JamesAA

Hello. I'm a 40 year old and have accumulated a fair amount of money through investments, and find myself wanting more! I've been yearning to go back to do what I set out to do at age 4, namely, become a pilot! I realize flying on a recreational basis might be advised given my situation, but I actually want a job and the responsibilities that go along with it. My target is regional aviation, prop planes, cargo...something like this. I think it's the most practical/realistic expectation given my age. Majors I realize are out of the question.

But (there's always that "but", I believe there are 4 significant hurdles that may thwart this from ever coming to fruition. What I'd like, is your opinion as to whether or not you deem these to be serious threats to my landing a regional piloting job. Here are the problems I foresee:

(1) My age. I'm 40.

(2) In 2001, I was arrested for the first, and only, time in my life. It was a misdemeanor--giving alcohol to a minor. I haven't had ANY run ins with the law ever since. Haven't even had a traffic ticket in 16 years.

(3) In 2007 I was put on a 72 hour hold for a "5150" code. I actually was NOT suicidal at all and I've never attempted to take my life nor have I ever wanted to. But in California if they so much as suspect it, they don't take any chances and put you on a minimum 72 hour hold. When the triage nurse asked, "have you had any thoughts about hurting yourself," I STUPIDLY answered, "perhaps," ignorant of the 72 hour lockdown law and the consequences that would ensue. Oops. A costly & boneheaded lesson.

(4) I've had some phobia issues which began in 2009. I have been to shrinks to discuss it. They've prescribed anti anxiety meds to me. I took them for a brief period of time in early 2012 but took myself off of them, and have beat my phobias through simply forcing myself to do things I didn't want to do. Eventually, you get used to it and it's not as difficult. I read that that is the best if not only way to truly defeat phobias, and that meds were just a band-aid. Plus, I did NOT want to rely on or be on meds for the rest of my life. That's not me.

Looking back at these things I sound like a MESS lol. I promise you I am not. These are my life hiccups, if you will. I've never smoked pot, done drugs, don't have a drinking problem, don't smoke, and I'm on zero medication of any type. I'm a very happy and driven person.

I suspect the airlines will never hire me, however, based on this rap sheet. There are too many people that will apply with no record. What's more, they will be 15 years younger. I can't see why the airlines would hire me give this. I have little upside and potentially a lot of downside (in their eyes). I'm a risk, again to their eyes. I do interview well, and am a very likable, courteous, clean cut man,...but that's about all I can offer. I stand out more in a negative way, I would think.

Is that true?? I'd LOVE nothing more to hear that I am wrong, but it seems like I'd be a liability. Why hire someone to fly a plane with passengers that has this record? Why take that chance? It's not like pilots are in great demand.

Anyway, any and all comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading my word post. Good luck to all of you. Life's too damn short. Follow your dreams!

James

ClarenceOver

Become a career CFI. Otherwise i guess you will have to wait for a real pilot shortage. 135 operators might take you. Or you could do part 91 and fly until you die. 121 will be extemely tough given what you have stated. Good luck.

brianb

Yes, Part 121 operations will be difficult and Part 135 operations won't be a dive in the soup either. I don't know how long your past incidents are available to possible employers so I would do whatever I could, at this point that didn't require any PRIA requests. I would pursue the CFI,CFII and MEI asap and then see where the industry is in another 5 years. You would be 45, have another 5 years behind you and accumulated experience and hours that may be palatable to a Regional carrier. Don't leave "self determination" in the hands of others, give it a shot. If the drunks on Northwest Airlines can rebuild their lives/careers, certainly you can as well.

Cubdriver

The age topic is a non-issue, but be aware that twenty-somethings are the main age demographic for regional airline newbies and you had better enjoy life around that group if you plan to go there. With your savings you may be able to insulated yourself from the poverty wages of airline flying, so that will help, but it will make a huge dent in your savings most likely.

Sounds like the alcohol one might be expungeable, so look into that. It may still turn up on an FBI search even if it is expunged (probably), but I am not sure. It is a tough thing to overcome a misdemeanor in the hiring process, they raise flags even when they are pretty minor. At best you will have some explaining to do if you get a call. Not a hopeless situation though from what I understand, and honesty is the best policy even if you mange to get it expunged.

The psychological ones are within the realm of getting a first class medical. If you can get a first class medical then the airline won't care how you got it, the question is can you get one, so I would do that early on to see what happens. Part 135 only requires a second class.

waflyboy

I agree with this. Try to get a medical certificate first. If you can get a second class medical, I'd say there are plenty of flying opportunities available to you. If you can get a first class medical, I don't think the airlines are necessarily out of the question.

rickair7777

Not normally a problem if you have financial means to cover the lean times in entry-level aviation and already have the retirement that airlines probably won't provide.



This may be a deal-breaker depending on circumstances and whether you were convicted. If there was a conviction, it will have to be reported to FAA when you get your medical, but they will probably let slide a one-time thing.

But unfortunately airlines are a LOT more tolerant of "youthful indiscretions" which occurred before about age 25 than criminal issues involving a mature adult. In the case of an older adult, they will assume that you are too old to change or have "issues".

This would definitely have to be reported to the FAA aeromedical assuming there was any medical intervention (sounds like there was). This will require at the very least some extensive (and expensive) professional evaluation. They are very leery of allowing anyone with possible suicidal thoughts to fly an airplane, so this could be a long row to hoe just to get an FAA medical...even a 3C, and you'll need a 1C to fly for the airlines.

They actually lightened up on the rules regarding some meds for depression/anxiety and you can actually fly with meds under very specific conditions. If you're off meds and doing fine, it would normally be pretty easy to get a medical with a letter from your doc and possibly a referral evaluation. Unfortunately, this all ties together with the suicidal issue.



This will help you to succeed and enjoy whatever you decide to do.

Another positive is that fewer and fewer airlines are asking a lot of details about your medical history or giving medical exams, so if you can get the FAA to give you an unrestricted medical many airlines would be good with that.

The challenge for airlines would be the misdemeanor, and it may depend on whether there was a conviction.

In the past many airlines have asked not just about convictions but also arrests. This may vary by state law, so it's hard to say who does and who doesn't. The related problem is if they ask about arrests you may have to tell them about the 5150 thing which would raise eyebrows to say the least. Be aware that normal employment law rules don't seem to apply fully and consistently to airlines...they have access to FBI records which includes some arrests as well as convictions.

Those are the issues, as others have said you can probably find employment outside of airlines and possibly with a regional if you get all your ducks in a row.

First thing would be to get a a 1C medical...I would suggest that you DON'T go directly to an FAA AME but rather spend the money on an aviation medical consultant to help walk you through the process. You may need to talk to an aviation attorney as to what you need to disclose to the FAA...don't guess wrong on that, they will send you to jail for lying on the 8500 form.

Once you get a 1C, then you can evaluate where to go from there. If for some reason they only give you a 2C, there are still jobs available to you but a 1C is preferred. A 2C immediately tells an employer there are issues of some sort, leaving him guessing what they might be.

JamesAA

Thank you so much for the responses. I very much appreciate it. Very informative posts. Knowledgeable group of people on this site for sure.

Wishing everybody a happy New Year!!

~James

Airwolff

From my actual experience I can tell you that the age is not a problem, I started my 121 career at 40 also. Regarding the misdemeanor; there was a fellow in an new hire class with me who had an arrest record and since it was expunged he did not report it when asked by the company. They knew, he was immediately let go; not because of the offense but because of lying. I do not know about your #3 issue but regarding #4; make sure you are ok with IFR under pressure. I met two pilots from two different airlines who lost their medicals because of panic attacks. Best of luck and go for it, if you really want to.