Hi!

I would like to know what is the maximum age that major carrier will consider for a flight officer? I'm about to go ahead with my flight training but affraid that I'm too old. (33 yo).

Is anybody know is major carrier hire at over 35 yo ? Is there a maximum?

Thanks everybody!

 

No Max age. Go ahead but be adviced it is a looooong way to go from flight training to a major airline and it costs a lot of $$$.

 

I know of a pilot who was hired at a major at 55 years of age.

 

Thanks,

would you suggest after commercial to do flight instructor to increase flying hours or go for a very small local carrier ? (Is training expericence that majors are looking ?)

Thanks

 

Both. You will need to flight instruct first for at least a year. Then you get on with a small carrier (passenger or cargo.) Because of how many pilots are on the street right now, you can expect the minimums to double if not triple from what they were about 2 years ago.

Plan on being at a regional for at least 7-10 years.

So best case scenario, you will get hired at a major airline at 45 years old. That will give you 20 years with a major, you should be able to make captain.

Good luck in your training and avoid debt, it will be a long time before your salary will be enough to pay off big fat student loans.

 

And the most fun you'll have in your career will be the instructing and the first year or two at the regional-so try to enjoy it.

I took my first lesson at age 29.

 

At 29? You are for major carrier now ? If yes, how old you enter in major carrier?

 

Heyas Fly,

Let me do you a favor....

Examine VERY carefully the current hiring envrionment before you make the leap. Compensation levels for a MAJORITY of the industry are abysmal. It will take YEARS of basically substanance living to get to the point where you can even think about buying a home, starting a family or anything of the like.

If you already have a family, THINK TWICE, even if you have a spouse who is very gainfully employed. Your inevitable time away from home, which is a guarantee in this industry, has devastated families unprepared for it, and many of those who were.

In fact, I wouldn't commit to anything. Flying is a bug, and we all had it at one point, but there is no reason to jump in with both feet. I would continue to do what you are doing, and work on your certificates/ratings on the side at your local airport. See if it pans out, and is, in fact, even to your liking.

At 33, the world is still your oyster. Think law school, med school or some other professional occupation. If you DON'T have college, then the road ahead of you will be only more difficult, and that should be your first priority.

If you do decide to fly anyway, there are a LOT of shady operators out there....and this is MOST important. I want you to read the next sentence VERY carefully, and ETCH it into your brain:

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, GIVE ANY SCHOOL MONEY IN ADVANCE! NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY BEG AND PLEAD, PAY ONLY AS YOU GO ON A DAILY BASIS!

The newspapers and magazines and this very forum are chock filled with people who have horror stories of getting gigantic loans, paying in advance, and then having the school close, leaving these people with NO training, ratings and with 100k or more in debt.

DO NOT BELIEVE THE GLOSSY ADS OR ANYTHING THAT ANY SALESMAN TELLS YOU. DO NOT BELIEVE IN ANY "PILOT SHORTAGE".

("councilors", "admissions specialists", whatever they call themselves...they're salesman)

DO YOUR HOMEWORK...CHECK OUT ANYPLACE AHEAD OF TIME!

Even if you get set up with a place that is legit, how will you pay down that debt? Do you have a financial plan in place to re-pay the expense of training? Unless you already have the sum set aside, that's a BIG check to write every month when you're a flight instructor making 20k a year.

I don't mean to discourage you, but these are important matters to consider....

Nu

 

My UPS class in '07 had a 55, and multiple high forty newhires. Our class average was about 45.

 

This is very good advice. As a regional first officer with $100k in student loans I would recommend another path. I love flying, but the pay is just not there. Why not start a business or get a masters degree, or something where you can walk into a job making $60k a year minimum to start with no debt. I know its hard to believe but there are jobs that don't require that you saddle yourself with huge amounts of debt in order to make a decent living. If you can find one of those jobs that you don't mind too much, do it. Then get your private license and fly a cub.