When is it to late to pursue your dream?

[global_wings]

How old is to old to pursue that dream of becoming an airline pilot? I'm in my late 30's studying for my CPL, MECIR etc etc...

But now that the guts of the aviation industry (and global economy) have fallen from beneath it I'm starting to get gittery knees.

According to several independent studies, predictions - the global aviation industry is supposedly meant to grow by 5% a year for the next 20 years, compound this with retirments of existing pilots etc.... That Means once the ecomomy turns around (and it will) there should be jobs around for even me.

I guess I'm looking for assurances I've done the right thing pursuing my dream, giving up a $100K job in the process - Yeah I'm having doubts that I've done the right thing.

Can anyone out there whose in the airline industry give me some advice.

[Mack Buffet]

global

For what it's worth, my 2p

Positives :

The feeling when you break could on the way up when it's drizzly and overcast below is unbeatable (prob applies more to UK pilots !)

Don't just think about airline, I fly corporate, and a friend of mine is in his 50s, doing his FAA cpl/ir so he can fly one of the single pilot N reg Citations he currently crews in the right hand seat at the moment. Doors open more when you're in an industry than looking in from outside at the recruitment section of a website.

I fly with a big regional airline a lot on business in the UK, and I see older FOs in the right hand seat all the time, and by this I mean guys in their mid - 40s.

Following on from that, if airline I would say your best chance was with regionals. We know of several TP operators in the UK who like the older pilot as they are more likely to stay, not use them as a stepping stone.

Negatives

You may never accrue enough experience or have enough time to make it to the LHS of a 747/400.

It is a lot of investment, and takes a lot of payback, but you can do the sums.

The industry is cyclical, compared to lot of other industries, job security is not great. At the moment it's very bad but it will bounce back - how far depends on other factors such as growing environmental lobby and future fuel/engine developments. If you figure it out, let me know.

I'm quite lucky in that I managed to hang on to my old profession and fly part time, so it never gets boring for me, but I never have all my eggs in one basket. I don't know if your situation would let you do the same.

I would never say don't do it, as you only get one life and I'm glad I did it. But go into it with your eyes open. If you are doing CPL/IR now then by the time you've finished, got anything else you need like MCC or type rating, things should be picking up, but there's a lot of redundant peeps out there with a lot of hours so be prepared for a bit of a slog over the next few years.

Hope it helps, good luck

Mack

[Bealzebub]

It is too late when you are dead!

Dreams are lovely things. Nightmares aren't! Then there are realities, and the process of realising what you dream of, can soon turn to the other if you are unrealistic in your expectations, or fail to do the proper research and study. Also try not to fall into the trap of being blinkered by only what you want to see, and hearing only what you want to hear.

If you want it badly enough, and you feel you have the determination to succeed, then start embarking on the proper research. Even in these forums (and I wouldn't rely on simply them) you will find a wealth of information that not only addresses most of your likely questions, but also will raise hundreds more that you probably never even gave a moments thought to.

Whatever it is that you seek at the end of your particular rainbow, I hope you find, but if you want to hear advice that suggests the "water is lovely and warm," I am afraid that I have some bad news. It isn't!

As you walk into the casino with $100K to drop on a roulette square and your heart full of hope, it is worth remembering that the prize you are seeking is also being pusued by thousands of experienced pilots, whose own experience value runs into millions of dollars in some cases. Some of them will have lost $100k jobs as well, and in the present climate will not be expecting to find anything similar soon.

Be realistic, be very realistic!

[alwaysontime]

I was mid thirties when I started my CPL/IR and started with the opinion that I would be lucky to get a job, but if I didnt I would be a really good private pilot. I managed to get an Airbus job before I finished my training for the biggest and best company in the UK. You make your own luck to some extent, starting at the right time so that you graduate in a time when the economy is still growing and lots of companies have aircraft on order etc.. I firmly believe that if you live, eat, breath aviation then you WILL get a job doing exactly what you want to do. You need to be thinking about flying every single day of your life and show that enthusiasm at an interview/selection, but it must be backed up by your abilities to learn quickly and become competant in anything you learn. I was in an office job before hand and earned a good salary. For the first 3 years I was skint, but as the pay has gone up each year and its easier now and i'm not too far behind what I was on in my office job. In my opinion it is the best thing I have ever done. Hard work and I didnt enjoy the first 4-5 months cos it was all weekend work and shifts, but now i'm used to that it is fantastic. I dont consider myself to be part of the working population anymore, I think I just turn up to do my hobby and get paid as a bonus!! There are lots of negative people out there who will try to put you off but the majority will be the people who have not achieved in life anything close to what you are about to. I do not know anyone who has made the decision to retrain to be a pilot in their 30's who has regretted it! Its not the best job in the world for me cos I didnt become an astronaught, but its a very close second!!! :)

[RR RB211]

Gday there

I think I know how you feel as I started on the path back in 2002 (ex Sept 11, ex Ansett Australia) at 28 years old in a good job when everyone said I was mad to want to fly for a living and would struggle to make a career out of it. It was slow back then (can't compare to now sorry as I was only very ab initio then and didn't know any better - more experienced folks could compare though).

