the reg holiday with their dad or friends that wanted them to come over.
so many similarities to our military life of 20 years :) Even the finances, I can't tell you how many times people said to us: but you get 'free' housing - picture my eyes rolling!
Yes perceptions and reality are rarely the same thing! And thank you for your service, Tammy - having come from a military family i get it and you are all sacrificing!🥰
Lol… and “You knew what you signed up for”
After reading some of the comments, you and Scott should do a Q&A or a thumbs up or thumbs down video on all things Disney, being a pilot, aviation, favorite overseas destinations, tips and tricks on airline travel, etc. You could also do the same type video with your son/sons on Disney! That would be fun! 🤗
I could get Scott in maybe but no way could i get the boys to do it!! But i love the idea!!
thank you! i’m going to start dating a guy who’s training to be a pilot, so this info is good to hear 😂 i’m a little nervous about free time and scheduling and everything, but i think as long as we have each other, it’ll work out.
30 years old, been flying since 18. I couldn't imagine doing anything else! Definitely has been hard on my relationships and friendships. The last 10 years of aviation are not a projection of the next 10. You are very right in saying this industry is very volatile, I decided to go the cargo route. Nice upload.
Hey I've always wanted to go the cargo route. Would you mind giving me advice as far as what steps i should take when im first starting out?
Plz respond
@@Casey_Closed keep your record clean, try not to fail any check rides. If you am get a 4 year degree while flight instructing and keep a good gpa.
Get your licenses, become an instructor, after you get the hours go to a regional airline, upgrade to captain asap. Once you get 1000 hours of turbine pilot in command,apply to a low tier cargo airline like ABX, Atlas, after a year of wide body flying you should be qualified for UPS or FedEx
Santa having a special group of people made me tear up - in a good way. What a wonderful way for your kids to feel special and taken care of. ♥️
It basically stinks having a dad who travels as much as Scott does so we always did everything we could to give them some fun along the way😍
Thank you for the enlightment! I feel like we might not have a big problem with the scheduling because we're already in a long-distance relationship and requieres tons of effort on both parts when it comes to planning. He's a biggie plane enthusiast and will be starting his PPL this fall hopefully
My fiance is a pilot and just getting started with his career. Thank you for being really honest with this video - I have always thought of myself as very independent, but not going to lie, it is hard having him gone so frequently, and the unpredictability of his work schedule. I would love any more advice that you have to get you through the times that he is gone. Also, did you have to move around a lot depending on where he was based?! Thank you again!
We have moved quite a bit and you do have to adjust to the weirdness. I may add that to our future video because we’ve both developed a few strategies over the years that have helped!!😍
My fiancé is a pilot and he has started new career. Thats the reason I am watching to know how it will be for me.
Go become a pilot too!
B
What a GREAT idea for a video! I, too, would love to see Scott on the channel, but I absolutely understand if he can’t or doesn’t want to. Thank you so much Scott for working so hard to keep us safe in the air!!
I’m gonna make him do it. Just kidding. Sort of. Yeah kidding.
I would love to hear his version and tips for flying
I hope Scott can come on the channel, it would be fun to hear from him about his job. As always thanks for sharing! 🛫☀️😃
Here’s hoping?? I’ll share your enthusiasm for it, Pamela! Fingers crossed!
Great Video ! My boyfriend of 2 years is a Captain of over 30 years and everything you said was spot on. Glad I found your channel. I am over 50 and in the process of starting my first You Tube channel and still in the very overwhelmed stage. I have a professional career, and wanting to develop a You Tube channel or two to have built well by the time I retire. Became very inspired when watching a few of your videos---- thank you !
My husband worked as a Railroad Engineer. He was gone days at a time including holidays. We had a great life and we are having a great retirement! Sounds like being a pilot is like being an Engineer!
Very much sounds like it! So glad to hear your enjoying your retirement!!
Yep. I'm a pilot at a major airline and my brother is an engineer at a class A railroad. Very similar.
Awesome video as always 😀. I grew up as a military kid and am now a nurse. And as a nurse who works nights, I completely understand the crazy schedule. Working holidays and weekends was tough when I started but I now like the flexibility. And growing up military, as a family we had to be prepared for dad being deployed and then our every three year moves. Kudos to your husband for flying us passengers to our destinations. I’m not one to say “Hey! You’re Jen’s husband!” so thank him for me. Lol
Will do, Liza, and Scott was a military kid too so he gets this so much!
