jaywatts

The title pretty much sums up what post is all about. Yes, I am pushing thirty, and only now I realize that I want to be an airline pilot after all. No, I am not going through an early mid-life crisis, rather this is something that I have been seriously thinking about for well over two years. I've sat on this for too long and I've lost time, I just gotta figure out whether or not I should make my move.

I have been following the turmoil in the airline industry and I have talked to several people who are either airline pilots or work for the airlines in some other position. I always hear the same thing, that I'd be competing against guys who have 10+ years in the military, and that it will be a very long, hard, and expensive process. Despite hearing this, I'm still not deterred. I have a few questions that I hope someone could answer that will hopefully put me on the right path towards this goal, or set me straight.

1) Am I too old? As I stated I am 29, but I know guys who are 26 and 27 who are only starting flying school now because they have finally saved up the money to do so. Would being in my thirties put me at a great disadvantage as I try to move up? Would my age be a liability that would cause me to be looked over for jobs because of my lack of experience plus the fact that I would be older and possibly not in "top physical" shape compared to my peers?

2) What does the situation look like for the industry? For almost a decade now, the word "Airline" has almost become synonymous with: "bankruptcy", "record loss", "furlough", and "stretched to the breaking point." Is there any real hope of making a good living doing this? I know this is something you do out of passion, but if I am going to invest the amount of money needed to make this happen, I'd like to make a good living. I have heard that the industry is expected to rebound by 2013. How likely is that, and does it mean that there would really be plenty of opportunities to get hired?


I am open to any information available to me. Please don't sugarcoat your response, I want to hear the straight truth.

TonyWilliams

You asked for no sugar coating.... this statement is a HUGE part of the problem. No matter what is paid, what the conditions are, people will want to do it. Result; no improvement in conditions, particularly at the low end of the career path.



You're kidding, right? No, you're not too old. I started at 44, although I had all the licenses/certificates/experience before that.



Passion.... will work no matter what. And, you'll pay a lot of money to do it. Don't worry, any $16,000 / yr Regional Airline will be ready to pick you up when you have your 1500 hours and ATP (ok, maybe not... with 10,000 furloughees on the street). Wonder how much that will cost. A lot more than you'll make for years.

I don't know what is "a good living" to you, but the typical regional experience is not it.... well, maybe at 10 to 20 years, as a captain, you'll do OK... only to start at UAL with no seniority and $35,000 first year.

Sure hope there's no furloughs or failed airlines in your future, 'cuz that might not be so "good".

You might as well follow that "passion", 'cuz everybody else will. I can't wait to see what people will do to build the time to get the $16,000/yr job. Pay to play, work for free, on call 24/7, sit reserve at FBO/airport, live in filthy crash pad or mommy/daddy, etc.

Not deterred... Passion... why bother posting? You're going to do it, whether the world needs another pilot or not.

SunDog

starting out at age 30, even if you take 5 years to get your ratings, you can still be working for another 30 years. airline retirement age is 65. And then, if you want to keep flying after retirement, you can still fly in other jobs such as instructing for as long as you can pass the medical exam.

so no, it's not too late.

in fact, maturity, life experiance, and professionalism will give you an advantage in airline interviews, once you have the numbers on your resume to get the interview. and once you are hired, the only thing that matters for advancement is your seniority number.

Also airlines are not the only aviation career path.

one thing to consider, as it seems to be an issue for some people, is professionalism. starting out a bit later than others you will likely find yourself in the position of FO for a Capitan that is a good 10 years younger than you are. you may be stuck in that position for a long time. you may even make Capitan yourself for a few years only to be downgraded back to FO due to furloughs and have to be back in the right seat taking orders from the young punk that dosen't do it your way or even the "right" way for another couple of years. if you can be professional enough to deal with that situation, you will be fine. (EDIT: most young Capitans are not "young punks" this is just an example in case you get stuck with the one of the few that are.)

disclaimer: I am an ag pilot, i have never worked for airlines, but i have a family member that is an airline pilot. so the above is based on someone else's rants, not my own experiance.

PBSG

First off SunDog, it's spelled Captain, not Capitan. Not trying to flame you, it just bugs me when people tell me how a capitan, capton or caption should act but they can't even spell the damn word correctly.

Second, to the OP: Marge Simpson once said "Passion is for teens and immigrants". Are you too old? No, but you have to have realistic expectations. To say "I wanna be an Airline Pilot" may be a tall order. Being passionate about your career doesn't pay the bills nor does it get you that dream job. It will be a long path to getting your ATP/1500 hours, then to compete with everyone else trying to get a 121 job. Not trying to crush your dreams as there are pros and cons to this job, but it's hard to wake up one day and say "I wanna do this job".

stbloc

Never to old. Just hang in there and hiring should accelerate in the next year or two. Many of those 10000 furloughs are finding jobs overseas or leaving the industry ect. Another thread talk about how many pilots are not taking the recalls for various reasons. I strongly feel we could have a large hiring boom soon. If you look at the retirements at the major level and overseas growth this should lead to opportunity soon. Another thing to consider is the FAA bill in legislation. If 1500 hours passes this will weed out many people which will also put pressure to staff pilots. But we are still a few years away. I would start your private at your local FBO and monitor the industry through your training. Make sure you have a back up plan.

TonyWilliams

And many of those overseas will want to come back home when the hiring resumes.... and they will have many, many thousands of hours, and be current in transport category aircraft.

Hiring may accelerate in a year or two, but that's because it's at almost ZERO now.

ryan1234

Been down south.... waaay south?

stbloc

Sure, the one who went to Lion Air will come back. But for those who went to the Middle East making 100k+ tax free won't be coming back any time soon. Of course some will be back but many won't anytime soon. The two I know love it over there and have no plans to come back once hiring picks up. Why would you come back to this instability and low pay?

TonyWilliams

Me? I'm not planning on returning to a regional, in the US, or anywhere else. But there are guys who will, for any number of reasons.

USMCFLYR

Ever live in the Middle East?

You are having this conversation with someone who is doing exactly that. Maybe he is saying that he will be one of the guys who will coming back to the states - I don't know.

Maybe those that are overseas right now and making the big bucks, and have for a few years, and are well enough off financially now that they would rather move back home and be close to home and family?

Instability and low pay? I thought you were talking about a rebounded airline industry? When times, schedules, pay, QOL, work conditions, etc... are improved.

USCMFLYR

Edit: Tony - would you come back from a Major job though?