Cubdriver

Yes, the airline environment reduces risk enough through systematic methods that it becomes mostly a question of which pilot is cheaper to train. I truly wonder if late-beginning pilots have anything special to offer, they are not definitely not cheaper taking so long to get it. Be that as it may, they can learn airline flying quite well in most cases and airlines seem to have a fair share of late beginners. I used to do performance music, and that was a field that you had better forget it if you got a late start, same for athletics and a few other things. But flying is not a bad thing to attempt at a later age as long as it is not too late. 40 or so seems to be the reasonable cutoff to begin a career in flying from scratch, which is much older than quite a few disciplines will allow.

rickair7777

I don't doubt it for an instant. Your speed and ease of learning certainly drops off after 30, and significantly so after 50, and any experienced CFI who has worked somewhere other than a puppy-mill should know what I'm talking about.

If you learn it young, it's deeply ingrained and second nature and when the wheels come off the bus you can still fly the airplane and keep up a scan while dealing with whatever else.

You could in fact make a scientific case for a requirement that all airline pilots have an instrument rating and 300-500 hours prior to age thirty to be eligible for an ATP. You could still do the middle-age career change as long as you did some flying as a youth. I wouldn't be in favor of this though due to individual variations...There are old pilots who started late who are still better than some old pilots who started young.

But if you're going to fly challenging single-pilot ops (night freight, Alalaks, etc), might want to do an honest self-assessment first.

Cubdriver

I did night freight at a late age (45) and I thought it was about the same as any other twin engine single pilot IFR, but I am just one person. The problem with setting age limits for an ATP is that it tries to reach into the realm of learning-psychology using broad metrics, which is usually not a good idea. For example, the parts of the brain that are used for flying may be strong or weak independent of age. While that is probably the case, I have no doubt older people take longer to learn things. I think it has to do with the greater inventory of experiences they need to organize into a cohesive whole in order to act on the new skills. Sort of like a larger hard drive takes longer to format before it is ready to go again. But at some age the ability to develop new motor skills start to decline, and I think it may be at about 50, as you said. If the skills are not already there it gets really hard to establish them after 50 or so. If there were to be a truly useful metric for deciding is someone can get an ATP at a late age, it should look much deeper into the brain. I am not sure I want to take that test but I think that is the only real way to know if someone is likely to be able to develop fine grade skills at a late age without their actually trying to do so.

galaxy flyer

Also, being selfish, there are waaaay too many pilots seeking too few jobs, hence the HUGE decrease in pilot remuneration ove the last decades.

GF

nehringer

I "think" this pretty clearly lays it out...http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...am_recruit.pdf

USMCFLYR

I think I see what you are looking at on that flyer "Under 40 years of age".
I believe that you get some years for military service.
Best to actually call a recruiter of course for the real info.
There are a few CBP pilots on this forum too.
The CBP thread had some recent information on the age requirements if I remember correctly.
In the long run, and unless it has changed again, with prior military or law enforcement service, you were able to be hired beyond the standard age. A friend of mine was hired when he retired in 2009 and he was a few years over 40.

They love dual qual'ed guys and with the military service you get the 5 points minimum. Sounds like you would be a 100+ pointer easily.

nehringer

Well...that may change the game. I guess it's worth kicking over some rocks from time to time. Let me shoot some paper their way and see what turns up! Thanks!

USMCFLYR

If you do find more information, and references in support, please share.

Also - from time to time there are announcements for instructor positions here in KOKC at the traning center that are not subject to the CBP age requirements because they are not AIAs.

I'll fire off an email to my contact mentioned above and see if I can shine some more light on the age issue.

nehringer

Upon further examination of CBP pilot requirements, I have arrived at the conclusion that it's a young man's game. I understand that lots of people my age are in better shape than they were in their 20's, but I'm not one of them. I've got a bunch of titanium in my spine keeping me vertical. I don't need to subject myself to the physical demands of that sort of work, just to fly in a dual-rated capacity. I wasn't aware that the pilots go through the same training as the agents. Pass on that.

Now, an instructor position maybe something I'd consider. I'll be interested to hear how that shakes out. PM me.

I'll NEVER get my wife to agree to move to OK. Her ex was stationed at Sill back when they were newly married and she's vowed to peel her skin off before setting foot back there again! At least I know I can walk 18 holes at Tinker AFB for $6 after 4:00!

PotatoChip

FWIW,
I am friends with a pilot who started flying at about 55 after a successful previous career. He retired, had time on his hands, became a CFI, and has worked for two 135 outfits in his hometown. He loves the job and couldn't be happier...
But again, he's doing well on retirement and largely does this as a hobby.