Originally Posted by
richpea
I am a Brit, started my PPL on a modular route to trying to launch an aviation career at 36, in the year before the pandemic hit. I followed a completely modular path. In 12 days time I will start my type rating for a job with an airline at age 39.
So I'd completely disagree with your point of view in terms of jobs being available. I think at the moment it is actually incredibly hard to predict how airlines see the next year or so panning out, some will be conservative, some will want to have learned the lessons of the immediate post covid period and invest to be ready for rebound. Maybe some are figuring they will steal passengers from their more expensive competitors in this next year or so period.
For 73DT.... In terms of age, being 50 might limit you in some ways (as no airline is looking to hire a career FO)... however, a lot of the less glamorous name airlines are also aware that they are going to lose a fair number of their younger FOs and Capts. to the big boys, whereas an older hire is likely to be more loyal. They'll see a person who might stay with them for the rest of their working life, and that'll be a good enough for them to see a potential captain. Also don't downplay the fact that the older candidates have a massive amount of experience and transferable skills on the CV. One of the differences between a 20 year old and an older pilot is, sure, career longevity. But on the flip side, if you're looking at a pile of CVs that are identical, and then a guy who's had an interesting career, collected a bunch of qualifications etc. pops out, that's not a disadvantage!
At the end of the day, its really up to what you're willing to gamble. To be clear, be you 20 or 50, there is no guaranteed job at the end of the training process. The 20 year old has the advantage of more time to be able to wait, and probably less financial commitments to take care of. You as an older candidate have the advantage of a far more attractive CV in comparison to 90% of the kiddies, and the impression that you must REALLY want to do the job if you're attempting it at this age!
I'd say go for it, because it's worked out for me so far. I'm sure there are people who'll say avoid like the plague because they, or people they know, didn't have a great outcome... choice is yours! Good luck!
There are jobs, but they are now primary going to MPL students or other flight programs, I have seen "older" candidates come through on these programs the last 12 months and straight in the company as an FO. You started your Modular route when 36, I was 40, there is some time, but if you are 50 you don't have 4 -5 years to mess around in my opinion if your goal is to get into an airline job.
There is a stage where to modular route is not the best option for some, unless they are happy to waste 70 - 100K (with TR), and see where it leads them.
Also there are many ex-pats who have been stuck abroad longer then they expected, dying to come back to UK for various reasons, and these are experienced both Captains and FO's, so getting in from the "outside" modular route is not going to be easy. Btw Ryanair are fairly ageist if you are low hours and over 40.
Also important, are you willing to re-locate / commute big distances to take any job you get offered. My first job I was basically away 8 days and 2 days home, missed every important significant occasions in family life over those 2 years, Christmas Eve and Christmas day was stuck in a 2 star hotel with no heating, where all the staff had gone home at 7 Pm so no food etc.
If you have been successful in business and had a "good lifestyle", this might come as a shock to you. Not every 50 year old are willing to be treated this way at this stage in their life, so you need to ask yourself are you willing to spend 4 - 5 years spending thousands of pounds, to then be treated and paid crap?
And the progression from TP to Jets, is not something that happens a lot anymore, so all depends what you want.
However there is no way someone starting at 50 who wants to have a shot in a good airline with ok conditions for a few years, 10 - 13 years is going to be the max, will have much chance of that going Modular that late in life.
Making the choice when you are 36 / 39 vs 50 are 2 very different things, 36 I would not even categorize as "old" to start.
Personally when I decided to go for it, I felt that was the latest time to do it, I would never have done it if I was 50. My personal cut off limit would have been 45 to have completed any training.