Thanks for the video. The whole time I watched this, a little piece of my heart toward being a pilot started to get bigger. Well I should look up for more informations about aviations but I can tell this video is a good start. Thanks again, have a lovely day!
My fiancé is now in flying school. Thank u for this motivational video mam. Its really tuff but is can be adjustable. Thank u mam. I am from india
Thank you for posting this! My fiancé is in flight school, aiming to work with commercial airlines and these topics are ones we frequently discuss. Very good information for myself as I only know what he tells me about it.
I'm so glad you found it helpful, Ashley!
I’ve been dating a flight attendant for over 5 years now, so I can definitely relate to the good and the bad! I also experienced being on standby and ending up not getting on the flight my boyfriend was on. This happened twice so far. That really sucks 😄
Fantastic narrative of an airline’s pilot family life. Thanks for sharing
OMG. Your telling my married life story!
Glad you could relate, Kathryn!!😍
My husband has been in Aircraft Maintenance for 16 years. Military for the first 8, and a major airline for the last 8. He's finally moved up to be a Maintenance Operations Rep, with a more "normal" schedule. I respect anyone in/married in that field!
It’s not all fabulous but he lives it so it’s worth it. Thank your husband from me for his service!! And I have encouraged our boys to look at aircraft maintenance 😍
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge I will tell him, thank you! And yes, it's a good career! One that most people don't ever think of, and they definitely need A&P mechanics!
I want to be on one of his flights - I would TOTALLY say that to him !!!
Great information. Sent it to my friend and her son, who is currently entertaining the idea of becoming a pilot!
Thank you so much for sharing! It can be a wonderful life but it's good to know the reality before you start the journey.
I’m late to the party but this video was so interesting!! I’m loving this channel and all the content you are creating with this new venture! 🎉
Thank you! I’m really having fun branching out and I so appreciate the support!🥰🥰🥰
I am definitely not married to any pilot in fact I litterely know no one who is a pilot but for some reason even without knowing how a plane looks like when I was 5 I had always wanted to be a pilot and now I'm 15 next year I go to a flight school and in general I just love watching videos about people's perspective on aviation
Unemployed pilot here (me) . Thanks Ma'am for the video .
I love those memes that basically state "the Life of XXXX" and then show pictures of what your friends, family or other people thing that is like versus reality. So after watching this video, I googled "life of an airline pilot meme" and then looked at the photos. Always worth a good laugh. Thanks for sharing!
I love how open and real you are Jen! Thanks for another great video!
My pleasure, Katelyn!!😍
One issue of clarification from a 33 year commercial career: like all professions, there's a BIG difference between a new pilot, mid level pilot and senior captains. When you're "junior" on any seat, you'll fly weekends and holidays, at night, between base and Fargo for about 1/3rd the pay of a senior captain who flies between base and Tokyo, Beijing, London and/or Paris on a heavy that includes TWO co-pilots and a nap period. Also, just like the difference between working at a local computer repair shop and Microsoft, so it is between a "cut rate" airline and one of the "big three". Currently, as a senior international "wide-body" captain you may work 12 days a month, flying eight "legs", stay in 4-5 star hotels with 24-48 hours off, full benefits and a half-million dollar a year salary is not a bad way to make a living. So when you speak of an airline pilot's life and lifestyle, keeping the above in mind would be wise. Yes, it is a looooooong road to the "jumbo" Left Seat, but it is so with all professions that have the benefits of a Commercial Airline Pilot. IMHO.
I have probably said this before but I respect pilots sooooo much. Of course I am terrified of flying but I do it for my daughter so we can go to Disney! But every time I know that I am putting our lives in the pilots hands and I am always beyond appreciative to them when we land. Sometimes they probably think I am crazy but that is ok. To me with every flight they have something so amazing so I always want them to know how amazing I think they are.
Kathy I promise you, Scott would never think you were crazy for being grateful!🥰🥰🥰
Thanks so much for the info. I'm glad you're able to make it work for your family. I'm in my mid-20s and have wrestled with the idea of switching into aviation from time to time, but I feel like I just wouldn't want to deal with years of odd hours, being away during holidays and missing out on special events when I eventually have a family of my own. Luckily, I'm at a pay grade where I can afford general aviation and am currently pursuing my PPL, so I'll at least have that.
I was a flight attendant.retired now.travel intl alot. Never home,worked every holiday,weekend, those days off were for 35yr flight attendants .got vacations 6 weeks a yr but worked some for extra money. But loved it and miss it. But I get home when I get home..delays,weather,mechanicals, if u can think it,done it! Living the dream!!
