Airline Pilot Forums

How big of an issue is currency? What would I have to do at this point to find a job?

I have an ATP, 3700 total time 750 sic turbine, 1050 MEL. I am technically current but have not flown a lot in the last 20 years. Maybe 20 hours. Raised a few kids in an area that had no flying opportunities.

Time in DO 228, Sa227, PA31, BE58. Lots of tailwheel time and some SES.

I am 51 years old with Canadian and American citizenship.

I wouldn't mind flying overseas. Previously flew in Botswana and the Maldives.

Thanks!!

Get current, with a current IPC, and start shot gunning resumes.... something will stick

Get current and then do one of those RJ programs. I know people are going to say why waste your money but if you have some extra time and a little money laying around why not? It may not make you any better than you already are but those idiots in personnel for some reason at the regionals have a y'know what for them. Once your hired on you've got enough time to then decide where you want to go after a year or two getting up to speed. Alot of airlines(regionals) are probably looking for around a min of 30 hours to 100hrs of flying in the last 90 days. Or bypass my previous comments about the RJ program and send resume's to everyone. Hope that helps.

How much are you making now? I wouldn't want to be your age and face the next 5 or so years making $18,000-$25,000. If you're already loaded financially, go ahead and sign up. You can watch your savings slowly disappear.

Seriously, if you want to fly, you can find something. Your qualifications look workable. You're just not going to be paid a living wage. If your ok with that, give it a shot.

If you're willing to spend some of your own money, you can follow some of the above mentioned suggestions. When I was 23 I bought a DC9 type rating. Two weeks later I was flying brand new MD80s for a pax carrier in Texas. My experience is probably the exception. That was over 25 years ago. If I were you I would get myself current and go buy a 737 type.

I wouldn't waste your money on paying someone. I stopped flying for about six years, didn't fly once during that time. I got checked out and then flew for a few months and got hired at Eagle, ten months later I was hired at both America West and United.

Some interesting and diverse opinions!! Thanks!
Part of my decision comes from being in the construction business and spending the last three years looking for significant work with no luck. I'm living in the last house I built on spec and slowly running out of equity. My wife is a biologist and we like the idea of running off to the south pacific etc. to work for a few years. I have realistic notions having done this before.
Sounds like getting current and firing off resumes to where I want to be might be the best course. Also looking into retraining grants here in Canada. Oh, to be half socialist!

Your big issue is what has changed in the past 20 years... Namely everything. Flying is flying... Like riding a bike. Take time to really get to know things like RNAV, RNP, EGWPS, TCAS, WAAS, NEXRAD, GPS, FMS, things that weren't around or were just coming around 20 years ago. If ATC issued you a clearance to go V232 to XYZ Vor, then Q-route 76 to ZZX VoR, would you be lost? Loran and NDB's are dead. If you can master current technology in aviation, the flying part is easy.

Your big issue is what has changed in the past 20 years... Namely everything. Flying is flying... Like riding a bike. Take time to really get to know things like RNAV, RNP, EGWPS, TCAS, WAAS, NEXRAD, GPS, FMS, things that weren't around or were just coming around 20 years ago. If ATC issued you a clearance to go V232 to XYZ Vor, then Q-route 76 to ZZX VoR, would you be lost? Loran and NDB's are dead. If you can master current technology in aviation, the flying part is easy.
Ha! Good point, I had been thinking about this.
What do you mean? No more Loran or Omega routes?
I should be fine learning all the new technology but it does seem a little overwhelming at the moment. RNAV and GPS were just coming around, TCAS was a fantasy and I have to admit, I will have to Google the other acronyms.

Ha! Good point, I had been thinking about this.
What do you mean? No more Loran or Omega routes?
I should be fine learning all the new technology but it does seem a little overwhelming at the moment. RNAV and GPS were just coming around, TCAS was a fantasy and I have to admit, I will have to Google the other acronyms.


I have a similarity with your situation, only difference is the amount of gap & total flying experience before the gap.

I had a 12-13 yrs gap, not a minute of flying during the GAP period & approx a fraction of what your experience, the biggest I had flown was abt 125 hrs or so on the Piper PA31, and LOTS of single engine tailwheel, 80% of my 700 total...

