Up Front

Can anyone enlighten me on the subject of age concern. No not the charity but the question of how old is too old. Now I believe that training is not a problem irrespective of age (to a degree) but what are the prospects of employment once qualified. What is the age at which airlines begin to cast aside your CV on account of age. I am 31 and just commencing the leap of faith into the flying world. Obviously I have concerns with the possiblity of finding a job afterwards (and explaining it all to an at the moment supportive wife!)
Any one with any first hand experience of this?

One day

Perfect PFL

I have no experience of this, being only 23, but I do quite often see adverts in Flight International with max. age 56, I guess to get people retiring from BA or the RAF. I know this is with considerable experience, but I hope it will show you that if some companies are willing to hire people at that age, then you certainly shouldn't be worried at 31. After all, even with the airlines with the youngest retirement age, such as BA, at 55 (IIRC), then you would still have over 20 years of good service to offer.

If it's what you want to do, then I'm sure you will succeed, good luck.

aces low

I will be 40 next week. Anticipate completion of ATPL by the end of this year. Expect to get some sort of flying job in 2002 (maybe instructing, but who knows)...and if I am lucky maybe a 'paying job' the year after.

Try reading the numerous postings that have been made by ppruners on the subject of age. It is not clear cut as to whether it is worth it financially after the age of 40, but money isn't everything (unless you're skint).

What is your motivation?

Si

I'm 19 have my PPL and 65 hours TT, and am starting at OATS in August hopefully, my flying instructor said that if I'm 21 when i come out of OATS I will walk into a job!

rock_the_tower

Age 36 with 240 hrs total (50 hrs twin), CPL/IR with frozen ATPL (Swiss). Start as F/O for Crossair in June. Work hard for it but also had luck to get the job ! However, if you really want a job, you'll get a job. Heard of a instructor who was hired at Crossair with 49 as an F/O !!! Is now Captain on the AVRO RJ85/100.
Result: there are chances to get jobs when you're over the line of 35 !

Never give up and good luck !!

rtt

socrates

As of approximately 1 month ago, it is now illegal for employers to discriminate on age.

Whilst this may be the law the problem arises on the strength that if an airline wants to employ people younger than a specific age (35 seems to be popular at the moment) then they will find alternative reasons for the rejection.

Your problem comes with age vs experience, where airlines are looking for experience/hours commensurate with age. Do not lose heart, there are many people who are finding positions who others would consider 'older'.

In some peoples opinion they would rather see maturity on the flight deck as opposed to the younger generation.

At the age of 31 you are well placed to have a reasonable combination of maturity and also being attractive enough to airlines, I know BMi prefer pilots below 35. You have nothing to worry about, go for it and don't look back.

fraggle flyer

I wouldn't worry too much about your age. I was 31 when I started and have been in my first airline job for a couple of months. Out of the class of 6 on the groundschool, I was the youngest at 33!

cessnaman

I know someone who knows someone and he has just finished his PPL and he is 80 odd.

A few years left in you yet.

Up Front

Thank you for all the replies. It is good to see that us oldies are not ready for the scrapheap just yet. As for SI, Although you are young and confident do not let comments like "you will walk into a job" affect the way you prepare for interviews. I do not know anyone who has walked into a job. This is not a criticism, more of a warning not to slip into complacency. Good luck to you.

One Day.

Max Peck

Got my big break at 34, my airline has hired older however.

Wing Commander Fowler

Age less of a problem than the fact that you're Ginger.........

Quite shocking!



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I'm finger lickin'

HomerSimpson

24 years old. CAA Frozen ATPLs, Presently PPL/Night/Multi/IMC Performance A,C & E. IR test later this month. Age is not the problem its the experience.

Pilch

Had the fortune to get a jump seat into LBA a few weeks ago - asked the Captain the same question - he said that half thr FOs joining his outfit were about the 40 Mark.

Yes - there's hope for us all

EggBeta

Rock the tower, Hope this is not too impersonal but what sort of money are they paying for a F/O?

Snap

Si

Dont fall into the trap of expecting to walk into a job. It rarely happens, you may be lucky but the vast majority of new ATPLers have to earn thier spurs on diddy little planes first.

Listening to a person who has a vested interest in parting you from your money could be expensive.

PanicButton

If it's what you want to do, go for it. When I was in the US. Most instructors I met had finished their training in their early 30īs. Of course they build 100 hours a month instructing in Florida and California. So the hours come fast over there.

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Nothing to see here, just making use of the internet!

Stevie C

I hope you're all right. I'm 32 and thinking of going to OAT or Cabair for a year to blow my pennies on what I think I want to do. Have zero experience but dream of flying when sat at my desk piled high with engineering specs. Anyone got an alternative to OAT or Cabair that will get me to a commerical airline as quick but cheaper?

batty

I started at 33 at OATS finished beginning of 2001 at the grand age of 35, now fly 737 as F/O.

Many tricks left in an old dog!!!

Barhiggins

My experience with age:
Started flying at 29, got my CPL/IR (OATS) at 32; was offered my first job in December 2000 (age 34)on the Embraer 145 with a total of 340 hrs.
So I am extremely fortunate about the aircraft I have landed, but I was initially interviewed by this airline for the Dash 8 position, and it was my second interview in a month for the Dash 8 (British European and Brymon, before you ask).
I was worried about age but I don't believe it is a real issue for the airlines who are, I think, looking for faces and personalities that fit.

Good luck to all wannabes.