Great video! I’ve always thought what an amazing responsibility it is to be a pilot and have such respect for this profession!
I will pass that along, Diana! Thank you!
Very good upload and thanks for sharing
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
This is my life now married to a pilot moved to a new country and this helps to listen to
It’s the aviation industry in general. My Dad was a mechanic for TWA and America West. 40+ years in the business. Absolutely great memories from him being in this job. On the other hand, he had to move 13 times in his career to get promotions or keep a job when the base was closed. He was gone many birthdays & holidays as airplanes need wrenched on. He fixed planes starting the piston age and retired in the jet age. He could fix anything and was one of the smartest guys I ever met.
Super job Jen! Loved the topic too!
Thanks so much, Geri!
I loved this video! That an awesome, transparent, and balanced perspective. Thank you for this!
Thank you so much, Jessica! I really appreciate that.🥰
Wow. This was great. I loved what you had to say. My fiancé enjoyed it as well. I love the “my husband works really hard”. Lol. We know what you mean. I’m a commercial pilot myself waiting desperately to get to the majors. Keep up the good work.
Good luck on your journey!! It's not the easiest road but certainly not the hardest either. Lots of retirements right now so hopefully you'll be in that major spot before you know it!
The time off part sounds a lot like retail management. I never get holidays off. We always have to celebrate holidays on different days.
Yes so you can imagine how fun our lives were when I was a retail manager....🤣🤣🤣😍
I love the explanation of Santa arranging special delivery days for kids of flight crews!
The medical field is very similar in schedules and days off and folks think you’re rolling in cash. Lol. I have such a respect for those work in fields that require time away from family, especially on holidays, because I lived it once. Thank goodness no more! But we are “joyful” because we are blessed! Great video!!
Thanks, Cheri! It’s funny it’s so normal to me that I didn’t even mention the downside of him being literally out of town at least 60% of the time!🤣😍😍😍but yes, JOYFUL STILL!!
Hey Jen, my son is a pilot with a major airline, as is my daughter-in-law. The best part of that arrangement is Granddad (me) gets to baby set a lot. Twin granddaughters, six years old.
Oh my goodness how wonderful!!! As a mom of twins I have no doubt that kind of support means the world to your son and daughter-in-law!🥰
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge In reality, I am the big winner. At 72, I am a little past flying but they are the most fun I have ever had in my life.
Thanks Jen~ great video! In the few "moments" Scott has appeared in your other videos I found him adorable! Loved the interaction between the two of you on the beach in Newport! I fly a lot and would love to see him do a Q & A with you! Keep up the great work Jen!
Thanks, Teri! All of this encouragement is helping me build my case.🤣😍
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge he can'r say no when he sees how popular he his! :-D
stumbled in here and wow..... great presentation and very interesting. Thanks!
I'm a pilot at UAL. I 100% agree with EVERYTHING you said ☺️👍
Thank you! I really appreciate your watching and commenting!🥰
This was great! I had a few questions and got them all answered! Also, A+ on the lighting 🤩
Thank you!! I’m still playing around with backgrounds for this channel but I was happy with it, too.😍
Joyful Living with Jen Lefforge I like the different backgrounds you use, just continue with this soft almost dreamy light
Great video! My husband almost has a commercial license this Spring in hopes to fly as a career in the near future. Love the flight community!
Good luck on your journey!! It's a great life in many ways!
So interesting! Thanks for sharing with us!
You are most welcome, Kelley! Thanks for watching!
Great video. It takes a special woman to be married to a pilot. I have one too, and I'm grateful! Have a great day.
What a wonderful sharing experience Jen…thank you. My husband was a teacher and we ran into all sorts of “misconceptions “ about how cushy a teaching job was…HAHA! I love your channel and so thankful I found it. 🥰
I really enjoy this channel. So many great different topics. I don't watch much tv anymore therefore I prefer to watch videos like these as well as your other channel.
Thank you so much, Gina! I’m honored!
I am a flight attendant ( Been flying for 11 years now), you absolutely nailed it in your video❤👍🏿. You said it the way it is....)
Thank you, Reuben!! I truly appreciate that.🥰
Thanks for the video and for your complete honesty. I just discovered your channel and you are a new subscriber
As an ex-airline staff (Emirates), I can certainly relate to the stand-by adventures 😅. Sometimes I used to be stuck in Dubai 2 to 3 days to get on a JFK bound flight.
Keep up the good work !
Awesome, thank you!
