Notices
Flight Schools and Training Ratings, building hours, airmanship, CFI topics

Is 41 too old to be a pilot ?

Old 07-02-2011, 04:31 PM
  #1  
New Hire
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Default Is 41 too old to be a pilot ?

I am 41y , looking to be a pilot , it is my dream when i am young , do u think it worth it , if yes which schools can give me the licence to be commercial pilot and how much cost , any loans can apply for it ?

Thanks for all
ayseaf is offline  
Old 07-02-2011, 05:16 PM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Fr8doggie's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: Junior
Posts: 280
Default

Not too old, but it would be more difficult to recoup your investment into the career. FedEx has hired many in their mid-fifties as have other majors so it's not impossible to get to a good place for a few years before 60 (65).
Fr8doggie is offline  
Old 07-02-2011, 05:21 PM
  #3  
Underboob King
 
Superpilot92's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Guppy Commander
Posts: 4,412
Default

It's not ideal but definitely not to old, if it's what you want to do than do it. Life's to short to hate what you do, cheers
Superpilot92 is offline  
Old 07-02-2011, 07:41 PM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
TheReelDeel33's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 125
Default

If you already have $ saved up, and are real serious about this, you could quit your job and dedicate yourself to nothing but flight training and be done in a year.

So by 42 or 43 you could be building flight time instructing. If you did this as your full time gig you could have enough hours to get a "legitimate" pilot job by 45. So if you wanted to be an airline pilot that would give you a 20 year career.

So no, you aren't to old. I don't think anyone would say that you are. It's a matter of are you wealthy enough, because if you are 41 now and made the switch you wouldn't be back to making a respectable income until you were close to 50. (flight instructuting will prob give you 15k a year) (Regional pilot might bring you closer to 20k) (regional pilot after 20 years seniority you'll be close to 6 figures)
TheReelDeel33 is offline  
Old 07-02-2011, 07:56 PM
  #5  
New Hire
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Default

Originally Posted by TheReelDeel33 View Post
If you already have $ saved up, and are real serious about this, you could quit your job and dedicate yourself to nothing but flight training and be done in a year.

So by 42 or 43 you could be building flight time instructing. If you did this as your full time gig you could have enough hours to get a "legitimate" pilot job by 45. So if you wanted to be an airline pilot that would give you a 20 year career.

So no, you aren't to old. I don't think anyone would say that you are. It's a matter of are you wealthy enough, because if you are 41 now and made the switch you wouldn't be back to making a respectable income until you were close to 50. (flight instructuting will prob give you 15k a year) (Regional pilot might bring you closer to 20k) (regional pilot after 20 years seniority you'll be close to 6 figures)

Thanks for all , what about schools , which one is good to start , i heared about delta academy , is it good , is other schools you know ? what about school loans ?

Thanks
ayseaf is offline  
Old 07-02-2011, 08:14 PM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,090
Default

Originally Posted by ayseaf View Post
Thanks for all , what about schools , which one is good to start , i heared about delta academy , is it good , is other schools you know ? what about school loans ?

Thanks
If you considering going into debt and you're 41, you're probably too old to see a return on that "investment."

Judging by the way you type, you probably need a college degree too which is 4 years and a sh*t ton of money...
threeighteen is offline  
Old 07-02-2011, 11:22 PM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 474
Default

Originally Posted by ayseaf View Post
I am 41y , looking to be a pilot , it is my dream when i am young , do u think it worth it , if yes which schools can give me the licence to be commercial pilot and how much cost , any loans can apply for it ?

Thanks for all
Not too old necessarily.

Read the following website so you can save me some typing!

The Truth About the Profession - Home
globalexpress is offline  
Old 07-03-2011, 04:31 AM
  #8  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Posts: 190
Default

If you're crazy enough to actually go through with it, you better have a very wealthy spouse or a pile of gold on a deserted island somewhere. You are going to be competing against thousands of kids for jobs that pay much less than minimum wage. We're talking 10-15k a year to fly nice big rj's. These kids have no qualms about living under an overpass or in their parents basement. At 41, are you ready to bankrupt yourself and your family just to play airline pilot?
toomanyrjs is offline  
Old 07-03-2011, 05:08 AM
  #9  
Prime Minister/Moderator
 
rickair7777's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,100
Default

Everything we told this guy applies to you, but even more so...

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/hi...er-option.html
rickair7777 is offline  
Old 07-03-2011, 06:49 AM
  #10  
Line Holder
 
airline NooB's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2010
Posts: 53
Default

Just my opinions:
You dont mention if your goal is airline, but you are here, so we will start with this presumption.
To get there you will need an absolute minimum of $30k work of training and probably more along the lines of $60k. The FAA minimum for training are nearly impossible at our age. Half way through my instrument training I was getting enraged by kids half my age picking up the processes in half the time I was taking. Their absorption is MUCH faster....our application is much better (eventually). Be patient if you can afford it. But do NOT go in budgeting to finish the process in the minimum time. Budget for it to take double time...if you come out ahead, save it. And, no, I'm not a moron. My wife is a psychologist and I have every "test" known to man. It is well documented that I am significantly ahead of the curve...but simply put, age effects learning. You can teach an old dog new trick, it just takes longer.
You dont mention if you have family. If you do and your relationship if weak...dont pursue airlines. Family Counseling and divoce are not covered in the benefits program. My folks are dead, my siblings are busy elsewhere, I have no rug rats, and I have the most amazing wife anyone could even imagine...but ist still gonna be a strain...if I get a call.
Most of all....examin your motives. Ask yourself why you want to do it.
Really pull at the answer (dont just tease it with a feather duster) tug on it from all angles. If the answer comes apart....reconsider. If the answer holds together....keep researching....reading threads...network with active 121 pilots....and Keep examining your motives every step of the way. If the answers pull apart....reconsider. If through all of this the answers hold together....then you are on the right path.
I'm not trying to talk you into or out of anything. But plotting a career change at any point requires a lot of navigation. Plotting a chage at 41 with more than half your fuel-burn behind you...requires VERY CAREFUL navigation. But you can still get there.
Be patient. Have fun. but situation awareness is far more than an aviation term, it should be mantra for life.
Again....just my opinion. Welcome to the paradox. PM me if you have questions that my relative inexperience my be able to help with.
airline NooB is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Time2Fly
Corporate
38
08-11-2010 09:17 PM
TPROP4ever
GoJet
322
11-24-2008 08:45 AM
Moe Rudda
Regional
21
02-16-2008 04:50 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices