Is it too late for me?
 

Hello everyone, I'm new here and was just trying to figure out if it's still possible for me to become a pilot. I'm 27, have an associates, and am currently just finsihing up my apprenticeship as an electrician. I have always loved aircraft and flying for as long as I can remember. Lately I have deceided to look into it again. I think I'm too old for the air force otherwise I'd try that route. Is there a decent way to go as a civilian? Will I pretty much starve for a while untill I get on with a regional? Should I try a school or get a 4 year degree in aviation? Obviously I'd like to try the cheapest route if at all possible. I don't have a family and I do have a fallback career in case of hard times, but this is a dream I've always had and am just trying to see if it's still at all realistic. Any help you can offer is much appreciated. Thank you.:confused:

Military, yes you are too old.

Otherwise, no. I didn't start flying until I was 32. I got my first job at a regional three years later. I would think about making that Associates degree a BS if you can. I'm just guessing, but I imagine that you should be able to make pretty decent money as an electrician. At least enough to afford flight training.

A four year degree in aviation is not a requirement, nor will it really make you any more competitive. One advantage to a 4 year school is the internship opportunites, but I'm not sure that's worth the price.

The cheapest route is going to be at a local FBO. When shopping for a school, don't JUST consider price though. Ask about maintenance, how many airplanes there are, do they do instrument training, multi-engine, and most importantly do they have a syllabus that they follow or does the individual flight instructor come up with the plan. What is really going to save you money is the frequency that you can train. If you take a week or two between lessons, you will progreess much slolwer than if you can fly 2, 3, or 4 times a week.

I would suggest that you save enough money so that you don't get half way through a certificate or rating and have to quit for lack of funds.

Also, I don't know too much about them, but I hear that flying clubs can be a good deal too...

And, don't forget to have fun too. I did an accelerated program and at times I wasn't having that much fun because I was pushing myself so hard. Remeber, flight training is expensive; you should have fun doing it.

I dont feel like its to late
 

I have a friend 33 years old and he just got hired by a regional airline. The answer in short is no , It's not to late. I feel like within two years to Three years you could be in the right seat at a regional. All you would have to do it go to a school like ATP's not DELTA CONNECTION and DAMN sure not Regional Airline Academy. Get all your ratings including CFI and II AND MEI and instruct a year and you could get an entry level job with Great Lakes or Colgan for 1 year to get some seroius time and 121 experience and then go apply to RJ companys. Great Lakes MIN is 600tt and 50 Multi. How hard is that to get. EASY to get if you go to ATP and instruct. There school is based on a lot of multi time. I would have to recommed something along the lines of that route. With your two year degree you will be even more competive than I was. I have no degree or college but shear flight time I got hired by a Regional flying a CRJ @ 20 years old with no degree and low hours and no type rating. So to break it down, no its not to late and if you want to talk to me about how to get started feel free to contact me I will give you the best advice that I possibly can to help you. I love aviation all my life and I will try to help anyone who helps them self. I have been helped along the way so I will return the favor. Contact me if you like. [email protected]

You are not too old, but you would need a 4 year degree. Historically the cutoff for military pilots has been 28, but it has been extended to 30 or even older recently. You would have to really make an rush effort to get the degree, apply, and get started.

An aviation degree is of limited value (unless it is an actual engineering degree). But some sort of 4-year degree is good. Some regionals require it, and it really helps at most. They have so many applicants that it does not serve as an enhancement, but as a weeding out criteria when hiring gets slow. You can assume that it would be effectively impossible to go to a major airline without a 4 year degree.

Yes.

My bad, I thought that it was 27...

Too Late?
 

Zoomy,

It's never too late but your return on investment shrinks with every passing day, the costs get higher and your odds of making it to a great job also fade with every passing minute. I guess you would have to determine what your definition of making it is. Most likely you are out of the running to fly the shuttle, probably too old for the military and are looking at some long odds for the majors, but are still in good shape for the regionals. You also have to ask yourself what you are willing to give up. The airline/flying life isn't without some high costs. If you are a family man I would strongly resist the temptation since it will overturn your family life. Also you probably would earn more as an electrician so if finances and standard of living are important to you I would caution aviation as well. There is nothing wrong with a private pilots license and Cessna 150 ownership.

SkyHigh