It is a small world, my ex husband is GM of Delta in Georgia, you may know him, too funny, and yes my adult children get to fly standby and it is great but not what I thought it would be. I know this video is a couple of years old at this point but I am really enjoying your videos, just found you, I am 53 and you are so positive and uplifting.
The job sounds similar (schedule wise) to my husband who is in the military. My brother and father were both military so that's in my blood and I like your wording about Christmas/holidays, I will have to use that when my son gets a little older. Another great video Jen 🙂.
I’m sure I borrowed the language from another aviation family, but my boys never struggled with it and they looked at it almost like 2 holidays as we usually did something special on the actual day even without Scott being home. And similar to military but without the long deployments - those are tough for everyone! Thank you to you ALL for your service!
Very interesting video. I guess nothing is ever as easy or glamorous as it seems. Safe travels always.
Very insightful. Thanks for sharing
You’re most welcome, Mike!
I will be retiring from law enforcement in 2 years, at the age of 43. I started training to be a pilot a year and a half ago with the intention of being with an airline in the next 5 years. This video was helpful. It reminds me of the the life we have now. After 18 years I have not had Christmas off unless it fell on a regular scheduled day off.
Sounds like something my wife and I could handle.
I completely agree with you. We have had friends over the years in law enforcement and we have sort of spoken the same language when it comes to an untraditional schedule. Good luck on your journey!!!
32.5 years at a major airline and I'm working Dec 23-27th. Run!
Ed Frizzell Ed this cracked me up! Scott randomly got Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year and I feel like we won the lottery!
Great video! I have a few patients that are pilots and I always tell them how amazing I think they are. That has to be one of the most stressful jobs to have as you have so many lives in your hands!
He handles it so well and really does love what he does! And he always checks on the dogs they transport which is adorable.
Actually, having other's lives in my hands is no stress at all, because I'm taking care of myself, and my passengers directly benefit from that. I love when people say "Thank you for getting me here safely!" My response is, "I didn't get you here safely, I got ME here safely!" I know it sounds kind of flippant, but stop and think about it...
Spot on depiction of the work we do and the life we lead
Well thank you Bob! Cheers!
As always, a great video, filled with lotsa information for anyone considering a career in aviation but also, great tips on parents that work on Christmas. My daughter is a nurse and my brother is a policeman. Big thumbs up here! 👍
Thank you, Anne Marie! It’s the kind of thing people generally don’t think about but it’s a big deal when kids are little, especially. Nurses, fire fighters, policemen, pilots and so many others who serve the community have some very specific challenges but there are also perks! Thanks for watching!
I recently found your channel - LOVE IT!! Best packing & travel tips!!! My husband works in Flight-Ops at an airline (pilot training) and we love our flight benefits when they work . . . 😄. I loved your Jerry Seinfeld quote!! Our son is studying Aviation and hopes to become a pilot, but it IS a different lifestyle. I appreciate your honest opinions on airline life. 👍 And . . . My husband's name is Scott, too!!! 😊
thank you, Anna!!
Thank You So Much for the informative tutorial! Have worked in the Logistic Side in the Aviation Industries , yes it was tough on the Shift Schedule issue , & yes we had to work on Holidays if our work schedule fell on these days ... Stay Safe & Stay Grateful! 🌷🌿🌍
Great video loved your wording on things 😊
Thank you so much, Gina!😍
Great video Jen! I happen to be one of those people with extreme flying anxiety.
You’re not alone! Scott always says remember that he has a family to get home to as well so he’s doing everything he can to get himself there safely, too!
I know major carrier pilots do well while connector pilots do not do as well. However, in the 80's, I knew pilots who were making $160,000 annually. My manager's salary was less than $30K in 1990 & we were doing quite well. I realize pilot salaries did not increase a lot since then. I never even hit $100K when I retired in 2018 & was doing well then.
Thanks for sharing this video. Money management & planning is a big part of how successful you are. My wife is great at it.
Stay safe
Christmas for us has always been a day but not a date. Our daughters loved dad not being home for their birthday as they always had birthday with mom and then a family birthday; birthdays x 2 they loved it!
I am a pediatrician who is switching career to become a commercial airline pilot at age 50. My grandfather was in the first Chinese naval air force, and both of my uncles were fighter jet pilots. My dad failed the physical because his eye sight was inadequate.
See you in the sky!
Good luck with everything!
Pilot here. Was Airline based out of DFW but I do Cargo now long haul. Love it. Plus Retired U.S.M.C. & Reserve Police Officer. I have a 2 & 5 year old son. Both have the aviation bug which was not by my doing. We shall see 🤷♂️AWESOME Video spot on.
