Getting Back to Flying - Advice.
 

I am a US and Brazilian citizen. My mum who's Brazilian was sick so I moved there to help through her long recovery. I went to flight school there and I hold up to CFI ratings there and a total of 520TT.

After having my kid and the downturn of Brazil's economy my last boss sold his King Air, couldn’t find anything in aviation and decided to relocate back to the US working at my old profession I had when I lived in the US which thank goodness pays well.

I haven't flown since 2014 and as I am the only source of income at my household (this will change soon thank god lol) I needed to get back to my old profession fast to support the family and I never got to fly as a CFI since I got my King Air job right after my check ride.

Now I'm toying with the idea of flying again, researching the current state of the industry. The thing is that I am 37 years old and I fear being 'left behind' if I don't act quickly even though I don't have much of an option, I can't leave my current job to go full time to a school like ATP so I am hoping it won't take me too long to get to my CPL flying on weekends and nights.

I was able to get my PPL-MEI here in the US based on my Brazilian License but now I need to go for my CPL, not sure about CFI yet (I hear horror stories about the check rides, I fear failing and ruining my chances at an Airline). I live in Northern NJ and there are a couple flight schools near my work at Essex Airport.

Once I get my CPL I should have close to 600TT because I'm sure I'll need to do a few hours to brush up on my skills so I'm hoping I'll be able to get something with that time.

I'd love to be able to go down south for my training but with the family that's not possible although I do understand that if I take something like a Survey Pilot I'll have to go away for longer periods until I get my 1500 hours, are there any other options for someone with only that amount of hours, it seems NJ isn't the best area to fly, all I see around the forums are usually in the South or West Coast.

So I get to my point lol, am I overreacting that I may be left behind on this 'pilot shortage'? Am I too old to get into an airline at the age of 40 (granted it takes me 3 years to get to 1500TT)?

If I could help I'd love to get to my ATP Minimums with as little debt as I can but I also want to make sure I'm not 'left behind'.

Get your CFI, join a cadet program for a regional (Piedmont Airlines has a partner school in Trenton for example) and instruct with them part time until you get to your ATP mins and get rolled right into class at an airline.

Hitting 1500hrs by 40 will still give you a 25yr career... plenty of time.

Thank you Otterbox. Just called them ;) Out of curiosity. I do have a Bachelors of Science but it is in Media Arts and Animation, would that count as a 4 year degree on a major?

If it's from an accredited US college it should count.

You don't need a science or engineering degree.

Yeah you can interview with CFI and 400hrs and Start flight instructing at 500hrs as part of the program.

Your degree will count as a 4 year for hiring by a major.

Piedmont has a flow through to American Airlines so you'll have a pathway to one major while you apply to all the others.

Thank you Sliceback and Otterbox!

If you make it to a regional airline by age 40 and spend 3 years there before moving on to a major, you will still have 22 years at the major which is enough to fly all different types of aircraft from narrow body to wide body. Still have time for an amazing career if you follow through and are successful.

Thank you NYC Pilot. It usually takes longer no to get to a major? I hear 10 years?

Folks at Piedmont are flowing to Mainline American Airlines after about 5 years of employment. Some are also leaving for other Majors thanks to the experience (quick upgrade to Captain, opportunities to become Line Check Airman etc.) they’ve been able to acquire as a result of the movement in the seniority list caused by ~10%+ folks leaving per year.

Assuming you join a regional with 1,500 hours and an ATP, the 3 years at a regional will give you another 2,500 hours. At 3,000 to 4,000 hours total time, you are competent enough to be hired by a major assuming you have a clean record and a 4 year degree.