Too Old To Make My Dream Come True?
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are currently hundreds of surplus pilots , more going through the system.
You'd be joining a very long queue . . .
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Midlands
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's a stupid dream! Wake up!
Only a moron with no financial sense would do it. It will be fun in the beginning but then it becomes a job. A job that might pay nothing or close. Use your energy on creating some real wealth and buy your own aircraft. This industry consists of 50% flight whores who will do anything to carry the once respected title.
It's a cruel industry, and yes, you are too old. At least to old to make any logical sence out of it.
BTW: i have a job flying jets. I'm not a bitter wannabe.
Only a moron with no financial sense would do it. It will be fun in the beginning but then it becomes a job. A job that might pay nothing or close. Use your energy on creating some real wealth and buy your own aircraft. This industry consists of 50% flight whores who will do anything to carry the once respected title.
It's a cruel industry, and yes, you are too old. At least to old to make any logical sence out of it.
BTW: i have a job flying jets. I'm not a bitter wannabe.
I'll say something now - maybe some people don't enjoy flying jets anymore, but I do, and I've been at it for as long as you've been alive jabberwockey or however you spell it.
What's more, I'd encourage anybody to chase down their ambitions until their grip is firm, because anything is achievable in this life, and on that note, you only get one! Forget this tripe about laying aroung on deathbeds, the answer is yes, you'll hit the mid life crisis, but then you'll hit the old age crisis, and you will regret it. I seen it happen to people I know, and I'm so glad I chose to do what I do.
I love it.
p.s. worth listening to the financial views, you'd be committing monetary suicide if you come out of training any less than a year from now, if not longer. Be wary. Look after what you've built and who you love. But play this game carefully, and you can do it, I've seen better success stories than this
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry to say this but
Sorry to say this because I was once an older mid life career changer too but I wouldn't do it unless you can fall back into your previous career and suffer little serious financial hardship from giving it a go.
The airline industry is in a terrible state, it will be on its back with its legs in the air for the next 2-3 years I reckon.
Secondly if you're lucky enough to get a job at the end of training the salary on offer for the hours worked isn't likely to be very attractive.
The lifestyle offered nowadays is actually quite poor compared to many alternative careers - you'll miss birthdays, holidays, christmas etc I can't get any leave between early Dec and end of January this year or last.
On a good day, with a nice crew yes, it's still enjoyable but maybe not enough to make up for not being there with your family on Christmas morning.
Those few airlines offering a better lifestyle are currently laying off pilots and you won't get a crack at an interview with them until you have 3-5 years experience.
By all means do your PPL and some hours building for fun, just be under no illusions most airlines nowadays will fly you so much that after a few years you'll wonder if there might be an easier way to make a living as you get older and more tired!
Good luck,
Desk-pilot
The airline industry is in a terrible state, it will be on its back with its legs in the air for the next 2-3 years I reckon.
Secondly if you're lucky enough to get a job at the end of training the salary on offer for the hours worked isn't likely to be very attractive.
The lifestyle offered nowadays is actually quite poor compared to many alternative careers - you'll miss birthdays, holidays, christmas etc I can't get any leave between early Dec and end of January this year or last.
On a good day, with a nice crew yes, it's still enjoyable but maybe not enough to make up for not being there with your family on Christmas morning.
Those few airlines offering a better lifestyle are currently laying off pilots and you won't get a crack at an interview with them until you have 3-5 years experience.
By all means do your PPL and some hours building for fun, just be under no illusions most airlines nowadays will fly you so much that after a few years you'll wonder if there might be an easier way to make a living as you get older and more tired!
Good luck,
Desk-pilot
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Betwixt and between
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another mid-life career changer here. Got my first flying job, 737, early forties around 18 months ago, just before the financial shijt hit the fan. If I hadn't lucked out on my particualar path, then I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have got in at all. That is what it is all about, dogged persistence and risk taking to generate luck. However, that particular door now seems closed for quite sometime to come.
There is some new movement in jobs around the world, but forget the UK and probably Europe for a while. If you want to do this, I profer that you are going to have to be prepared to move anywhere. When the offer comes, you'll have to make a life changing and scary decisioin at the drop of a hat. You'll have litterally a couple of days to arrange your affairs before heading off to your new life. Not a business for worriers or the indecicive.
Is it worth it? For us definately. If it goes pear shaped tomorrow, it'll be stressful and frankly heartbraking; but the experience for me, my wife and kids has been priceless and opened possibilities that we would never have been receptive to before.
There is some new movement in jobs around the world, but forget the UK and probably Europe for a while. If you want to do this, I profer that you are going to have to be prepared to move anywhere. When the offer comes, you'll have to make a life changing and scary decisioin at the drop of a hat. You'll have litterally a couple of days to arrange your affairs before heading off to your new life. Not a business for worriers or the indecicive.
Is it worth it? For us definately. If it goes pear shaped tomorrow, it'll be stressful and frankly heartbraking; but the experience for me, my wife and kids has been priceless and opened possibilities that we would never have been receptive to before.
