Age Factor

flyingpickle · Post by **flyingpickle** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:30 am

Hello,
I am 34 years old and just got my PPL , I almost made my mind to pursue flying as a career.
I am aware of all up and downs in the industry and the only thing that keeps me hanging is my AGE....
My flight instructor says it is good age to enter the industry, but i would like to hear other opinions from people in the industry.
Anybody started this career in their thirty's ? Would it be still possible to make it to a comfortable retirement job?
Thank you all !

DaveC · Post by **DaveC** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:16 pm

I don't know much about the industry, but I think your instructor might be milking you. You aren't 'old' by any means, but 34 is certainly up there for trying to be a career pilot.

KK7 · Post by **KK7** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:35 pm

I don't think your instructor is milking you. I have seen people switch careers at any age from 20s to 50s. But it all depends what your goals are.

If you want to go to the airlines, most are based on seniority and your schedule and pay depends on being at the top of the list, in which case I would say mid-30s is a bit late to be getting started to end up making it to a comfy spot in the airlines (but it can happen). I think what is more likely is ending up in other parts of the aviation industry. People seem to be stuck on the traditional airline career when they think of age and going into aviation. You can make a really great living on various types of overseas work, corporate, fire bombing, all of which you could get to in 5 to 10 years off the street. There's no question there is a lot of work ahead of you, but don't let that stop you. If your heart is really in it you can make it.

With regards to retirement, there is a mixed bag of pension/retirement plans in aviation from full fledged pension plans in union work (e.g. airlines), but again this depends on seniority. There are other pension plans where companies contribute little to a lot of money to your retirement. It really depends from company to company.

So I say it is definitely possible. But my one caveat is that it doesn't take a lot of reading on this forum to see that quite a few people have a tough go at getting ahead in the industry. Sometimes things can get really rotten for you. If you have a high paying comfy job, usually it is better to get into recreational flying and maybe do flight instruction on the side if you're really interested in teaching. Just go in with your eyes open. Do lots of reading on here and go out to the airport and meet pilots from various levels of the industry from those working on the ramp, instructors, regional pilots, bush pilots, corporate, airline, etc..

dazednconfused · Post by **dazednconfused** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:47 pm

I'm 34 and doing my CPL.

I went back to university at 27 (despite ppl saying i'm crazy and too old to break into commodities) and have a great career today in energy. Anyhow, pretty sure I've read, on this board, of first officers being hired at Westjet/AC in their forties. For me, I'd be pretty happy being a captain on a nice turboprop at a charter outfit like Cariboo, Sunwest etc and dont think thats out of reach. Life is short anyhow. Figure a person should enjoy it regardless of pay.

straightpilot · Post by **straightpilot** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:49 pm

I can't see somone at age 40 cleaning toilets or working the ramp at -40C for 2 years, but ...

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:10 pm

First the good news

Not to old at all. Maturity plays a huge factor, and the younger ones are not quite as responsable, as a rule. The flying public does not like the white scarf, big sunglassess and watch image....learn well...you have a 30 year career ahead of you.

The bads news is the young ones, as someone pointed out previously, are willing to livein sub human conditions, clean toilets, and work for nothing...Most older folks are not that stupid, so dont expect to have as many job opportunities, as the companies who treat their pilots like this have the most turnover, and thus opportunities.
On the other hand, at the start of your career, there will be some sacrifices, which is sometimes
hard for people with families, homes etc to start over, so to speak.

But go for it...all will work out if you have the will

Shiny Side Up · Post by **Shiny Side Up** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:44 am

The flying public does not like the white scarf, big sunglassess and watch image....learn well...you have a 30 year career ahead of you.

Who do you fly with who still has a white scarf?

1filthy2 · Post by **1filthy2** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 10:47 am

I'm 39. I've had a PPL for a year and I'm currently doing my CPL training. I started the CPL to get the tax write off benefits of the PPL but now I'm thinking about a serious career change and heading to a remote part of Africa or Asia for some adventure. It doesn't take too many years of piloting a desk behind a beige cubicle to realize there's way more to life than $. Good luck to all breaking in for their second career.

