Age of 39. Is this too old?

[JohnRosco]

Hi,
I have at last started my PPL after years of deliberating! It turns out to be the best thing I have ever undertaken in my life and 'why the hell didn't I do it years ago'!
Anyway, I would be interested in any opinion as to whether at the age of 39 you would consider it too late to contemplate continuing on the modular path to my CPL / ATPL in order to possibly stand a chance of a job as a commercial pilot.
Any opinion welcomed!

Great forum by the way!

John

[b.a. Baracus]

Hi John,

Check out the sticky at the top of the page. In there, if you scroll down you will find a lot of information on age and training etc. :ok:.

[captain_rossco]

Not too old, go for it.

Regards
CR

[Gentle Climb]

Hi John

If you don't do it now, you may always wish that you had tried. I was 39 when I started and I am currently in Arizona flying every day, it's pretty good!
Bad timing Job wise but I am having a ball!
Back to my maps!

[Glasswasher Man]

Check out user EGCC4284.
He's a good example of this.
J.

[JohnRosco]

Cheers for your replies.

I just need to get my head down and do it anyway! Here's to no money and hard work...but loads of fun! And an understanding wife!

[Full.Flaps]

I'm turning 38 in two month and started my PPL in November last year. Now I've got two of eight CPL exams down --- not too late, I'd guess.

One of our insturctors is 49 and started his career four years ago. He's now going for ATPL...

[dartagnan]

it's no too old to be poor, or loose all your cash and be divorced!.
you are a customer and you license is good as long you maintain your medical, right?

but if you consider getting a job, and most companies ask for 1500-2000 hours plus type rating, and with few jobs around, it can take years to get a job. When you reach 50, with 2000hours, you may not been employed.

this is why it s good to start training at 20yo and build time for 10-20 years.
Training is nice at 40yo, but after training, it will start to hurt! you will come back to earth and discover you are not alone to chase for a flying job.
At least you have a back up I guess!

good luck!

[profot]

I think the answer to your question lies in what you want to do with your shiny new commercial license?

If you want to fly for an air charter/ taxi, ambulance, turboprop operator or instructor then I would say go for it and enjoy yourself.

If you have aspirations of left seating a long haul jet I'd think very hard and carefully about the likelihood of reaching that goal, honestly I believe it to be very slim...

But don't get in that rocking chair wishing you had gone for it, no point being the richest man in the graveyard

[JohnRosco]

Nicely put profot!
Luckily I have a professional job already that i can always rely on if need be. I just fancy a total change! I realise the left-hand seat in an airliner is probably setting my ambition too high (especially with the state of the economy and job market etc) but I'll enjoy flying in whatever capacity!

Here's to change!

[mtanz0]

Far too old yes, get yourself a nice pair of slippers, a pipe and sit yourself down with a newspaper.

[JB007]

Your age and life experience will be an advantage to you with most UK turbo-prop operators, its fantastic fun flying but with limited terms and conditions and very poor pay at low-houred FO level.

A command is a possibility too, when times are good maybe within 3 years of joining...providing some level of recruitment/expansion is taking place to create some movement...

I would agree with the above, especially as things may pan out in the next few years, maybe 'big company jet' job is a little out of reach - only because airline economics will dictate you'll be up against a 19 year old who'll be doing it for nothing or someone type rated with +2500 hours and not a training risk.

Good luck

[Re-Heat]

Your age and life experience will benefit any operator. Just remember to go in with the right attitude, and learn to work well with those from all and every background - from those with 250 hours at age 19 to ex-military chaps with diverse flying experience.

[XXPLOD]

Age is all the mind!

It is my mad plan to do my CPL ME/IR on retirement from the police aged 51 (health permitting - touch wood). I know I'd be too old for any jet job, but if I could get a RH seat in a TP or instruct that'll do me nicely as money would not be an issue as I'd have my pension.

[GIZZAJOB]

Mate I left after 13 years and did it , bugger the job get out while ya can , times may be hard but it will be worth it one day:ok:

[G SXTY]

I jacked in a 15 year career in shipping and got my first airline job aged 36, flying a TP for a large regional carrier. One of my colleagues used to be a police officer for 30 years before moving.

It's certainly possible.

[Ian the Aviator]

Go for it :ok: !!!

I was 41 when I finally got my CPL/IR - froz ATPL.

Admittedly getting that 1st flying job was a total bitch - hundreds of CVs, phone calls, etc and got nowhere. Eventually did an FI rating and worked as a part time instructor for almost 2 years.

BUT - it paid off in the end - Now I have the LH seat in a shiny new bizjet - the job I always wanted !

So, bite the bullet, pay the huge fees and costs and get flying...

[Csacsa]

Hi guys,

It's good to know, there are other wannabees out there with similar age and with significant job experience in "civil" sector. I am also planning to reach the sky.:)

Concerning economical issues, I think this time could be an advantage, since when upturn will come, we will have the knowledge to get into flying biz.

