Sometimes I forget that my boyfriend has a job that isn't as popular as your lawyer, doctor, accountant, but when I tell people that he's a pilot their thunderstruck faces bring me back to reality. Flying in the clouds isn't just another license, but a whole new world.
Pilots are known to be arrogant and narcissistic and I'm far from interested in that. I've found a good one, but there are definitely some suckers in the bunch.
I usually don't tell people what he does for a living until they ask because if I say he is a pilot they will solely ask plane questions, but I want to answer the questions about his personality and such. I'm not dating him because he can fly a plane. Actually, on our first date, the entire concept that he flies planes went over my head.
I always say he's the captain and I'm the co-captain. Well, only when it comes to flying. I never thought I'd be spending my nights studying, teaching, and pretending to understand Brionuilli's principle, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet
Can't understand what they're saying on the phone? Great, get ready to spend the next 15 minutes of your life listening to them spell whatever they so desperately have to say in the phonetic alphabet.
Hydration is key
Taking a 7-hour trip to Paris sucks the life out of your skin, but imagine flying day in and day out. A pilot has got to down bottles and bottles of water to keep their skin glowing.
They are pilots and will never let you forget it
They can't go more than 15 minutes without announcing that they are, in fact, pilots.
Checkrides
For every certification comes along the stress of another checkride. It's an extreme final on steroids.
FAR/AIM
It's the Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual, duh!
Never ask for the weather unless you have 30 minutes
No, really, it's better to just check your phone and keep your lips locked. Pilots know every single type of cloud, how they form, when and where it will rain, what the precipitation is, yada yada. Honestly, I'm more concerned about the iCloud.
Long distance
It's not really a long distance relationship, but it's common practice for you and your partner to be apart for a few nights.
Airline gossip
Since our first date, I've heard stories about all the airline gossip and rumors.
Flying dates
You want authentic Italian pizza? Done.
Flight attendants
The infamous pilot and flight attendant affair. When I told my mom's best friend that my boyfriend is a pilot, she looked directly into my eyes and blurted, "You're so stupid. They are known as cheaters, Jenni." I'm personally not concerned, but I've definitely heard stories.
Always flying for hours at a time
When I'm in class, he calls and when I call, he's flying. It's quite simple.
CFI
Ah, the world of Certified Flight Instructors include nights of being the guinea pig for upcoming lessons on the nose-to-tail descriptions of a plane and why ears pop during a flight.
Ground
When pilots in training aren't in the air flying, they're at ground where they talk about flying.
Pre-flight calculations
I am his calculator. Every night, there is a chunk of my time designated to punching numbers into a calculator as he goes over the figures.
Lady and gentleman, on behalf of the entire crew, welcome aboard.
man running in forestPhoto by 
