Heyas N2,

I would have to echo what my bro Rotor said. While there is no glass ceiling, as we get older, it gets progressively harder to recoup the financial expense of a career change.

With the current airline demographics and economic outlook, older guys and gals are on the wrong end of the curve to see what little "real" money is left in the airline business. But there is opportunity outside the airlines, such as the fractionals, but, unfortunately, lots of guys have "fled" to those jobs as well. Corporate is a good alternative, but it is "networked", and almost impossible to break into unless you know someone unless you get really lucky.

Beyond that, there are the dollars...always the dollars. First you have the outlay for flight training. Even done on the cheap, FBO style, you're looking at 30k, at the minimum, to take you to CFI/II.

The days of hiring 300 hour wonders is winding down as well, so figure on at least a year grinding out the time CFIing at minimum wage. With the CFI shortage, there IS some improvement in this area, but it's still rock bottom. The age of flying night cargo for multi time is also winding down. Checks have moved to mostly electronic, and "just-in-time" delivery pathways are getting killed by the reduction in manufacturing in the auto industry. In another year or two, it's going to be a bear for guys to build ME time.

Assuming in two years that there still is a regional industry (and we're all not riding bikes to our jobs in agriculture), you get hired and now face 3-5 more years of poverty wages waiting to upgrade.

There IS still some money to be had flying corporate, but who knows what's going to happen to that segment. As public scrutiny comes to bear on these bailouts, lots of CEO types might be flying coach...you just never know.

Not to be forgotten is the "lost money". The money you would have made had you stuck to what you were doing.

Consider where that money might be better spent....law school (I understand there's a huge need in bankruptcy law), med school, MBA and so on. You might be better off trading up and earning the money to own your own aircraft. And discount what you hear about "I'm not smart enough for med school"...I call BS. I spent two years teaching college kids...the ones who went to med school aren't any smarter than the average person, but they were driven. All it takes is mental elbow grease.

I'm not trying to dissuade you. Far from it, but you need to be aware of the cons to everyone's pros.

Nu