Good luck mates! :ok:

[Happy Wanderer]

Chaps,

I took the plunge nearly three years ago, aged 44, after 25 years working in the banking industry. I've now got my fATPL and whilst I'm not working for a carrier (at least yet...), I'm flying every day, building hours, getting paid a modest salary and, more to the point, enjoying every chuffing minute of it :)

It's never too late provided you know what you're letting yourself in for (i.e. in terms of what you need to do to get there), you get a slice of luck along the way, you're prepared to network like crazy and you're realistic about who you may end up working for at the end of it. This industry is notoriously cyclical, and whilst it's looking pretty bleak at the moment, the likelihood is things will start to improve in the next 12-18 months, so you may be starting out at a good time.

Good luck :ok:

HW

[ea340]

Friend of mine finished Oxford this spring at age 42.Go for it if you have a passion for flying

[ERETHERE]

I am 32, fast approaching 33 with a PPL. I will be starting next year on the commercial route. To be honest I don't want the left hand seat job on a Boeing, but would love some single crew air taxi and TB stuff, even it was just part time or as and when. Doing it for fun and not the salary. I guess it's only like having an expensive hobby like sports cars or yachting.

[islasdad]

ok i normally dont get involved in these threads cause i get tired of the pointless negativity of the people like dartagn but any way couldnt reaaly resist today. I did my PPL as a present to myself 3 weeks before my 40th birthday went home had a chat with my brilliantly understanding wife and decided to set out on my 3rd carreer. It has been total heartache misery hardwork elatio and joy throughout the process. The first job is without a doubt a nightmare to get and you have to lok far and wide to get it.

However i sit here typing this in a very nice 4 star hotel in Kuwait before heading of to the airport to my right hand seat in a boeing 757 doing long haul flying at the age of 44.

Its a long hard road but it is doable with committmitment and a very very supportive family
good luck whatever you decide

ID

[sfakman]

This post is a real inspiration and I’m really glad I’ve read it!

I’m 31 and I have a career. It’s going well but it’s not what I really want to do. I thought I was too old but based on the success stories I’ve read here, it still looks like I have a chance.

I’m doing my PPL and I plan to go right through to ATPL but I expect it to take a number of years and a lot of hard work.

In the meantime, to keep myself motivated, I work in ops at my local flying club - it’s the environment I want to be in and it is excellent for networking. It’s hard work, the hours are long, it’s killed my social life and it eats in to my much-valued weekend but being at an airfield around other PPL students, instructors and airline pilots, listening to their success stories and how they did it is the best inspiration and encouragement anyone could ask for.

Well done to those who have succeeded and the best of luck to those who are trying.

[N-X211]

well dudes, I am 44 now, had my PPL when 37, just passed my ATPL exams and planning to pursue CPL training this year.

I can't call this a success story, since I still have to go for my (non-aviation) work to finance all that flying .. but I am making sure that I won't regret not having tried it ...

Cheers

[slowlythesnail]

Hi John

I'm 38 and started flying in Jan 09. Completed 8hrs PPL then changed to Mircolight NPPL cause it was cheaper then convert to NPPL(A) then PPL plus gets me up there too. And I must say what a way to relax! :D

Gosh if I thought some airline would take me at my age now i would diff do CPL.

Go for it mate, live for the day!!!!

jules

[poina]

Follow your passion! But certainly don't expect to do any airline flying. After 25 years it ain't all that much fun anyway. Some of my best flying was single-engine charter, and there is plenty of that around if you look and are willing to relocate. Be guided by the heart, Best of luck!

[Flying Farmer]

But certainly don't expect to do any airline flying

Well in answer to the original question, it certainly is possible but if you don't get a job immediately and have to instruct for a while, the overdraft certainly increases just a tad.

I also started at 39, now 47 and flying right seat 737 for a large UK operator. Flew air taxi, instructed, Dash 8 for 2 1/2 years on which I turned down a command to take the jet job. Have also turned down 2 jet jobs previous to the current one for personnal reasons.

So it can be done but in hindsight would probably not do it again.

[DUXBY]

So it can be done but in hindsight would probably not do it again.


Flying Farmer, why do you say this, was it just the cost of training or are there other issues?

[Flying Farmer]

A few reasons but the main reason would be the overall cost when you factor in the loss of earnings etc on top of the training costs. I instructed for close on 3 years after training for 16 months. The instructing netted approx £5000 a year, so after fuel costs etc and a family and house to run you can see that you are peddaling backwards at a serious rate!

The first turboprop job was 18 K even then my outgoings were more than I earnt. That really is the harsh truth in this industry, the good money takes some years to achieve.

In hindsight I could have bought the buisness I was made redundant from :eek: