zyttocs

I started my aviation career older than most and now I'm a 52 year old 4000+ corporate King Air pilot. My current 91 job in in question and I'm considering putting in for either a fractional or maybe one of the legacies. Am I too old to shoot for the big boys? Should I keep my expectations lower and more realistic?

My biggest concern is that I'll bust out of the AA or whoever's program and then no one will hire me.

At my age and my experience should I just give up on the idea of flying for the big boys and settle for the mediocre fractionals or even the bottom feeder options?

I need the brutal honest opinions.

Thanks guys.

V1 McFlyerson

“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.” -Henry Ford

Why would you bust out? Man, you're only 52 years young. Don't write yourself off like that. You can do whatever you want to do. Do you have the boxes checked?

I don't think "maybe one of the legacies" happens for many people. You need to hunt that down if you want it. There is NO reason, from the brief circumstances that you shared, that you can't make it happen.

AirBear

You can easily get on at a regional, then move up to a major in a few years. Not a long career at the majors, but hopefully long enough to upgrade. Or most fractionals would take you, especially Wheels Up (GAMA) since you have a lot of King Air time. If you're worried about school (you shouldn't be) then go for Wheels Up, same plane you've been flying.

zyttocs

Thanks guys. I'm not big on the regionals if I can avoid them only because at my age I don't have a whole lot of time to wait for the move to majors. Plus whatever move I make if from a $100k job so stepping down that far is very hard on the family. The reason I'm thinking of the big boys is because I would only have to take a step back on salary for a year and then the sky is the limit. Gama would be alright if I just wanted to maintain status quo.....just talking outloud you know.

mainlineAF

As a 4000 hr king air pilot with no connections your odds of going straight to a legacy are slim to none.

Obviously apply. But i wouldn’t expect a call anytime soon.

galaxy flyer

Corporates are desperate for experience, look for a mid-size or larger bizjet job. Where are you, as that might effect things?

GF

TheRaven

52 is not a factor.....multiple guys in their 50s have been hired at AA over the past several years....think the record was a few flow-thrus that were 63....couple guys were 64 but retired before finishing training.

Lack of 121 experience is working against you.....Put your stuff in at Envoy, upgrade quickly, you can apply and get hired at a major or flow thru well before you’re 60. Or you might decide being an E175 Captain with a good schedule and some seniority is good enough.

One thing is true.....if you don’t apply, you’ll never get hired

rickair7777

Yeah, assuming no glass jet experience, they would consider you a training risk.

Also 4000 is generally pretty low time, unless you're a hip, young, diverse millennial with no TPIC. Regular guys need about 8k and at least 2 k TPIC as a rough rule of thumb.

But apply to SWA, they hire prop guys occasionally. AS as well, but only if you can live in base.

Skgradney

Doesn't hurt to apply to the majors and see what happens. You miss 100% of the shots you never take.

zyttocs

Yea I've been shopping the corporate midsize jets but it's been tricky. I know everyone is saying that the minimum requirements are changing for the better but everything I've seen still wants time in type...even the corporates. I've been shooting my resume around primarily on the orange site but the only responses I've been getting are from 135's that want to pay peanuts and work me to death.

I've been flying the King Air part 91 corporate for 8 years and love it and would love to stay 91 corporate but move up into the mid jets.,...just cant find anyone to give me the break...all want me to bring types and time in type.

As far as where I'm at...Oklahoma, but the family also would like to relocate so I've been shopping around the county....the only good lead I have right now was an interview with Flexjet last week.