Thread: Wanting to get back in it
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Old 09-30-2015 | 09:30 AM
  #10  
MaxThrustPower
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eraualex I did not intend to come across purely negative and I hope you didn't take it that way. The first part of my posting answered the question you posed about WHY you might not be getting called back for interviews. And actually, under much different circumstances, I also had a brief period out of the cockpit (although I was still working in aviation) and I was surprised how much explaining was asked of me when I interviewed for a cockpit job again. But in the end, I did get the job. Just be prepared for that. So I do understand your dilemma, on a personal level.

The second part of my answer was just to challenge you to think again about what you're taking on at this phase of your life. But if you understand the downsides and still make an informed decision to go for it, I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Originally Posted by sulkair
The comment about the MAJORS not hiring guys in their 50's is bunk! They do it all the time. When I was a REGIONAL CA I flew with a hand full of FO's on their second career, well into their 50s, who always toyed with being a 121 pilot and just had to go for it.
As for the rebuttal to my claim about any possible age discrimination, I stand by my statement as to what I've personally observed in the industry in almost two decades. I don't want us to paint an inaccurate picture for eraualex as to what he can expect from a career stand-point. And I did not say emphatically that the majors will NOT hire a pilot in their 50's! None of us know what the airlines will do for sure. And standards do continue to evolve as demand has grown and attitudes have changed. There was a time just a few decades ago that anyone over age 30 was "too old" to get hired at a major.

However, I did say I believed there MIGHT be a poor chance of getting hired in the age 55-65 window. I did not say 50's but said "LATE 50's". While I've observed many pilots get hired in their 40s and even early 50's, I can't say I've seen ANY pilots get hired after age 55 at my airline or any other MAJOR. And with his lack of recent experience, he will likely need to spend at least 3-5 years at a regional building more flight time.

That's just my personal EXPERIENCE, not SUBJECTURE, so stating what I have observed and am trying to pass along to someone on this forum doesn't make it "bunk." If you want to disagree, there is a way to do so respectfully without trying to tear down what someone else is contributing to the discussion.

Also, a *MAJOR* is not a *REGIONAL*. I was talking about getting hired off the street at American, United, Delta, Southwest, etc. I can believe you saw pilots get hired late and stay at the regional level. I never said he couldn't get a job in commercial aviation or at a regional airline. Eraualex might find he can get hired at a regional and never move up. I was just trying to prepare him for that possibility and give him realistic career expectations. If he's okay with that possibility, then by all means he should go for it!
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