Starting at age 52, what would you do?
05-19-2018, 10:12 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2018
Position: FAA ATC
Posts: 29
Starting at age 52, what would you do?
By July 2020, I will turn age 52, I will have 1500TT as a flight instructor, and meet all requirements to be hired at a regional airline. We will be living near ATL and our youngest will have spent her junior year near ATL with all new friends, etc. In July 2020, she will be going on her senior year, and that's when I would be ready to work for a regional airline. We would like to eventually live in western PA, and I could drive to PIT, ERI, or CLE for commute. How would you plan a 13-year airline career starting in July 2020? Which regional airline would you recommend I start with? Which major, legacy, or low-cost carrier would you recommend I finish working with?
05-20-2018, 07:05 AM
#2
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,211
I'd start sooner if you can.
But the crazy thing is that given the retirements, you'll probably still get to a major. You'll have your choice of regionals , but probably not a choice of majors unless you're willing to wait it out (which you don't really have time for). Or maybe you will... the numbers kind of hint at that but it would be such a paradigm shift that many of us old hands have trouble believing it could ever happen.
Good news is the eastern/northeast bases for most of the majors are very junior so your seniority would progress relatively quickly.
For a regional, pick one with convenient geography (in case you end up staying), and a fast upgrade or flow. Research the flow if you go that route, it make take nearly ten years.
For a major, any one will do if you can move to one of their bases or can commute on a 1-3 hour flight. You might make narrowbody CA just barely, but probably won't touch a widebody so a big legacy doesn't offer as much advantage over a smaller domestic carrier.
But the crazy thing is that given the retirements, you'll probably still get to a major. You'll have your choice of regionals , but probably not a choice of majors unless you're willing to wait it out (which you don't really have time for). Or maybe you will... the numbers kind of hint at that but it would be such a paradigm shift that many of us old hands have trouble believing it could ever happen.
Good news is the eastern/northeast bases for most of the majors are very junior so your seniority would progress relatively quickly.
For a regional, pick one with convenient geography (in case you end up staying), and a fast upgrade or flow. Research the flow if you go that route, it make take nearly ten years.
For a major, any one will do if you can move to one of their bases or can commute on a 1-3 hour flight. You might make narrowbody CA just barely, but probably won't touch a widebody so a big legacy doesn't offer as much advantage over a smaller domestic carrier.
05-20-2018, 08:02 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: Retired NJA & AA
Posts: 1,912
05-21-2018, 11:25 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 233
This is SO great to see and a long time coming...
Remember when the answer to the question was: " 52 ?! YHGTBSM. Nobody's gonna ' hire you ! "
Let alone a discussion of WHICH airline. The answer to that used to be: " Any frickin' one that hires you !"
NICE.
GO FOR IT AND GOOD LUCK.
STK
Remember when the answer to the question was: " 52 ?! YHGTBSM. Nobody's gonna ' hire you ! "
Let alone a discussion of WHICH airline. The answer to that used to be: " Any frickin' one that hires you !"
NICE.
GO FOR IT AND GOOD LUCK.
STK
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