Pilot shares the sad truth about flying planes no one tells you
A pilot has opened up about the sad reality of their job after admitting he experiences stress like 'never before'.
Becoming a pilot is one of those jobs that feels almost impossibly glamorous.
Between global travel opportunities, job security, and let's be honest, a fair few envious reactions whenever you tell someone what you do for a living - it’s easy to see why being a pilot is so idealised.
But behind the polished uniform and picture-perfect views, the reality is seemingly very different.
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One pilot has opened up about the less glamorous side of the role - and it sounds a lot less like the dream job we’ve all romanticised.
Known as 'Boeing Boy' on YouTube, the pilot noted how often they miss special occasions on the ground while flying around the world.
He said: "This is a big one. Missed birthdays, missed trips with friends, missed family events, all of that will pretty much continue for the rest of your life.
"Because you'll be flying while everyone else on the ground will be celebrating. But you do get to see the world!"
But it's not the only downside of the job he listed during the video.
'Boeing Boy' noted that while 'flying might seem easy from the outside' (said no one ever), he admitted that in the cockpit, things don't always run smoothly.
Between 'unexpected weather, problems with the aircraft, and a multitude of emergencies', the pilot admitted that having 200 people's lives in his hands isn't always a stress-free experience.
But he's not alone.
Studies show that around 1 in 8 airline pilots show symptoms of depression, while one in four report anxiety symptoms.
Research reports that pilots often avoid reporting mental health problems due to worries treatment could ground them, or affect their medical certification and career.
"Even if everything is alright, you're constantly monitoring, thinking ahead of the aircraft, analyzing a lot of data, so it does get very stressful," the pilot admitted.
But it's not all bad news, as 'Boeing Boy' noted that he has made 'lifelong friends' in the sky.
"You're flying with new people everyday, you're spending a lot of time with them."
As he added: "You're not stressed alone, there's six other people just as stressed as you are."
He also noted that while pilots 'start off with a very decent salary', the pay increase after you become a captain is pretty stagnant.
"To be honest, the salary of pilots is not increasing as fast as inflation is," he admitted, which could also be said for many other industries.
Topics: Travel, Plane, Jobs, Mental Health
Mia Williams