Timing is everything. Thanks!

SO is making the majors NOT possible for a guy starting/changing careers near 40???

Making it
 

Not impossible but highly improbable. With thousands of 20 something captains to choose from a 40 plus guy will look out of place in the interview room.

The big question will be "so, if you love aviation so much then why wait so long to get started"?

SkyHigh

AIR CARGO CARRIERS

They are right near you, in Milwaukee, they are looking for FO's to fly Shorts 350. ( pt 135)
Ask for Shawn!!

Bring a copy of Field and Stream magazine with you to the interview, and make small talk about deer hunting, then you will have a job!!









If there was a time place & opportunity to do what we want, when we wanted,

we would still have two rubs left on the genie lamp!!

Follow your heart dude, not the crowd,

and best of luck

If all fails, PM me your resume, I show it to my chief Pilot

It is possible. It could take 10 years to get there though(some faster, some slower, some never). With the age most likely going to 65, if it took you 10 to make it, you'd still have 10-15 years at a major. I don't imagine it would be fun to start over at 40, but I'd hate to say "I wish I would have..." on my death bed. For SkyHigh, the risk/sacrifice was no longer worth the potential reward. It's a personal choice everyone must make for themselves.

"Follow your heart dude, not the crowd," -Muushin 2007

Great quote/advice and one we should all really take a moment and listen to it because isnt that why we all fly anyways, regardless of what we get in the paycheck and sh--ty work rules??? Who cares they pay us to take the keys to an airplane and bring it back in one piece, I d take that any day of the week instead of crunchin numbers all day. Thanks Muushin!

You are most welcome!!

By the way I am 53, Start Mesaba July 2,

I guess I got to se hell before rising to heaven!!

It is really hot in PHX

There you go!!
 

A 53 year old new hire at Mesaba. An airline career is now officially a hobby job. In ten years UAL will be hiring 60 year olds because they usually come with their own pay check.

SkyHigh

Hi There Sky, Just to let you know I sure do have a family and my wife and I both work. She has a career that she loves and happen's to do quite well. Don't think I/we didn't explore all the scenarios ahead of my quest here. I didn't just throw away my life as you so feel I did. I have PLENTY to fall back on if the industry were to take a dive. So you should go rain on someone elses plans because I dont give a rats a$$ what you think. There is nobody that can change my mind about what I want and will do. Go stick your head back in the sand and live your safe life. I like a little excitement in mine.

My hobby will pay me 6 figures next year. I can live with that.

OK, just read quite a few posts from some people who were offended by a posting of mine. I just want to say I DO NOT think there is anything wrong with a young 23 yearold FO. More power to you for getting started at a great age! Earlier I had replied to someone asking about starting out at age 40 and to get to the point I said that LIFE experience for a 2nd career pilot was a definite plus. That is something that a 23 yearold does not have. I didnt say a 23 yearold pilot has no experience. I am aware that a 23 yearold could have a boatload of FLIGHT experience, and that I respect greatly. I was only giving some spirit to someone that might want to give this airline industry a try. So if any of the younger people here were offended I apologize. But I think my post was taken to heart a little to hard. I too am an older pilot/CFI at 36 and I have seen both types of people both immature and not. Bottom line is are you of good moral character and able to make good descisions (ADM) while flying an airplane safely? If yes, then I think you'll be a good airline pilot regardless if your 23 or 53. But what do I know, I am only a CFI sitting on the sidelines waiting to get into the game. Good luck to all.

How about a 57 year old new hire ??? I've been flying for 20 + years and have over 400TT with IFR. I'mn thinking about getting my ME comm and take a shot at a 2nd career. All of my hours up till now have been out of my pocket...it would be a dream come true to fly and get paid for it.

Tuckster,

With only 3 years left to go, you're probably not going to have much of an airline career (if any), however that doesn't mean that you can't get paid to fly. If nothing else you might consider getting your SE Comm and CFI ratings and teaching on the side for fun!

Hm-mm',

make that 7 years, and
WTF

go for it, if that is what you want.

Get some turbine time,
and when the FAA says you have to check out of pt 121,

then fly Falcon or hawker jets for net jets or corporate,

"Use the force Luke"

I'd look at 135 if I had the TT but oddly enough, I only have enough TT to fly 121........ And I believe you're right ..... 7 years with the airlines and then maybe corporate. I plan on attending the Pan Am career fair on July 14th. Please say hi if you recognize me ... shouldn't be too many my age floating around.

Hey
 

We are all happy for you and share in your joy. The cargo outfits are the last of the old school. Let's all now pray that in ten years your job is unchanged.

SkyHigh

Sand
 

Head in the sand? Should I take the hole next to yours? All I am saying is that it is irresponsible for you to make such a selfish choice as a family man.

Fall back or not you will be gone a lot and are passing much of the responsibility of providing and caring for your family off on to your wife. I am glad you can still feel good about it though. I would be humiliated.



SkyHigh

Thousands of young professional career minded military personnel with famlies, sometimes both parents in the military, are (by your definition) irresponsible, selfish, pass responsibility, and should be humiliated. I think not !!!!!

I spent a career in the military. My wife was a military RN. We have considerable pride in our professions and have never felt "humiliated."

Individuals and families in ALL PROFESSIONS make decisions based on a balance of priorities, ethics and responsibilities. Your choices are right for you but do not apply to all.

Well said.

Last I checked, 60 was still the mandatory retirement age. Until that changes and ALL of the conditions have been spelled out, I wouldn't count on anything. Only if the rules get changed in the next 3 years will Tuckster have a 7 year airline career.

I'm not being pessimistic- I'm being realistic. Should things change down the road, all the better off he'll be.

I'm not saying don't go for it if it's your dream. However have realistic expectations on the process and understand that the chances of having a "full" career at the airlines (or even upgrading at a decent regional) are probably going to be difficult. Without a decent amount of PIC turbine time trying to get on at a fractional (while not impossible) will be difficult.

Like it or not, age does come into play (if only on a subconscious level) once you start to get up towards retirement, particularly when it comes to hiring people that companies are going to put a lot of money into training them.

Hello Again Sky, I am not going to get into a spraying war like two skunks. I have served in two conflicts , Desert Storm and Operation Restore Hope, (http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...store_hope.htm) with my Marine unit. In Somalia, I had many rounds fired above, below and next to my head. Yes, I was a grunt, but proud of it. After being covered with a few of my fellow Marines blood in which one survived and one did not you realize whats important real fast! Thats why I will smile from ear to ear when I fly for an airline with shotty pay. Thats why I smile from ear to ear every day I hold my baby girl or the hours spent instructing. Because I am thankful to be here and to be able to do what I want with my life. The alternative could have been death. I think of the many servicemen and women that have lost their lives and will never have the chance to pursue their dreams or watch their kids grow up. Thats why I am pursuing my passion, so they didnt die in vein. How dare you tell me that I am passing on responsibility to my wife and saying I should be humiliated. You have your views in which I cannot change nor will I try because you are SKYHIGH! This is America and you can have any opinion you want, so enjoy it.

Perspective. Webster has it as "the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance."

Some cannot appreciate how good their life is until they see how bad it could be. It's like George Bailey's reality check, or working for a fly-by-night company that pencil-whips mx and then going to work for a quality operation. It can be worse. Some people have not had to see life from the other side.


Or life is like sex and pizza -- even when it's bad, it's still pretty good.:p

Carry on, Marine.

Shamrock, thanks for your service to our country.

Skyhigh is wasted bandwidth and he's lucky this site has a couple of admins that believe so highly in free speech that they provide him a place to be heard. I'm wishing it wasn't so, but I guess that's America for yeah.