Yeah if they really want to do it that’s not much we can do I suppose? Thanks for watching!!
I am a 27-year-old mother of a three year old, and I have always dreamed of becoming a pilot. I just reached out to the flight school out of Van Nuys airport and I am taking the first step to starting my journey. My one concern is my relationship with my three-year-old as she grows up. Will it drastically change with the time I will be gone or are the hours similar to a job that you would have otherwise? Will I be gone for days on end? Or can I schedule my hours to where I will be home in the mornings and again in the evening?
I just stumbled onto this video and you seem lovely! I really liked your explanation for your kids and Santa. My husband is in law enforcement and we have a 2.5 yo daughter. Love the explanation that lots of people work on Christmas. Even though our husbands have completely different careers, there's a lot of commonality in unique lifestyles and schedules. It takes a lot of people to keep our worlds running smoothly, even on christmas! 😀
You’re so right, Alison! And yes the schedules are very similar and through the years we’ve found some great friends in law enforcement and fire fighting because they get our weird life and the spouses are often gone so being solo at a gathering is very normal! We all need our village!
You nailed it... pilot's wife here...
Yes, bring on Scott! Tell him, his public awaits! ;-) This was fascinating, Jen, thank you! Something occurred to me as you spoke of the perception others have of the 'wealthy, jet-set life of a pilot': In the early days of commercial flight, it was introduced in such a glamorous way. I'm recalling the Delta Dreamflight attraction at Disney World, with the tables set with fine china and table cloths in the cabin scene, for example, the stewardesses had to look a certain way, the pilots possessed skills that only few had achieved, and the mystery of flight is pretty mind-blowing if you think about it - seemingly magical to most mere mortals that may lack the scientific skills to begin to understand how it works. And how cool is it to be able to say, "Good bye, darling! I'll be back from Madrid on Tuesday!" ;-) BTW: your Mom gets a million cool points for being a stewardess for Pan Am! [I've always wanted one of those Pan Am stewardess bags!]
Evelyn she had a monthly weigh in and as soon as she was married they fired her! So yes, there were cool things about back then but also some less cool things.🤣🥰
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge Yes, the less-than-glamorous behind-the-scenes stuff the stewardesses endured make her 'cool points' all the more deserving. I admire her for that! But also, flight attendants have to put up with so much, the good and the not-so-good, while dealing face-to-face with passengers that they have just as much respect from me as I have for the cockpit crew for keeping us safe. [There was a short-lived TV show with Christina Ricci a while back called Pan Am, set in the '60s, that I was into and was very disappointed when ABC cancelled it mid-season. ]
I loved that show too!!
Thanks a lot for the information!
Thanks so much for putting this out there!
(From someone who’s also worked retail and now in my 15th year of 911-Emergency Services Dispatching while also working on my commercial pilots license)
#whatsanormalschedule?
Seriously, Nathan, I don't know normal! LOL!
Good Description, really good take on aviation, I do international air cargo and it’s spot on minus we work a 16 day on 14 day off rotation thank you for posting!
I'm 25 years old and only recently thought about becoming a pilot. Since I've hit many road blocks on career choices, I feel like flying is my best bet on a job I can really enjoy and put a lot of effort in, but my road block with this has family on it and I never want to give that up. My sister in law who is a pilot would advise not to be one if I want to be with family a lot, but I am desperate to follow through with something I feel passionate about despite all things considered of other careers. I am so overwhelmed about the thought of divorce and not being there for my love ones. Working home base would be my dream.
Good luck, Reinaldo!
Very true. When I worked at United Airlines. I took my wife and stepdaughters to Vegas and it was hell getting back to Pittsburgh through Atlanta.
It can be quite an adventure!
Awesome video!!!!!!! It would be awesome if you guys can do the Q&A video!!! So many questions about that incredible job ✈️.
Make your list! I really do think I can talk him into it
Loved this! You had a very great answer and wow! I can’t tell you how cool it was to hear you speak of it the way you did and congrats on your long marriage with that challenge
Well he’s a pretty amazing man and that’s helped. It’s not the easiest life but it’s ours and we love it! Thanks for watching, Tanya!😍
Of course! So I have a question, with how “corky” you would call this lifestyle what have been a few “corky” traditions you have developed as a family?
By the way how awesome was your trip to Disneyland! I am going on the 8th one last time before I move to AZ! 😭
Love it!!