Pilots and Infidelity

The other day, someone told me that the airline industry is the industry with the highest rate of infidelity. I won’t go into details about the conversation, to respect that person’s privacy (and because I don’t want to single out any airlines that were mentioned), but suffice it to say that the conversation got me pretty upset.

If you’re new here, my other half is a pilot. Although he isn’t working for an airline at the moment, he could be in the near future.

So, here I was, presented with the reality of the industry that my other half has been dreaming about being a part of. My first reaction was panic, followed by disbelief. I've been supporting him every step of the way and will always continue to, yet I had never once considered the possibility of flight attendants trying to sleep with the love of my life.  

“That doesn’t happen. It’s a professional environment,” my denial told me. 

Curiosity ate away at me and I Googled it: Pilots cheat

Hit after hit came back and blog after blog told me that I wasn’t alone in my search for an answer. My search is one that has been Googled time and time again. Each hit and each blog confirming my worst fears.

The more I read, the more I discovered women warning others to “stay away from pilots!” I read comments from flight attendants saying that they’ve "never met a pilot that hasn’t cheated," that they "like the challenge of sleeping with a married man in a uniform." The more I read, the more I worried. But, if you go looking for trouble, you’ll find it.

How many times have you Googled symptoms of a sickness you've come down with just to have Google tell you that you’re probably dying; when really all you had is annoying-ass cold?

Point: Don’t always believe what you read.

If my search taught me anything, it’s that being a pilot doesn’t make someone cheater. Yes, being a pilot means he (or she) will have more opportunity to cheat than in other professions but

IF HE’S GOING TO CHEAT, HE’LL CHEAT WHETHER OR NOT HE’S A PILOT!

As an assistant (whose work wardrobe consists of skirts and high-heels) working in the downtown core, I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve been approached by both single and married men, despite the fact that I proudly wear my promise ring on my finger (which, more often than not, gets mistaken for an engagement ring). 

I also can’t even begin to count the number of stories I’ve heard of married men who sleep with random women – which they found off the internet! – while on their lunch break. Or the stories of the men who say they’re “working late” but they’re really just sleeping with a co-worker. I could go on, but you get the point.

A cheater doesn’t need to be given the opportunity to cheat. They will find it themselves. 

Just because my pilot will be in situations where he will have the opportunity to, doesn’t mean he will. Yes, he will go out to the bars and drink with the flight attendants. Yes, he’ll probably go clubbing with them too. Anyone that says I can’t “let” him do that is ridiculous. The moment you start restricting your spouse is the moment problems will arise. Will I be uncomfortable with it? At times, yes. But I trust him, therefore there is nothing to worry about.

I’ve worked at jobs where going out for drinks, after work, is part of the comradery of the company. In fact, at some jobs, it’s necessary to do so if you want to get ahead (within reason, of course). 

My pilot has never stopped me from doing this. Nor would I ever want him to. 

After all, all I’m doing is having a couple drinks with my co-workers and then going home, alone. Just like he’s having a couple drinks with his co-workers and then going back to his hotel room. Alone. 

Trust is a two-way street. As much as the pilot could be cheating, the spouse could be too. Let’s put this stereotype to rest, shall we?

Now let's all just enjoy the Top Gun anthem.