When I first sat in the left seat in a 172 after approx 13 yrs, this MAY 2011, The experience was all across the spectrum, feeling great to be in the air, at the controls, on one side to what the...!!!!! on the other........

The stick & rudder flying was fine, my reflexes were the same but a lot of things that I had forgotton over the years & sometimes would forget to do in the air, even after repeated breifings, made me wonder ...... will I ever make it??
Sometimes I would have a hard time understanding & processing what the approach or departure controller was saying, I was slow on the RT....

But in a few hours, it all started coming back, I did about 50 hrs with a good Instructor, single & multi, I did all the manouvers, all the approaches, over & over again & again, single engine stuff, VMC, over & over..

There was no fun flying, every flight had a mission, objective....

I was doing my navigation using the cross radials & calculating my position & ground speed the old fashioned way; The GPS seemed a little overwhelming initially, but when I understood the GPS, it started becoming fun....... Learned the new tools, the IPAD, iphone uses to flying & online tools available, amazing stuff.......

I owe it big time to my instructor, who worked very hard to revive me, who was extra patient with this OLD DOG....

If this helps, this is my most recent experience, with a GAP of almost 13 yrs, I just came home yesterday, after a 2 month of "operation recurrent flying" I now feel comfortable & confident again....

Thanks, great to hear about someone in a similar position.

Where did you do this? How much did it cost you and what are your plans now?

Thanks, great to hear about someone in a similar position.

Where did you do this? How much did it cost you and what are your plans now?
Yes - flying has changed a bunch since you were last in the saddle! :)
I was in your situation in a way that I had not flown a lot of the new technology (or new to me!)
I had not done a NDB or ILS in 20 years, I had never flown a GPS approach, and did not know a thing about other than Cat I approaches or PRMs or anything along those lines.
It has taken a few months to get into the swing of things but the learning curve is steep and with good information it comes back pretty good. I started flying a Garmin 430/530 equipped aircraft. They have a good simulator on-line and the User's Manual is on-line too, so I read each and played with the simulator and it was a great introduction.

Good luck with your decision!

USMCFLYR

Relax, keep flying and get your resume out there NOW! Attend a job fair or two, talk to some other pilots and things will move for you. Your timing is excellent. I am two years older than you and in a similar situation. I dropped off the grid for close to a decade to find myself and decided to return to what I enjoyed. Regional pay borders on the unethical but you can't beat flying for a living. At least I don't think you can. I was offered a promotion, more pay, etc. and turned it down so I could take a 50% pay cut by going back into the cockpit. I will probably be flamed by some on this forum but I'd rather be happily bankrupt. I have had 3 job interviews and 2 job offers and you will too. Stick to your guns. If you want to fly...you can. And forget about being 51 with a touch a grey. Hey it just makes you look that much more competent--LOL. Good luck!

FWIW... I was out of aviation for 13 years... been back flying (or on furlough) for almost 4 years now... it can be done... but you need to be in the right frame of mind, and right financial situation as well.

I think an important part is gaining that confidence back as someone mentioned. Getting current when someone has been out for a while isn't hard if your motivated. Build that confidence back and learn the things that have changed.

Thanks, great to hear about someone in a similar position.

Where did you do this? How much did it cost you and what are your plans now?


Sorry Couldn't respond to your question sooner......

I did this in FXE, Ft Lauderdale, My brother in law was the instructor I mentioned, who worked really hard on me & helped me get back.

I flew about 30 hrs on a 172 & 20 hrs on a duchess & can't even count the amount of ground time....... We were going ground whether we are at starbucks or Flaningans & chair flying a lot....

As far the cost, the instructor was Family, so he didn't charge me anything, I just paid for the drinks at starbucks & Flanigans & for the plane.
The 172, which we rented from Horizon Flt academy, cost $130 per hour, Horizon, I will rate them 5 stars. Excellent service, they will let U instruct in their planes & very fair billing, pay as U go with a card on file.

The duchess from Air America in daytona cost $195 + Tax. I will rate Air America less than 2 stars, very poor service & extremely bad attitude of the desk staff, chief pilot & management. They re-imburse $2.70 for fuel purchased else where. I can start a full thread for their Horrible service.

