I took my first flight lesson at 14 using paper route money and from day one my goal was Alaska Airlines. I graduated college just before the last big recession of the early 1990s. Most of my graduating class never even got their first job. I however held on and struggled for 6 years before things began to get better.

By the time I was able to get hired by my first regional I was nearly 30 and was the lowest time guy in class with nearly 4000 hours. There just wasn't an opportunity for me until then. Over the years I passed through what most people would consider to be a good jobs along the way, but my goal was elsewhere. I did not want to merely fly for a living. I wanted to fly for Alaska Airlines and every career decision I made was in consideration of those ends.

When I was laid off at 36 I knew it was over. I had been able to interview at Alaska a few times but now that I was bounded out of the industry and had to start over I knew that my dream was now out of reach. As you mentioned Alaska Airlines begins to pass experienced pilots by once they reach 40. My goal was to get on with them before reaching 35.

New pilots who are trying to break into the job market today will have the same problems as my generation did. Your careers will be stagnant for a considerable period of time. When things do finally begin to move again there will be a younger generation of pilots breathing down your neck.

Skyhigh