Colonel Sanders · Post by **Colonel Sanders** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:21 pm

God is not my co-pilot. This dog is my co-pilot:

full_flaps · Post by **full_flaps** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 3:50 pm

I did it!
Started my PPL when I was 35 with a wife and a new born. Now 38 and have my CPL, MIFR and right seat on a PC-12. Loving it...no regrets!

Beefitarian · Post by **Beefitarian** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 4:40 pm

full_flaps wrote:I did it!
Started my PPL when I was 35 with a wife and a new born. Now 38 and have my CPL, MIFR and right seat on a PC-12. Loving it...no regrets!

Well done.

HM123 · Post by **HM123** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:51 pm

Hi. For someone that is not starting out at 18 and in their thirties, I am interested to know about ab initio programs.

I have read online that Cathay Pacific has such a training program but it is based in Australia/Hong Kong. Do you know of any programs for Canadians based in Canada or North America?

HM123 · Post by **HM123** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:58 pm

Hi. For someone that is not starting out at 18 and is in their 30's, I am interested to know more about "Street to Right seat"/MPL/Ab initio flight training programs.

I have read online that Cathay Pacific allows foreign applicants into their ab initio program, but it is based in Australia/Hong Kong. Does anyone know of such programs open to Canadians based in Canada or the US?

Thanks.

172pilot · Post by **172pilot** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 2:22 pm

29 is young. Friend of mine just went to law school at the age of 34. Gave up a great, very high pay, corporate job which he did enjoy. He had a dream to study law, it was now or never, and admitted it will be 15+ years before he's back to the income he just gave up. I also know of another guy who is 40 years old and just headed off to med school. Both of them have families. Maybe you wont make captain at a major (i bet you can be a first officer no sweat), but who cares, if you are enjoying waking up each morning and dont dread Sunday night. Life is too short to have regrets. Dont worry about what others think of your age. You have to respect someone who gives up good pay and security to start from scratch and doesn't settle.

kilocharliemike · Post by **kilocharliemike** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 2:57 pm

straightpilot wrote:I can't see somone at age 40 cleaning toilets or working the ramp at -40C for 2 years, but ...

There are other ways to pay dues, such as dispatch, ops... I am 39 as well, when i got my licenses in 2008, I was worried about age as well, but I am happy with my choice to continue. Its all about time and money management and multitasking and having built good support to help with commitments like family, mortgage , bills to pay and whatever but it can be done.

Expat · Post by **Expat** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:43 am

Age is becoming less of a factor than it was. It seems that for our older generation, time has stopped. Airshow pilots are so old, that they have no friend watching anymore...Beatles and Rolling Stones are still touring...

I finally got to fly at 43!
I got my real job and salary break at 52!

Life is not what is behind, but what lays ahead...

Cheers

4hrstovegas · Post by **4hrstovegas** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:11 pm

Got my CPL at 31, now flying for a major. Yeah, I scrubbed toilets and moved around a lot. But it was all worth it!

Canadian Skyhawk · Post by **Canadian Skyhawk** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:38 pm

It's NOT too late.

I don't mean to brag but I got my PPL at 46 and my CPL / MIFR at 47 (yes, 47, that's not a typo). Three years after first stepping into the left seat of a C152, I am now captain on a corporate-owned Navajo and I smile every day. A local magazine even ran a story on me regarding career changes later in life. There are guys STARTING medical school in their late forties/early fifties. If you take care of yourself (don't smoke, no drugs, exercise daily, yadda, yadda..), most of us can hope to reach 100, so a career change in your forties is no big deal.

There are many advantages to starting later. You know yourself and what you want. Talking to my fellow pilots (who are half my age), I have noticed that prospective employers take you much more seriously. Of course, having an established career beforehand helps establish your track record......not to mention provide the cash required to get through the flight training.

I don't expect to make captain at the majors. But I think I can expect either an FO gig or stay in corporate aviation and move up to larger aircraft. Like someone said earlier, if you dread Sunday nights, get out now. Chase your dreams. No one else will do it for you.

Besides, there's a pilot shortage coming. ; ))

Age Factor

Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: "Street to Right Seat"/MPL/Ab initio Flight Training

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor

Re: Age Factor