dfking

How big of an issue is currency? What would I have to do at this point to find a job?

I have an ATP, 3700 total time 750 sic turbine, 1050 MEL. I am technically current but have not flown a lot in the last 20 years. Maybe 20 hours. Raised a few kids in an area that had no flying opportunities.

Time in DO 228, Sa227, PA31, BE58. Lots of tailwheel time and some SES.

I am 51 years old with Canadian and American citizenship.

I wouldn't mind flying overseas. Previously flew in Botswana and the Maldives.

Thanks!!

HercDriver130

Get current, with a current IPC, and start shot gunning resumes.... something will stick

Rnav

Get current and then do one of those RJ programs. I know people are going to say why waste your money but if you have some extra time and a little money laying around why not? It may not make you any better than you already are but those idiots in personnel for some reason at the regionals have a y'know what for them. Once your hired on you've got enough time to then decide where you want to go after a year or two getting up to speed. Alot of airlines(regionals) are probably looking for around a min of 30 hours to 100hrs of flying in the last 90 days. Or bypass my previous comments about the RJ program and send resume's to everyone. Hope that helps.

pilotca86

How much are you making now? I wouldn't want to be your age and face the next 5 or so years making $18,000-$25,000. If you're already loaded financially, go ahead and sign up. You can watch your savings slowly disappear.

Seriously, if you want to fly, you can find something. Your qualifications look workable. You're just not going to be paid a living wage. If your ok with that, give it a shot.

If you're willing to spend some of your own money, you can follow some of the above mentioned suggestions. When I was 23 I bought a DC9 type rating. Two weeks later I was flying brand new MD80s for a pax carrier in Texas. My experience is probably the exception. That was over 25 years ago. If I were you I would get myself current and go buy a 737 type.

Coto Pilot

I wouldn't waste your money on paying someone. I stopped flying for about six years, didn't fly once during that time. I got checked out and then flew for a few months and got hired at Eagle, ten months later I was hired at both America West and United.

dfking

Some interesting and diverse opinions!! Thanks!
Part of my decision comes from being in the construction business and spending the last three years looking for significant work with no luck. I'm living in the last house I built on spec and slowly running out of equity. My wife is a biologist and we like the idea of running off to the south pacific etc. to work for a few years. I have realistic notions having done this before.
Sounds like getting current and firing off resumes to where I want to be might be the best course. Also looking into retraining grants here in Canada. Oh, to be half socialist!

Emb170man

Your big issue is what has changed in the past 20 years... Namely everything. Flying is flying... Like riding a bike. Take time to really get to know things like RNAV, RNP, EGWPS, TCAS, WAAS, NEXRAD, GPS, FMS, things that weren't around or were just coming around 20 years ago. If ATC issued you a clearance to go V232 to XYZ Vor, then Q-route 76 to ZZX VoR, would you be lost? Loran and NDB's are dead. If you can master current technology in aviation, the flying part is easy.

dfking

Ha! Good point, I had been thinking about this.
What do you mean? No more Loran or Omega routes?
I should be fine learning all the new technology but it does seem a little overwhelming at the moment. RNAV and GPS were just coming around, TCAS was a fantasy and I have to admit, I will have to Google the other acronyms.

bcpilot

I have a similarity with your situation, only difference is the amount of gap & total flying experience before the gap.

I had a 12-13 yrs gap, not a minute of flying during the GAP period & approx a fraction of what your experience, the biggest I had flown was abt 125 hrs or so on the Piper PA31, and LOTS of single engine tailwheel, 80% of my 700 total...

When I first sat in the left seat in a 172 after approx 13 yrs, this MAY 2011, The experience was all across the spectrum, feeling great to be in the air, at the controls, on one side to what the...!!!!! on the other........

The stick & rudder flying was fine, my reflexes were the same but a lot of things that I had forgotton over the years & sometimes would forget to do in the air, even after repeated breifings, made me wonder ...... will I ever make it??
Sometimes I would have a hard time understanding & processing what the approach or departure controller was saying, I was slow on the RT....

But in a few hours, it all started coming back, I did about 50 hrs with a good Instructor, single & multi, I did all the manouvers, all the approaches, over & over again & again, single engine stuff, VMC, over & over..

There was no fun flying, every flight had a mission, objective....

I was doing my navigation using the cross radials & calculating my position & ground speed the old fashioned way; The GPS seemed a little overwhelming initially, but when I understood the GPS, it started becoming fun....... Learned the new tools, the IPAD, iphone uses to flying & online tools available, amazing stuff.......

I owe it big time to my instructor, who worked very hard to revive me, who was extra patient with this OLD DOG....

If this helps, this is my most recent experience, with a GAP of almost 13 yrs, I just came home yesterday, after a 2 month of "operation recurrent flying" I now feel comfortable & confident again....

dfking

Thanks, great to hear about someone in a similar position.

Where did you do this? How much did it cost you and what are your plans now?