The old age issue..is flybe a chance?

[jethrolx]

As one of the many people who's dreams of becoming a professional pilot became a casualty to life other priorities, every now and then (usually about this time of year when pprune sends me a happy birthday email) I start to stare up at the sky and dream once again.
I understand that at the ripe old age of 36 the major airlines are no longer interested in a candidate like me, but I had a look at flybe, and interestingly enough they will accept candidates who have done modular training as opposed to a full time live in deal.
So I was wondering if some of the smaller regional airlines would be a little more open minded with regards to age? Logistics aside, I am just wondering if there is anyone in the UK that has got into a airline (regional or otherwise) at well past the early twenty mark that seems to be the norm these days?

Thanks in advance.

[cgwhitemonk11]

Yes of course, I know many people who have gotten opportunities over thirty. However if you are 36 with an out of date frozen ATPL, no flying currency and less than 500 hours, that is a total different story I am afraid.

You need to start small and instruct or drop parachuters or something just to get some hours and then the regional guys will start to look at you. They will hire a 20 something straight out of flight school or an experienced pilot first, older guys without currency/hours face a tremendous uphill battle.

[jethrolx]

Thanks for the response monk, but my situation is a little different. I moved to the UK from aid where I had been trained to commercial level (ready to sit test but didn't), so I would need to redo the theory and a bunch of flying here regardless. So I would be a 30 something straight out of flight school, but it would have to be modular based to accommodate my current situation

[daveandg]

Mate age is no barrier.

Friend of mine has just left an integrated course at the age of 40 and eJ have taken him. In your case I would suggest pressing on with the CPL/IR to get you employable, but then do an MCC/JOC/AQC with one of the bigger FTOs thereby geting access to their hold pool.

36 is a youngun, thats still 29 years of flying!