Coming from someone who with a Masters in Computer Visualization Sciences, (CG effects with film credits to his name), the job market these days is no less fragile than the airline industry. Outsourcing overseas is draining any security computer related jobs once may have held (unless you speak Hindi) That's why I'm actually thinking about Aviation. As long as every job is on the rocks... might as well enjoy what we do while standing in the unemployment lines together. Whether looking at a flat panel screen working 120 hour weeks or through a glass cockpit, at the end of the day it's just a job.

 

You might want to check on the age limits for the military though. The Navy and the Marine Corps right now are 27, I am not sure about the AF though. Guard and Reserve units have different requirements than active duty

 

I am a new member to APC but I have been reading a number of your posts for over a month. It's a good place to get a smile. I like the positive thread so I thought I would make my move and ask some daunting questions I'm dealing with. I am a private pilot with an instrument rating (piston single). I am married with a kid on the way and about to go through ATPs airline pilot program. My wife and I am prepared to make only $18k a year and to fight through the airline business cycles. If anyone feels nice, please offer a guy some advise following your footsteps....
1) Truly, how often will I be gone? I live in Fayetteville, NC. Is it realistic to think I can commute to wherever and not move to a hub city? I am close to Raleigh, Charlotte and relatively close to Atlanta. Chitaqua and ASA serve Fayetteville. ASA for Delta 4 times a day to Atlanta and Chitaqua for US Airways 5 times a day to Charlotte. Is it realistic to hope for a job with one of them?
2) How does the reserve thing work? Are you stuck in the hub city(which from what I have read is the Base??) or will I have, say, a 48 hour notice to be somewhere.
3) I won't be done training and teaching with ATP for about 6 months. Do you think the regionals will still be sucking up pilots?
4) It seems that most of you fly between 80-100 hours a month. Is that about right?

Thanks to anyone willing to help. Hope the best to you all.

 

The age cut-off for the Air Force is waiverable up to 30. You must be commissioned and entered into initial pilot training prior to your 30th birthday. I found this out about a year ago, when I was 31, and about to finish my degree.

A month ago, I called the Army to see what their cut-off was for flying helicopters as a Warrant Officer. Their official cut-off is waiverable up to age 33. But the problem is, they have plenty of younger guys appying for the program, so getting in on a waiver is next to impossible.

So, at the age of 32, I've got to make some hard decisions. Stay in the Air Force as an enlisted guy and just fly recreationally. Apply for OTS next year and still get commissioned, however only fly recreationally. Or get out and take my chances in the aviation industry in the pursuit of my dreams of flying as a career.

I still haven't made that decision. I've been sitting on the fence for the past few months. I need to make the decision over the next few days, as my window to reenlist is expiring soon...

 

Actually, you don't need a waiver if you haven't turned 30. So over 30 could be waiverable. I've seen it twice personally...one was a Nav who's Herc unit was converting to J models(no Navs) and one knew a General in the Pentagon...not very good odds for the average guy.

 

The ascensions program officer told me 27 was the cut-off for the Air Force. But, with a waiver, they'd accept a candidate up to age 30.

Yeah, sometimes it's, "who you know."