Too old to start?

[rangerofthewest]

Ok, wmalone, my dad earned his glider in his 20's. But he really didn't start getting into flying, start enjoying it, start making a habit of flying, until 20 years later in his 40's. Age doesn't matter, your passion does. You can do it if you devote yourself.

[wotai]

If it's your passion and what you've always wanted to do, then age should not be a factor. People believe that when they turn 40-50 years old, it is too late to change careers and become a pilot. This is incorrect. The main factor that comes into consideration when you are at that age is not that it is too old or too late, but because you may have more responsibilities to be able to endure entry level jobs and low pay when you're starting out. If you have the passion, it's your dream, and the only thing holding you back is your age, then go for it!

[Eric Page]

You've got some good info above. I'd just add a few words about lifestyle and pay at regional airlines.

Expect to get no more than 10-11 days off per month for the first few years. That may sound good to an office drone who gets 8 days per month, but your duty days will routinely stretch to 12-13 hrs (max is 16 hrs). Expect to be tired, a lot. Keep yourself in good shape.

You'll spend several months on reserve (telephone standby) after you're hired. This is especially costly if you're a commuter (see below). When you upgrade to Captain, you'll be at the bottom of the roster again and back on reserve. Reserves make minimum guarantee pay (~75-80 hrs/month).

If you don't live in base, you'll have to commute, which will burn more of your time off and pay (for crash pad or hotels). Many airlines make little effort to construct commutable trips (late start, early finish); non-commutable trips require you to commute the days before and after the trip.

First year pay is universally abysmal. $20k to $25k/year isn't uncommon. $30k is rare. Pay improvement is slow until you upgrade. No one is getting rich. Plan to carry a cooler with food in it; eating airport food all the time will make you bored, fat and poor.

Airlines are legendary in the realm of bad labor relations. Regionals are particularly egregious when it comes to violating collective bargaining agreements. Unions' contract enforcement power is neutered by the Railway Labor Act, so expect to hear "fly it and grieve it" a lot.

Having said all of that, if flying is in your blood, nothing else will make you happy. As I write this, I'm on day six of six, and two of the last three days have exceeded 15 hours. I still love flying and if I had to commute to a cubicle every day I'd slit my wrists.

Go in with your eyes open.

Lots more at http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/

[Eric Marsh]

If you are fit I don't think that at 46 your age is a consideration. I'm 58 and hope to get my PPL in a few months.

[endywalk]

I agree with this. GO FOR IT.





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Rollators | Lumex Rollators

[Tlim486]

I like the others, say go for it!!!!!! I'm 49 been attempting my PPL since 8/2008, Should finish this spring, Medical issues delayed me 18 months, it could be one of the factors that could effect you. I had thoughts of CFI towards retirement. GOOD LUCK!!!! Tlim

[Holyize]

I'd love to say that you should go for it. But there are something that you have to consider.

Can you afford to invest in it, only for it to end up as a hobby? You're not too old to fly. But you might be too old to establish a good career in flying. Just like in any other career, you'll have to start at the bottom. So if money is currently tight, you have to consider that you won't be able to recoup your investment immediately.

But just for the love of it? By all means go for it!

[Bill Greenwood]

If you really want to learn to fly and be a pilot, go and do it, if you can afford the cost. It doesn't have to be a career. Do you go to church and is that a profit making deal? Do you play golf or fish or whatever, and does that make you a profit?
Do you have kids and are they a profit center?

If you want to be a pilot and have the time, and yes it does take some money, then go do it and don't let anyone give you any nonsense about being too old.
A few years back a friend told me that he always wanted to be a pilot, but wondered if he could do it. He was 60 years old, and only had a jr high education. He also had no interest in a 172 or similar. He was successful in real estate and I told him to go ahead. He bought a brand new Bonanza B36, and learned in that. It took a little longer that in a simple trainer, but now both he and his wife are pilots , own and fly their Cessna Caravan all over the U S and to Canada.

[turtle]

If you are fit I don't think that at 46 your age is a consideration. I'm 58 and hope to get my PPL in a few months.

I like this reply.

One thing seldom mentioned is health. Commercial pilots are held to a higher standard. Learning to fly at 46 or even 86 is no big deal. But imagine spending all that time and cash on a career change then having some age related health problem shut you down when you are 50.

If it's a side job or doing it for fun, go ahead. As a way of supporting a family, unless you are in exceptional health, its a gamble. You're only as good as your last medical.

[uncleleon]

I musta missed the original post. But here'z my 2 cents.

Insofar as becoming a "commercial" pilot as a career; 46 is too old...W-a-a-y too old. Why would anyone hire a commercial pilot in his mid-40's with low hours (no experience) when 21 year old commercial pilots are a dime a dozen? And airlines (currently) have no problem finding pilots 30 and under with 500 (or more) hours multi-engine / instrument time.

Becoming a CFI (instructor) would be no problem at all.

Insofar as learning to fly for fun, pleasure, or transportation; there is absolutely no age limit, as long as your health doesn't prevent you from being dangerous. I'm (two weeks from being) 72. There's a very active 86 year old pilot in our EAA chapter, and I suppose others, too, that I don't know about.