Tech Insider
Robert Graves in the center with passport stamps
Robert Graves flies 15 days a month and has 15 days off, on average.

Courtesy of Robert Gaves, anna42f/Getty, Tyler Le/BI

  • Robert Graves started flying in the Air Force and has been a Southwest Airlines pilot for 33 years.
  • He says being a pilot has unique challenges, including loneliness and difficulty forming friendships.
  • To combat the loneliness, he tries to befriend his copilots and explores new cities during layovers.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Robert Graves, a 64-year-old pilot. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Tags
Careers, pilot, Flying, Loneliness, lonely, Isolation, Flights, Southwest, alone, contributor-2024, lauryn-haas, as-told-to, tyler-le, bi-illustration, BI-freelancer
Source
I've been a Southwest pilot for 33 years. The loneliness affects my mental heal…