Willard

Thanks deltajuliet and daOldman for constructive criticism (if you want to call it that).

I hadn't considered the negative attitudes that might exist against financially secure older guys "living the dream."

FreightWasScary

Whatever you do don't go to Mesa. Go to Skywest, I don't work at either but have friends at both places. You might commute initially at Skywest but as soon as you get to PHX life is great in base even on reserve. I was on reserve for 9 months in base at 9E and it was a piece of cake

viper548

There are some guys that still practice law while working for airlines. That might be a good way to supplement your income if you end up regretting the decision to leave. I was at SkyWest for almost 10 years. It's a great company. I don't know much about their PHX base but they have several others that are a short flight from PHX that wouldn't make for a bad commute.
If being an airline pilot is what you really want to do, go do it. If it sucks that bad you can always go back to whatever you were doing.

tom11011

Listen, obviously Ive struck a nerve.

I worked for a regional for several years. I left the airlines a while back, started an IT company which I ran for 14 years before selling and exiting on a pile of cash in 2014.

I returned to the regional world for just over a year before being hired by a LCC.

I know what Im talking about here. I only had to live with the regional bull $hit for a year and let me tell you it was as bad as I remember it.

The difference between you and I was the pain and suffering was very short lived. I knew all along it was going to have to move fast or not at all. You on the other hand are going to have to put several years of hard prison time.

Us older guys with money are way to set in our ways and dont do well with bs, we are way too self directed and more successful to put up with to much nonsense. We just dont need it.

Hey man, more power to you. I assumed your post was bait. You are in for culture shock. These young guys dont know any better and have nothing to lose. But they will probably sit in the captains chair for 30 years at mainline so their timing is way better making the nonsense worth it as a long term investment.

minimwage4

No offense but this a job, no different than driving the city bus, it's not a hobby. We barely make enough money to have minimum necessities. The guys that get into it as a "hobby" have traditionally not been regarded well amongst fellow pilots because they drink the Kool Aid. And it's really not what you think it is, unless you like flying cramped old RJs and staying at LaQuintas by the runway or a gas station. It's barely glamorous for the guys at mainline.

Theaveragejoker

Wow, I'm a young guy and I couldn't care less who's junior to me as long as they do a good job and make good conversation on long legs. If you could move out of Phoenix I'd tell you to work for an AA wholly owned and retire with flight benefits.
Don't let these guys drag you down.

Flyboyxc91

+1 go for it Man I see 40-50 year olds who don't have any money saved after their certificates getting in and doing what they love.. most say "finally".

Willard

For all the naysayers out there, I have received a number of PMs from folks offering encouragement and telling me to basically ignore you.

Beast

Willard I did what you're describing at age 47. I have not regretted it. I made it through training on time with no problems. Yes, it's harder to learn at our age, but not impossible. You'll do fine.

Background when I was hired was about 1,600 TT, almost all in my own plane, a single engine piston. I did have my ATP already.

You're gonna have significant advantages over some other folks you fly with, mainly the perspective of having other jobs and roles in life. You may or may not hate the lifestyle.

Regardless, it's for sure worth a shot. Good luck!

tom11011

You came here for an opinion, you got what you asked for

Seriously, if this new career at a regional makes you happier, then by all means I salute you.

Don't go into debt or start cashing in 401k's though to finance the training, that would be a huge mistake. I really hope you other guys will at the very least support that conclusion.