Alright...gentlemen here goes:

Are there any pilots out there who started their flying careers in their mid-to-late 30's or 40's or even later, that are still flying?

How did you go about getting your training? FBO, flight academy? etc.
What type of flying are you currently doing? i.e.- Part 121? Part 135?
What type a/c are you currently flying?
What is it that has made your transition successful?
Likes & dislikes?
Typical schedule, etc.

Now, I know that SkyHigh and some of the others are chomping at the bit to make comments . I'm going to ask that you restrain yourself. I want to hear from those who have made the transition and how it has been a successful one.

Thanks guys.


atp

 

And my question is:

Are there any pilots who started their careers in their 20's and successfully got out of the industry with a stable high paying career in another field?

Sike

 

Sorry to disappoint you but I have no background on this issue. It would be like commenting on how to break into prison.

SkyHigh

 

I have a growing population of friends who use to work as pilots who now are doing something else; One is in computers, one became a cop, another went back to college. I am building houses. The effort required in the outside world requires much less to get far more in return as compared to aviation.

SKyHigh

 

How much does the average state cop earn per year?

 

Whatever it is I am sure that it is more than what most pilots should expect to earn over a career. My cousin is a LA County Sheriffs deputy and earns 120K. Local police in my home town start at 48K.

SkyHigh

 

You are saying that a cop will make in one year what a pilot will make in a career. Be careful either the grammer cops or math cops are going to come down on you like a ton of bricks.

 

What I mean is that these days a police career will earn more than an average pilot career.

SkyHigh

 

True. I have many cop buddies; their payscale is not widely known by the public, which is the way they want it since many taxpayers would be upset. The base salary is often modest, but overtime is the real key...

Cops also don't pay dues economically, ie they start at $40K or so and in many jurisdictions can earn well over $100K with overtime. $200K is not unheard of, especially for prison guards on OT. They can usually retire in 20 years with a significant defined penefit package.

This assumes a cop who can get a job at a better agency and can get promoted along the way, but this shouldn't be a problem for anyone who is able to get an airline job.

I could have easily done Federal LE after my military service, and probably would have if I had known what was going to happen after 9/11. But back then I had a very reasonable expectation of $250K+ as a pilot...

 

I don't mean any disrespect, but who here has ever been shot at???

Cops make a modest income. Maybe regional captain pay.
I lived in the bay area CA (one of the most expensive places to live in the US), and I know that cop pay scales now max at 100k in San Jose (largest city in the bay, also the safest). That 100k ceiling is higher than any other city in the area. It is the result of a brand new contract.

So I disagree that you will make more money as a cop than a pilot. If you start at age 22 in both jobs, do the cfi, do the regional stuff, major FO, and you should be at a good major job with a solid 20 years of high earnings (and that was very conservative). And a captain job at any big carrier (except JB EMB-190 capt) is more than senior police officers.
Plus, everyone knows the most dangerous part of flying is the drive to the airport. The same is NOT true with cops. Their job is inherently dangerous. And do you want to put up with the kind of crap that cops must go through on a daily basis. Wouldn't you rather fly fewer hours a week, and be able to fly airplanes, or patrol city streets???
Very easy question for me.