Originally Posted by
Timbo
The hiring age brackets have really widened since the mid 80's, that's for sure! My newhire class the range was 24-34, the average was 28, there were 20 mil, 4 civ. The active duty requirement back then was only 4-5 years after wings.
Now it's what, 10 years after wings? So if the typical mil pilot starts training after college at say, 22, he/she will be about 33 by the time they can get out and get hired, and some will stay in for 20, then get out and be hired at 43ish.
The Civ. guys will be flying while still in college, graduate at say 22, spend 5 years on an RJ, and be 27, much younger than the 33yr. old mil guys (or 43!).
Some guys "hit the gate" just right. Back in the day when I was an IP, we had some 24 YOs who had jumped the hoops just right. Learned to fly/CFIed in school, hit the commuters at 21, upgraded right at 23, got some PIC time, and bingo, hired at 24.
Of course, many of those guys got furloughed for years, but you get the idea.
Nu