Nothing against the younger guys/gals but was curious how the older folks are holding up working for the regionals. How long with the airline? Do you commute? Any that are just doing it to get out of the house? If so, are you enjoying it? Days wear you out? For 15 years I had a job flying 5-6 hours a day and I knew it kicked my butt at times. It was in a helicopter so maybe in an airliner it is a little more tolerable? Chime in from the trenches old men! LOL! Thanks much in advance for the info and safe flights!

 

Eagle, now Envoy, has a guy who commutes out of San Francisco area. He made his money in construction, but always wanted to become an airline pilot. He is always happy, and loving life. He is a go getter by nature. He is in his late fifties.

 

The flying is easy, the reduced rest overnights, CDOs, and the company BS is wearing. The job is not hard, dealing with the company will drive one crazy.

 

It really is what you make of it. If you went from being a janitor to being an airline pilot - nothing will beat being an airline pilot. If you went from being a night club owner partying every night and waking up whenever you wanted with no set schedule, then you may not end up liking the job so much.

 

This guy you mention is a "hobbyist", he doesn't need the job, he isn't trying to raise a family, doesn't need to be at home very much, and certainly doesn't need the money. So for him, this job is a hobby he can walk away from at any time. So of course, he's always happy.

The 5 plus legs a day can really kick your behind, although commuting is the real killer. If you have anything over 2 hours, it makes the job a lot more tiring. The 10 hr overnights, have improved things remarkably from the 8 hr days, which meant 5 hrs sleep in many cases. With ten hrs, you still have to be disciplined, but you can get 8 hrs sleep. The best way to stay energetic is to not get involved in the daily screw-ups and in-competencies, let the clowns do their show, you stay relaxed and your cortisol levels stay down, you don't get os tired.

 

I'm 58 and am at my third regional and fourth airline overall.

I started as a flight attendant, went to Comair and was there 15 years as a pilot until Delta shut us down. Went to TransStates and commuted the entire time. Commuting in my 30's as a flight attendant was bad...commuting in my 50s, as a pilot, was just as bad if not worse.

An opportunity to go to PSA came along and now I'm DAY based and life is much easier.

Bedrock's response is great and I'll add this...don't commute unless you have too. If one has to commute, commuting to a base where you can also drive is the next best thing. I find working out 5-6 days a week is a huge help.

Doing 3-5 legs a day as a pilot is much easier than 3-5 legs a day as a flight attendant.

 

Appreciate the replies, everyone. I would be making a 2 hour drive each way if I was to get hired. There may be the option to stay with my son occasionally who lives about 5 min. from the airport. Do you find it easy to stay out of the company BS or is it one of those viruses that seem to make it's way in when you least expect it? Can't say that I'm coming from a gig as a janitor or a night club owner but I haven't been doing much since getting layed off flying news in a helicopter a few years ago. Days went from being bored out of my skull to adrenalin rushes that had me staring at the ceiling all night. After, went back to working in manufacturing 9-5 jobs which got mundane pretty quick. But very predictable and home every night. Thought it was only right to share some stuff about myself since some of have been kind enough to do the same. Probably just need to throw fate to the wind and see what happens. Thanks.

 

I'm 51. Practicing law for 23 years and sick of fighting the same issues with the same people day after day. I'm joining Endeavor next month.

 

I'm coming from helo's as well..I'll be driving 2hrs, plus a one leg commute that's about 1hr. So 3hrs travel time to commute. I plan on trying to nap on the way, plus coming from 12hr shifts, I doubt the awake time is gonna be much different. I was told also one can "rest up" at the end of that first day and I feel like the other 3 days will be fairly manageable. Just my plan, we'll see how it plays out. I'm def not moving from where I love now, and I really don't see the point in it, if one ever wants to go to a major. That's just gonna mean packing up the fam, and moving again, to a city you Prob do to want to live in.

 

I am 46 years old and ready to make a career change as a pilot. I have been in the military for over 22 years and I am tired of working in a cubicle stearing at a computer and briefing power point. I can't wait to be an airline pilot.