Horseflyer

I’ll be 53 late this year, single, with Commercial SEL, SES, Glider, Instrument, solid flying skills, 430TT, long successful first career, 4 yr degree. I dismissed the idea that I could go pro at this age, but then had four airline pilot friends (from Delta, Spirit, FedEx) tell me I should, but get moving fast. For various reasons, I am interested in scaling career 1.0 down, and making flying as my primary, with getting to 200+k income by age 60 as goal (to ensure this transition in careers is worth it). Part 121 carriers would be my first choice, although I understand corporate and part 135 can offer good options as well.

Option 1: Get CFI, instruct until 1500 TT / ATP, pick up MEL along the way. No real disruption to personal life. Then go into a feeder program to get heavy multi and turbine time to get to 3000 TT.

Option 2: Get MEL, apply to IBC Airways (capt friend suggested this, but accepting others!), be miserable and poor for 18 months to get to 1500 TT. Saab 340 time, they pay for type rating with the 18 month commitment. Then either upgrade to captain with them to get to the magic 3000 TT, or go to regional. Disruption to personal life is high, but not necessarily a bad thing, and financial risks aren’t insurmountable.

The route from 1500 to 3000 seems pretty similar between the two options, it’s the 430 to 1500 TT decision... is it better time/faster/more likely to get picked up by 121 carrier at 3000 TT with option 2?

There is someone very important to me who is going to need a solid business case to be okay with option 2. So any advice on pros/cons, or just a simple “I’d go for option...” would be much appreciated!

kettlechips

All I can say is don't expect to be picked up by a major/legacy at 3k TT

rickair7777

Yeah, don't let your previous career go to your head. There are plenty of other career changers applying to the majors. Including doctors, lawyers, fighter pilots, Colonels, and even astronauts. I actually know one who's a doctor, fighter pilot, Colonel, and astronaut. You'll be on about the same footing as a 24 y/o CFI.

You will be at a disadvantage being older... training is harder for older folks, majors know this, and they have hiring systems designed to weed out the aged. They cannot legally discriminate based on age so they invent hoops and hurdles which are easier for a young, unencumbered pilots to navigate. You too can get through the gauntlet but it will require perseverance, and dancing to the tune called by the majors.

Assume you'll need 5K TT and 2000 TPIC, preferably 121 TPIC. You might be able to get on with a ULCC at 3K. Maybe.

DanMarino

Can you elaborate on what these systems are?

Horseflyer

Absolutely agree with both of these statements. Having been a boss, theoretically that makes me a better employee, but would be huge adjustment and all prior accomplishments have to be packed away, and bring humble hard work. And slower to pick stuff up... it’s a concern.

Horseflyer

I was thinking more low cost carrier, to be realistic.

NatGeo

Hmmmm, most people with 430 TT do not describe themselves as having solid flying skills.

If your main motivation for getting into flying as a career is money than I would continue on your current path and not get into it.

Some of the happiest guys I have seen in aviation are guys your age range who made a late life switch in careers to aviation, but I don't think any of those guys were doing it for the money.

Important Note #1: The first step before you spend any additional money is to go get a First Class Medical done.

I would go the CFI route. Get the CFII and multi, and MEI in short succession. Option 2 will leave you with a bad first impression of aviation and probably ruin your relationship/marriage.

Once you have your CFI you can sign up for one of the airlines Airman Trainee Programs. You get hired as a Trainee and the regional airline gives you some free training and the best part is you get flight benefits! You can travel for free on standby for a couple years until you get hired by a regional. I'm not positive they will hire you as an Airman Trainee, there might be some age discrimination there but you minus well try for it at all of the different regional airlines.

Horseflyer

First, thank you for the feedback (and the rest of you), it’s much appreciated! I am so encouraged that you said some of the happiest guys you know are ones in my age range that made the switch.

Re: bad first impression... I know, right? 😁 I would have to go in knowing it would be rough for the 18 months or whatever it takes to get to the next level. (I talked to a new hire at one of these places and got the rundown of suck.) I have researched the heck out of this thing, and at first it was “get MEL”, then I thought CFI, now I’m back to MEL. The airman trainee programs seem to be specifically targeted to young’uns. I did talk to Mt Air, they said either 1200 or 1500 hrs to get hired, then 3.5 years to interview at FedEx for a trunk line. Maybe. (It’s fluid of course.) My friend at Spirit is strongly in favor of going straight to turbine time as it’s more valuable, and skip CFI, said good chance of getting in with Spirit, even at 3k TT.

Money is not the primary motivator, I absolutely love to fly, and I think I understand (as much as any layman can, which is limited) the lifestyle and pressures of being a pilot. I come from an aviation family, started flight training at 14, including aerobatics, worked in aviation marketing most of my career, brother was FedEx pilot, etc. When I graduated from college I ****ed that most excellent beginning away... airlines were laying off, and my vision SODA negated the best route, military. So it seemed more sensible to use my degree and work on aviation brands instead. The reason I am considering the money aspect is that I would prefer to go forward in my retirement goals, not backwards, so it’s a consideration. I did talk with my AME who reviewed my records, gave me a quick eye exam, said yeah, I’d pass class 1. I’ll get that done officially very soon. No relationship ties at the moment, so the personal disruption (relocating) is there but manageable.

Last serious flying I did was about 20 years ago, but I did fly at least a little each year since, and got back into it regularly 12 months ago, added commercial seaplane in February. Bookwork and procedures - horribly rusty, working on that now. Stick skills seem to have mostly stuck around, probably due to starting so young.

Does any of the above swing your opinion to MEL or 50/50?

galaxy flyer

Loving flying at 430 hours and that from the past is not remotely related to the workaday life of a professional pilot. It’s nothing like flying around the local patch on your own time.

It’s called work for a reason.

GF

rickair7777

Requirements to attend job fairs, other events, update apps monthly for years, volunteer in soup kitchen, have acquired a type rating with 3-5 years, etc. Older folks typically have life responsibilities after they finish their work week (possibly at more than one job).