So I'm 37. Just got my PPL. I have been working in finance for the past 11 years. I don't enjoy it but make a great living, probably more than I'll ever make as a pilot. I have a super supportive wife who makes great money as a nurse and is all on board for me to pursue my dream. If I keep at the pace I am and train on the weekends I am hoping to be a CFI within the next 1.5 years which puts me at 39 which means hopefully 41 at the regionals. I understand the pay situation and how cyclical the industry is but am looking for advice. Is it safe to say I could be at a major by 50? I know it depends on so many things but if things went the way we all hope is this a fair assessment? I think I'm being conservative but would love to hear more thoughts.

Thanks


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If flying is your passion, do it for fun. Flying for a living kinda ruins it after a while. Having said that, there are too many unknowns to answer your question. As you know, the airline industry follows the economy. We don't know when the next economic crash will happen, but given the past history, we are due for another downturn. A career that is tied to the price of oil can be tough...

If you succeed in obtaining all the requisite training and experience, and get on with a regional carrier that has "flow", it is theoretically possible for you to reach that goal in 13 years. Barring any economic melt-downs like we have had.... Will it be worth the 6-figure investment? Who knows...

Are you prepared to move around the country, and be away from your family for a good part of your life? Many things to consider...

Good discussion in this thread from someone who is 10 years further down the road from you contemplating the same thing:

Becoming a Regional Airline Pilot at 54

Flow transition at AA WO (wholly owned regionals) is 5-7 years. So 46-48 using your current timeline.

You're not too late but there are no guarantees in life or this business.

Good luck.

Thank you for the replies so far. I understand this is largely a cyclical business. I have been in finance for 11 years and have been laid off twice since the financial crisis. Nothing is guaranteed I get it. There just seems to be a lot of negativity around here and it's hard to get decent advice. I am really enjoying my 141 school and am on to my instrument rating.


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Don't take the negativity too seriously.
You can click on posters names and read their previous posts on other subjects. After awhile you'll identify posters that give reasonable advice.

You can have a 17-20 year major airline career. Few pilots leave the business despite the complaints so that's telling you something.

The path isn't guaranteed, it can be frustrating, and rough on family life if your wife is used to you being home every night. But few pilots leave so their actions tell a story about the trade offs they've accepted. And due to the supply/demand issues brought about the retiring bubble makes this one on the potentially best, and most stable, periods to become a professional pilot.

The pay can be estimated. The long term trend indicates more pay is more likely than pay cuts.

No.

It is 100% not safe to say.

There is a lot of negativity for a reason. Happy legacy pilot don't come on here and post about how good they have it... they also happen to be the minority.

I'll be honest; I LOVE flying airplanes and think it's a really cool job, but it's a complete, absolute gamble of a career and you don't know where you'll end up. Never in 1 million years did I think I'd be in my 30s and on my fifth airline. "Majors" go bankrupt, and what was an awesome job three months ago will become a pink slip a month later. If you land a legacy job at the right time (and don't get furloughed three weeks later) then you might have an amazing career and wonder where all the negativity comes from. Conversely, you can work at seven airlines and never get the dream job because they think you're "untrainable" for no apparent reason.

The negativity is there for a reason. It's real. Ask the thousands of regional airline pilots who have flown legacy colors that will never be hired at a legacy because they are now too old, while in the meantime their first officers get hired and pass them by hundreds of thousands of dollars in income.

Bottom line, be prepared for anything.

Thank you for the upbeat, yet realistic, reply. I currently am gone usually 2 weeks a month and have traveled a lot since first meeting my wife so that is understood and no issue. To piggyback on everyone else replies, everything in life is a gamble. Go work on Wall Street and have 2008 happen or 2001. It's in a lot of industries the ebb and flow.


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Sounds like you already know what you want. If your wife is willing to move a couple-three times to your base to make life easier on you and your relationship together, go for it. If she isn't, this could be somewhat of a mine field. It sounds like your life is pretty good right now even though you aren't a big fan of your job. Don't neglect that.

Good luck.