I need advice; straight from the hip!!!
 

I am 44 yrs old. College grad. No flight time. I have always had the desire to become an airline pilot. Judging by what I read, it seems as thought regional is going to be my quickest route to an FO position. My question is...What is the most economical and prudent path I should take to get to the FO position and maximize the time I have left to realize my life long dream.

I need some genuine advice.:confused:

I too am an older dude who was faced with the same decsions. I went through a local school. I was able to finance my training. I stayed close to home because I have a family. If I had no family obligations, I would have gone to all atp and just cranked through all of the ratings up through all the cfi ratings and might have done the jet transition. Take a good look at schools at which you can bang out all the ratings, then teach for a year. I really think that teaching is where you will truly learn.
You need to crank this out asap.
good luck,
snowpilot

By the time you get your ratings you'd have 10 years of making at max, 60k per year flying for a regional. If you "fast track" and go to one of those pay for training outfits you'll be $50k in debt and making even less. My advice to you is the same as the advice on another thread where a guy asks the same question that you just did. By all means, learn to fly, but if you have a family and love them, you'll keep it as a hobby.

http://forums.airlinepilotcentral.co...ead.php?t=1840

ATP,

To be honest - you'll be in debt and struggle only to realize a life long dream. One which you may never realize if you don't get hired by the airlines. By all means learn to fly - I love every hour I'm up there. IMHO its too late for you to start an airline career.

Get you PPL and fly for fun on the weekends...If you have the time / motivation/ money get your CFI / CFII and teach a bit on the side...

At your age keep it as a hobby..

Good luck in your decision...

-LA

Being an "Airline Pilot" ain' all that its cracked up to be. By all means learn to fly, but don't narrow your job search to airline pilot only. Flying 135, freight etc can all be rewarding jobs. Check the regional posts on flightinfo.com and see how happy the rj pilots are. I would recommend having a large stash of cash and no debt if you want to pursue this. Keep in mind that doing it for a living may also take the fun out of a great hobby.

I wish I could be more encouraging but you're starting way late in life. There is still time to fly for a living if you start training full time right now. The question is: what sort of living will it be? This industry is a major crapshoot even if you start at age 14. You can do all the right things to position yourself and you're still at the mercy of an industry that has been in upheaval since before I began my 25 year career. You have enough years left that, if you can go get all your ratings right now and start flying commercially ASAP, you MIGHT be in the right place at the right time for a large jet carrier in 6-8 years. But I would say DO NOT expect that. It is reasonable to think that you could end up flying regional/non-major freight/corporate, again if you can start building time ASAP. By retirement age you could expect to achieve a modest to good income. As the others have mentioned, there's going to be a big cash outlay initially. Then you're going to work for some years at a wage that will not support a family. And, unless you're unusually lucky, you'll have to relocate for jobs more than once. Best of luck on your decision.

Hey,

Best advice I can give you is slam out your ratings get them done. Be a CfI build some time. I don't where you live but, try to fly multi engine airplanes as much as possible. Multi time is very important! You will need a min of 100hrs multi but more like 150-200hrs to get a job. There are a lot of options, canyon driver in a twin otter, part 135 SIC and PIC, all kinds of stuff just network and look around, its there. Go somewhere where get a quick upgrade. That 1000 hrs multi PIC turbine time will open up a lot doors. As tempting as the RJ's are I would try to stay away them unless you could get a quick upgrade. Try to go for the heavy turbo props 20k LBS gross wgt and up. That time is still highly regarded flight time because from what I have been told is that a Saab is hell of a lot more difficult to fly than a 737. You can and will fly the big ones someday it just takes desire, money, and a lot of luck. If flying the heavy equipment is what you want, go for it and don't look back. Keep in mind this coming from someone thats 21yrs old and no wife and kids and nothing to lose. I am still at the age of believing anything can be done. HA HA we'll see what I can make of it. Good luck

Chris

atpwannabe
 

atpwannabe,

I just hope you are a financially independent multi millionaire, because if you are not you definitely will be on the fast track to bankruptcy and divorce. At 44 with even the most optimistic hopes you will never recoup your losses as a pilot. It takes most people two years to get through all the training to begin as a CFI then a few more years struggling as in instructor until you will be competitive enough to get on with a commuter. By the time you get there who knows what the environment will be in the industry by then? It is common to have to wait for a few years to get your opportunity for a shot at the regionals. By then you easily could be 50+. Once you get on with a regional you would probably spent 5 years as an FO to finally upgrade in time to get comfortable in the left seat just before retirement. Most of the time you will spend as a CFI and regional FO you will earn less than 30K. You simply do not have enough time to make it to a good enough paying position to compensate you and your family for the sacrifices. Keep aviation as a hobby. Don't mess with your families security at this point. It is no fun to be poor but it especially sucks as an old timer. Keep it as a hobby. Buy yourself a type rating in a 737. Do whatever it takes but do not attempt this as a profession unless you are wealthy and can afford the losses.

SkyHigh

ATPwannabe,

Hat's off to ya for making the plunge... and going after a dream of yours. I disagree with anyone telling you to pick another career. I see that you have a passion for flying, so I say give it 100%! And don't look back.

The nice thing about flying for a living is that you can work until old age, even though that means not flying Part 121 anymore. Between now and your 80s (which you're only half-way to right now-- think about that) you'll be able to fly, say, King Airs, Lears, any corporate job, regionals if you wish, and even fly for a major carrier in your 50's.

There's a lack of people who go after something they really want in life, so it's refreshing to see that in somebody. Obviously money isn't your #1 issue here, so I see absolutely no reason why you shouldn't get into flying full-time. I would have loved to have you as a student back in my CFI days! To find somebody with drive was rare.

Stay focused, laser in on getting those ratings done fast, and network like crazy. You could be flying a corporate GV in 7 years around the globe, or teaching at a school, or flying as captain in a large turboprop, or......... the possibilities are limitless.

Bottom line? Don't limit yourself, ATP. The biggest thing standing between you and your goal (besides the naysayers along the way) is your own self-limiting thoughts.

Just do it.

SWAjet

Can you wait 16-20yrs down the trail and see if you have any regrets?
can you stomach your answer?..
thought so..
punch out those ratings and get on the A-train...

Good luck!