There is another place in Sanford, Falcon Flight school, we found that place in the tail end of our training, these guys have a decently equipped duchess & have decent terms & friendly attitude.

Low Rate Cessna Beechcraft Aircraft Retals at Falcon Flight Sanford Orlando Florida (http://www.falconflightsanford.com/aircraft_rentals.html)

If U know a buddy CFI, I'd say work with him & tell him to prepare U for a Multi Commercial Instrument or ATP Check ride with FAA DPE & then in the end another instructor buddy simulates being a FAA examiner & takes the check ride & U have to pass with in the PTS & standards of a strict examiner.

If U don't know anyone, let me know & I will ask this guy & he will help U.....

As for Plans, I am applying to EAGLE, so let's see how it goes...

Relax, keep flying and get your resume out there NOW! Attend a job fair or two, talk to some other pilots and things will move for you. Your timing is excellent. I am two years older than you and in a similar situation. I dropped off the grid for close to a decade to find myself and decided to return to what I enjoyed. Regional pay borders on the unethical but you can't beat flying for a living. At least I don't think you can. I was offered a promotion, more pay, etc. and turned it down so I could take a 50% pay cut by going back into the cockpit. I will probably be flamed by some on this forum but I'd rather be happily bankrupt. I have had 3 job interviews and 2 job offers and you will too. Stick to your guns. If you want to fly...you can. And forget about being 51 with a touch a grey. Hey it just makes you look that much more competent--LOL. Good luck!
Thank for the response. Encouraging!

K-Town as in Kelowna? I am in Kelowna as well.

Sorry Couldn't respond to your question sooner......

I did this in FXE, Ft Lauderdale, My brother in law was the instructor I mentioned, who worked really hard on me & helped me get back.

I flew about 30 hrs on a 172 & 20 hrs on a duchess & can't even count the amount of ground time....... We were going ground whether we are at starbucks or Flaningans & chair flying a lot....

As far the cost, the instructor was Family, so he didn't charge me anything, I just paid for the drinks at starbucks & Flanigans & for the plane.
The 172, which we rented from Horizon Flt academy, cost $130 per hour, Horizon, I will rate them 5 stars. Excellent service, they will let U instruct in their planes & very fair billing, pay as U go with a card on file.

The duchess from Air America in daytona cost $195 + Tax. I will rate Air America less than 2 stars, very poor service & extremely bad attitude of the desk staff, chief pilot & management. They re-imburse $2.70 for fuel purchased else where. I can start a full thread for their Horrible service.

There is another place in Sanford, Falcon Flight school, we found that place in the tail end of our training, these guys have a decently equipped duchess & have decent terms & friendly attitude.

Low Rate Cessna Beechcraft Aircraft Retals at Falcon Flight Sanford Orlando Florida (http://www.falconflightsanford.com/aircraft_rentals.html)

If U know a buddy CFI, I'd say work with him & tell him to prepare U for a Multi Commercial Instrument or ATP Check ride with FAA DPE & then in the end another instructor buddy simulates being a FAA examiner & takes the check ride & U have to pass with in the PTS & standards of a strict examiner.

If U don't know anyone, let me know & I will ask this guy & he will help U.....

As for Plans, I am applying to EAGLE, so let's see how it goes...
Thanks a lot! Very helpful.

If only we had the internet 20 years ago. So much great information. Sure beats Trade a Plane!

The previous poster rattling off the newfangled clearances and approaches is right that there's been new developments, but none of that stuff is a big deal to learn at all with your experience. Know the difference between programming a Q route into the FMS versus programming a Jet Airway in??? You have to find the letter Q on the FMS keyboard rather than the letter J :) Not so hard. Some of the other stuff like the RNAV approaches takes a tiny bit of getting used to and some new procedure, but it's nothing a day of studying and a week on the line can't straighten right out. It sounds like you've faced far greater challenges in your previous aviation career! Good luck!

Thank for the response. Encouraging!

K-Town as in Kelowna? I am in Kelowna as well.

Are U in Kelowna BC........
beautiful place...

How'z the return looking like.........