Getting back in the air.
 

Hello there,

A question for you all.
I have been out of the loop for quite some time and now considering getting back in the air.
Where should I look? What are my chances?

I am a Commercial Pilot ASEL, AMEL, Instrument & Glider
CFI, CFII, MEI & Ground instructor

Over 4,600 TT
Close to 1000 ME (Twin Commander, Seneca, Baron, Seminole)
Few hours of turbine (Conquest I, King Air 90)
No Part 121/135 experience

The problem is that over 90% of this flying was done between 1996-2003. I flew part time (a few times a month average) between 2003-2017 and have not flown since.

Where should I look?
Currently making six figures, but could support my family on 55-60K first year. Not against instruction, but can't do it for peanuts.
(BTW, I am 46 year old male.)

Thank you all for your insights!

If you are current and can live in base at a regional do it. In a couple of years at the outside you could go to a ULCC. At present, you)d upgrade quicker there and become senior quicker and probably end up with as much lifetime income as waiting amp other 2-3 years for a top tier major.

To get started, you don’t have to let go of your current job/career. I would look into getting current at the local training facility or FBO.

There is a ‘rusty pilots’ program list detailed at AOPA I think. May or may not apply, but could have some info.

You need to get current, some current hours, a bit of faith, then start the process.

Edit; I think you could do it without dusting off & renewing CFI credentials.

A question could be, would just recreational flying while keeping the current job be enough? If not, doable at least at the regional level, possibly beyond.

As always, individual initiative factors in. What’s doable for one, can be very difficult for the next.