The advice here so far has been good and I trolled these forums a lot early on. There was a lot of negativity (still is) but it did help me with what to expect out there in first job territory so I went in with my eyes relatively open.

However, I pretty much read everything aviation wise I could get my hands on from local GA magazines to more airline orientated ones from overseas, Ernest K Gann's, Fate is the Hunter - which should be part of the CPL syllabus (!), and a great book called Job Hunting for Professional Pilots. A bit American focused but some very relevant principles. Mostly networking.

What I couldn't understand at the time was while things at the bottom end where slow, there were lots of new airlines (low cost carriers) starting up, existing ones with big orders for aircraft due to expansion plans, especially in Asia. Allowing for fleet replacements it still looked overall positive so while I listened to what was happening at the starting point of my career, I could see that there should be movement further up which opens up opportunities down the line (for newbies like me).

As it happened, 2007 and 2008 were pretty crazy recruitment wise and I happened through a bit of luck, good fortune and good networking to be swept up in it. That is the most important thing that helped me was a good network base from guys in GA to guys in airlines. Mates of mates I would ring and chat to and find out as much as I could about it all from where their first job was and how they got to where they were, and from them, other contacts worth a phone call and so on. Don't be shy!

So, rambling a bit sorry, keep at it. Get it all knocked off as soon as you can was the best advice I got. What surprised me when I left Melbourne for the top end was how many guys up there had the hours but no ATPL subjects. It's hard to get back in to study mode once you start working and a lot of these guys may have missed some opportunities due to no ATPLs. I was lucky in that I could complete the MECIR and the ATPL subjects before I left but I understand not everyone is in that position. It did mean I could focus on flying and not having anything holding me back if/when opportunities arose, which one did.

Most of all, enjoy the journey.

There will be happy times (passing tests, first job) and sad times (miles away from anyone who cares about you, knock backs) but then you get those charters, 5 hours flying and more in a day, sunsets and sunrises over some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. Fishing the traditional way with the locals and much more character building stuff.

Set some goals, (eg ATPL subjects completed by x date, leave comfy eastern seaboard by y date, establish contact network in z town by such and such date) so that you're always moving in the right direction.

All the best, it's a great job and worth the struggle. And at your age, crack on, the age factor might be more in your mind than what those employing really think. My first job was at age 34 on a single. I was lucky though but you make your own luck I believe. PM me if you want some other suggestions.:)

[DashDotDash]

Just my opinion; which I'm well aware won't be all that informative! But I trained with a guy who started off the CPL/IR route in his early 40s.

Now, while he, like the rest of us, hasn't got a job yet, I've the utmost respect for him for pursuing his dream. Sure, it's a big commitment for only 10-20 yrs' work but, in the most cliched sense, it's not worth regretting not having done it.

What's the worst that happens? You don't get a job with the airlines...but you've still got the knowledge, the licence, and the achievement! And you've still all your past work experience to fall back on if totally necessary.

</cliche> !

Best of luck!

[Plastic Chicken]

I’m in the same position – late 30s and starting my ATPL theory. Even getting the medical was a struggle and took a month and further investigation (and more cash). Anyone who embarks on this particular pathway (no matter what age) does so with their eyes open and should be commended for their tenacity if nothing else!

[no sponsor]

I'd be very careful if I were you.

If you have a family, mortgage and other committments, built on your previous career, going to the RHS is very difficult, particuarly if you are taking a large salary drop. If flying is a bit of pocket money, the OK. If it is your only income, be careful.

After climbing into the RHS of a jet for a Low cost operator I quickly realised I was condeming myself and my young family to a very poor standard of living, and my quality of life was drastically reduced.

I won't go into further details, however, if you get into one of the flag carriers, then great, I'm sure it is different. But, out here on the perimeter, I can tell you life is rough, and I have no debts either!

Fortunately, I have a second income, so life is much better these days. If you are a young thrusting 22 y.o. things are different. You can eat crap, stay in a caravan, and slum it for a few years (as I did in my first career). Fast forward 20 years, and I can tell you that the pressures from responsibilities of family and children is overwhelming. Debt and free-working practices make this a young persons game these days. Unfortunate as that is.

[global_wings]

Thank you for all the advice posted,

I actually took great inspiration from some of the postings; sure I agree everything in life needs to have an assesment especially before pursuing any new venture, and I do appreciate the varying views posted.

However I do believe a dream not pursued is the riskest, risk anyone make make.

To be quite honest I have passed that point of no return in my training, so I honestly have no option but to continue onwards and upwards from here. I guess I am lucky that wife is 110% behind my pursuit (even with to incurring costs and training expenses) - but I guess like any family man with children, wife and mortgagae, there will be times of self doubt & uncertainty.

Many thanks to those who helped me believe again I was doing the right thing.

[The Old Fat One]

However I do believe a dream not pursued is the riskest, risk anyone makes.

What an excellent, incisive and inspiring observation.

Well said!

[VT-ASM]

As the Russians say 'Who does not risk, Does not drink champagne'

Pursue your dream man....Albeit a bit careful..
All the best :ok: