Originally Posted by
HateMyCubicle
Hi everyone,
Do you think that as a 32 year old, it is too late for me to pursue a career flying? I have always been interested in taking the plunge and pursuing the necessary ratings to make a career switch but life has gotten in the way.
On the plus side:
-No wife/kids to support
-Have the 4-year degree requirement
-Could pay for my entire flight training out of pocket without incurring any debt
-Personality type is such where I do not have a status driven personality (ego would be okay with never making it to the left seat of an international wide-body)
-If I didn't do this I'd likely go to grad-school, so further education is already on the horizon anyway
On the negative side:
-I'm 32
-Have 3 hours of total logged flight time
-Would like to be able to financially support a family in my 40s (which I have heard is very difficult to do as a junior professional pilot)
Would like to hear other's thoughts as to the feasibility of this idea.
31 here in a few months, very similar situation, I work in software and I'm actively training to get instrument/commercial/cfi, etc. I wouldn't worry about it at all, many of my instructors were in their mid to late 30s, early 40s.. Never had one younger than 24 (I was only 24 at that time also). All of them are working at airlines now. I'm taking it slow with training to keep out of debt. No debt is a very smart way to go.. I think we will be able to relax and enjoy the career much more this way, and honestly, the pressures of training are hard enough.. No need to add financial pressure to that.
Expect to start out at 15k to 30k as an instructor, 30k- 35k as a Regional FO. Hopefully 65k and up from there within 5 yrs. (Hopefully these numbers increase before we get there) I don't know how anyone else does it any other way (going into crazy debt) without well heeled parents paying their rent and bills, etc. Sounds like you also have a backup career which is also highly recommended in this field. This time in a year or 2, maybe we'll both be instructors!
Get your first class medical and keep it before training to check that box off as well.
Go for it and Good luck!