This coming decades after Helen Richey first broke the gender barrier in the s. And why not? Other pilots understand the unique career demands, they appreciate the vagaries of the work schedule, and they know the struggles associated with career progression. But there are challenges, too—home maintenance, conflicting schedules, and perhaps child care down the line.
How do pilots married to other pilots navigate the unique challenges well enough to make the relationship work? Added up, these couples have almost a century of experience together. None of them proclaim to have a perfect marriage or believe that they have all the answers. Instead, their stories are meant to inform, to inspire, and hopefully to provide a pathway for those already in or those considering a similar relationship.
Others, however, may prefer to date pilots because they believe that only another pilot can truly understand the lifestyle. On the flip side, Capt. Many of our couples reported meeting while on the job or otherwise flying—at flight school, while on layovers, through commuting, or even while volunteering for ALPA.
So they learned early on how the lifestyle would affect a relationship. Still, there were challenges to overcome. Claude Buraglia Jazz Aviation was a certified flight instructor who met his now wife when she was a student of his.
He said that he discussed with Transport Canada having someone else conduct her flight test. For the Pullises, establishing a foundation of trust was paramount to the success of their relationship. Kat Pullis Virgin America. Walid Nakib Endeavor dated for seven and a half years before getting married.
