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2018 Maximum Hiring Age for New Pilots

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2018 Maximum Hiring Age for New Pilots

Old 05-04-2018, 11:45 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by 210Av8r View Post
I'm in a similar boat but with some differences:

* 47.5 years old.
* 0 AMEL (could easily pay out of pocket to get 25 AMEL as required by most regionals now).
* ~1350 ASEL, with about 1000 of those being in a T210 I've owned since 2003. (can easily go burn some avgas in the 210 to get within closer range of the 1500).
* Studying for CAX written now.
* Very active in a charity that flies medical staff to Baja monthly to give clinics to locals.

Am I crazy for even considering this? Just feel the strong need to shift away from a lucrative but not fulfilling career in engineering and do something I love.
You can easily do this compared to the OP. Just be smart about it. You don’t need to go through a full 141 program. Just learn the commercial maneuvers and get your commercial multi engine. I assume you already are Instrument Rated. Then fly another 100 or so hours in the 210 and you’re off to the races. Do all of that while keeping your day job. Transition your family to a budget for what you project you’ll earn as a regional FO and save the rest as an emergency fund. Get the 1500 hours and a job offer then quit your engineering job.
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Old 05-04-2018, 11:49 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by nick1975 View Post
Hi Everyone- I want to become a pilot but I just turned 43!

I've been in the IT industry for over 15 years and am tired of what I have been doing and also don't like my line of work that much.

I am told if I start within the next 3 months I will be a pilot by age 45! and retirment age for pilots is 65!

Will any airline hire me? and if they do what will be career look like in terms of stability and income?

Much obliged,

Nick
Nick,

Yes you can do this, but you have a LOT of research to do first, just based on your questions. Please make sure you understand all of the steps required to get to a major, and understand that it’s possible you’ll never make it. Take every piece of information through a filter, especially when talking to Flight schools. Get your ducks in a row before quitting your day job. If you can pay cash for your training ($50 to $100k plus living expenses) then do so.
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Old 05-05-2018, 01:49 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by PRS Guitars View Post
You can easily do this compared to the OP. Just be smart about it. You don’t need to go through a full 141 program. Just learn the commercial maneuvers and get your commercial multi engine. I assume you already are Instrument Rated. Then fly another 100 or so hours in the 210 and you’re off to the races. Do all of that while keeping your day job. Transition your family to a budget for what you project you’ll earn as a regional FO and save the rest as an emergency fund. Get the 1500 hours and a job offer then quit your engineering job.
Thanks for the input. Heading down that path. Cheers.
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Old 05-05-2018, 02:30 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by PRS Guitars View Post
You can easily do this compared to the OP. Just be smart about it. You don’t need to go through a full 141 program. Just learn the commercial maneuvers and get your commercial multi engine. I assume you already are Instrument Rated. Then fly another 100 or so hours in the 210 and you’re off to the races. Do all of that while keeping your day job. Transition your family to a budget for what you project you’ll earn as a regional FO and save the rest as an emergency fund. Get the 1500 hours and a job offer then quit your engineering job.
At what point in my path going forward does it make sense to start applying in order to get to the FO spot as soon as possible (considering training delays, etc). Of course this depends on which regional but as a west coaster I’m thinking the players (at least in the category of minimizing commute time) would be Compass, Skywest and Horizon.
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Old 05-05-2018, 04:48 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by 210Av8r View Post
At what point in my path going forward does it make sense to start applying in order to get to the FO spot as soon as possible (considering training delays, etc). Of course this depends on which regional but as a west coaster I’m thinking the players (at least in the category of minimizing commute time) would be Compass, Skywest and Horizon.
When you are ready to interview and know which regional you prefer. With your times, they might call you right away for an interview. They would then offer the job, and tell you to call them for a class date when you have ATP mins (minus 25 hours AMEL).

If you can reasonably articulate your time-building trajectory at the interview, they might offer a future class date on the assumption that you'll have ATP mins by that point.

If you do QX, I would insist on the E-175... the Q400 apparently is failing a lot of new hires right now, they may not have adjusted that training program for the new realities of trainee experience and currency. I would at least talk to someone who has completed the Q400 program recently.
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Old 05-05-2018, 10:11 PM
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
When you are ready to interview and know which regional you prefer. With your times, they might call you right away for an interview. They would then offer the job, and tell you to call them for a class date when you have ATP mins (minus 25 hours AMEL).

If you can reasonably articulate your time-building trajectory at the interview, they might offer a future class date on the assumption that you'll have ATP mins by that point.

If you do QX, I would insist on the E-175... the Q400 apparently is failing a lot of new hires right now, they may not have adjusted that training program for the new realities of trainee experience and currency. I would at least talk to someone who has completed the Q400 program recently.
Excellent advice. Thanks!
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Old 05-11-2018, 10:29 AM
  #27  
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so, once I have all the pilot certifications plus the 1500 hours on small air craft such as cessna 172 and etc. will the regional or even major airlines consider hiring people who have only experience on those small air crafts and train them for 737 or other small jet based airplanes?
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Old 05-11-2018, 11:05 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by nick1975 View Post
so, once I have all the pilot certifications plus the 1500 hours on small air craft such as cessna 172 and etc. will the regional or even major airlines consider hiring people who have only experience on those small air crafts and train them for 737 or other small jet based airplanes?

In the US, major airlines will not. Jetblue has established a pilot academy, that would be the only exception where a 1500-hour pilot will get a major airline job. AA is starting something similar, but you will have to start on their regional jets, not mainline jets (but will eventually flow up to mainline).


All regionals today will hire 1500 hour pilots and train you to fly a regional jet. You'll also need at least 25 hours multi-engine. The training is intense, and some regionals have high failure rates (research that before you take a regional job, failing your first 121 training event is a black-mark which you can never erase).
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Old 05-11-2018, 12:44 PM
  #29  
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Short story;
I earned my Private Pilot license in 1984 at the age of 22 ($2900. total cost). I was getting ready to begin my Instrument training when I spoke to several pilots in the industry that told me I was wasting my time. They said even if I had my ATP rating I would not find a job because so many pilots had been furloughed, "we got captains walking the street with thousands of hours" due to airline deregulation. I got discouraged so I put my pilot career on hold until 2001. Gave up my desk job went back and finished up all my ratings at 41 years old. Then 911 happened....
Don't let other people discourage you. If you have a dream get after it with everything you got.

P.s - To get flight hours I towed banners, ferried airplanes, pipeline patrol and did a multiengine time building program at AriBen Aviators. It ain't easy.
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Old 10-06-2018, 06:41 PM
  #30  
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I am in the same position myself. Im 37 starting school in January, I've been an A&P for 18 years and am just bored with it. Daughters half way thru high school so I figure why wait. Funny thing is my son (19) and I may end up doing it together.
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