Where Do Airline Pilots Live?
One of the beautiful things about being a pilot is that it allows you a lot of time off.
But Where Do Pilots live?
As a long-haul pilot, you can certainly live in a different country to the country where your base airport is located.
Many long-haul pilots I encounter daily commute to London from Spain/France/Italy and some from as far as South Africa!
This can be an option as a short-haul pilot, depending on your airline and how often you operate ‘day-trips’ (flying there and back in a day).
The requirement to commute less frequently offers a lot of freedom. It means that pilots can live almost anywhere in the world.
How Much Do Airline Pilots Earn?
However, the further you live from your base usually means the more time you need to leave for your commute.
Indeed, pilots who choose to live this life will often commute the day before their working trip and stay overnight in an airport hotel or elsewhere.
Of course, it’s entirely up to the individual, but there always is the need to ensure that you are well rested and acclimatised for your next trip.
Keep scrolling to read the rest of the blog post (5-minute read).
Where Do Pilots Live? A Pilots Commute
Probably not the most exciting topic when it comes to a day in the life of an Airline Pilot. However, I feel like it is a big part of the lifestyle, and therefore it was worth covering.
Being a pilot is a unique job that constantly requires you to operate from an airport somewhere in the world (obviously).
As a pilot, you will usually be assigned a ‘base’. This is your home airport and will be the airfield you will find yourself operating from most frequently.
Some airlines, such as the one I am employed by, may only have two main bases they operate from.
However, despite the airline only being based in two locations, we still spend days and nights in different destinations worldwide as part of our trips.
Other airlines have bases all over the country and indeed all over the world, so you never know where you might end up, as some of these airlines will offer you a choice and others won’t.
Your commute will depend on how close you live to the airport where you are based.
My current base, London Heathrow, is just a short commute from my home in London.
Although I primarily operate ‘trips’ – these being flights that involve us staying away in different countries for one to five nights per working block, it is good to live close to your home base as a short-haul pilot.
This is because there is always the potential to be operating day trips frequently (flying to a destination and then straight back again).
Indeed, some airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair in Europe offer little to no night stops, meaning you’ll be commuting to and from the airport daily!
Something worth considering when picking which airline you would like to fly with. Some people prefer day trips as it ultimately means spending more time at home!
You Will Get More Time Off As A Pilot
However, one of the beautiful things about being a pilot is that it allows you a great deal of time off.
This means, as a long-haul pilot, you can live in a different country to the country where your base is located. The requirement to commute less frequently offers a lot of freedom. It means that pilots can live almost anywhere in the world.
However, the further you live from your base usually means the more time you need to leave for your commute. Indeed, pilots who choose to live this life will often commute the day before their working trip and stay overnight in an airport hotel or elsewhere.
Of course, it’s entirely up to the individual, but there always is the need to ensure that you are well rested and acclimatised for your next trip.
This is all well and good when the flight/train/boat you are commuting on is running on time. But it adds considerable stress to life when you factor in delays/cancelled transport due to weather or other uncontrollable situations.
Something to think about. I would love to live in Spain when I begin flying long-haul and commute to and from London for my trips. Long-haul pilots operate flights that travel a greater distance and are therefore longer trips.
As a long-haul pilot, you will spend less time travelling to and from work but more time overnighting in different destinations worldwide. Indeed, some trips can be as long as two weeks at some airlines!
My Personal Pilot Commute
I currently operate as a Senior First Officer on short-haul.
Personally, my day can often begin with a very early alarm – sometimes as early as 3 am!
From here, I’ll wake up, shower, get dressed and head to work with my flight bag and usually my luggage, depending on whether or not I am operating a day trip or a trip over several days in multiple countries.
My flight bag contains the essentials for flying, my licences and passports, my company iPad and other essentials such as chargers and other documents.
From here, I will jump in a taxi to the tube station and then spend approximately 40 minutes on the underground until I arrive at London Heathrow.
So my commute is about an hour, which I think is perfect for the short-haul life.
Public transport isn’t the only way to get to work. Until recently, I, like many others, would drive to work.
Depending on the airport in which you are based, you might find that the car park is just a short walk from your crew room.
It may seem like a tiny detail, but being just a short walk from your report point will save you a great deal of time and potentially stress over your career.
At some larger airports, such as London Heathrow, you will often find that you will be required to get a company bus from the car park to your report.
