AGE

[EGCC4284]

Hello Happy Wanderer

I am glad you referred to my post in the other thread.

I was very very lucky but I would say that I created my own luck.

I do feel for those yet to get their first break into this industry.

I did my line check 2 weeks ago after 2 months of line training.

During my line check flight, the line check Captain accessing me asked how old I was knowing that I only had 440 hours when I started at this company. I told him I was 40 and thought no more of it.
I passed my line check first attempt. During the debrief after my line check flight, the line check Captain explained the reason he asked my aged. This was to confirm his thoughts, which was that I had brought my experience of life into the flight deck with regards my CRM with my Captain. He said that I picked up on a couple of mistakes that my Captain had made during the days flying and that I had very respectfully brought these mistakes to the attention of my Captain. The line check Captain told me that the atmosphere in the flight deck for the days flying was very good and he put this down to my people skills. He said that being the age that I am, was a bonus and that my experience of life is something you cannot buy. I thought it was very nice of him to mention this.

Yes I found the type rating the hardest thing I have ever done, but the line training was great fun. All the line trainers at my company are a great bunch of guys and made it very enjoyable.

I have the e-mail addresses for those who hires for many of the large jet operators in the UK . I have plenty of rejection e-mails saying I don't fit the profile, I will struggle wit a TR, I need 1500 hours Turboprop, etc etc etc. Well I am here now and don't intend dropping out.

I was 40 in August and now have about 150 hours on the 737. My line training was 60 sectors due to being low houred.

On the class of 10 that were on my type rating course, there was only one guy under the age of 30. The was 3 of us above 39 and who were all low houred, me being one of them. The other 7 were ex BMI Regional, Flybe, Citystar etc etc with loads of hours. So I am glad to say that the company I now work for did give 3 of us a chance and so far so good.

I do wish Monarch, My Travel, Thomas Cook, First Choice? easyJet, BA Mainline and many other large jet operators would realise that being above 35 and low houred is not always going to be a problem. We do sometimes have something extra to offer. I suppose its all about risk and them trying to make sure they employ someone who is not going to fail a type rating.

I think many airlines, especially jet operators are missing out on good applicants and I think they need to review their application process. Yes the older we are, the harder we find it to learn, but some of us have other quality's to offer.

I do take my hat off to Pete Durnford at Baby. I do know that in the past he has given low houred older guys a chance. If the were more like him, things would be better for the older wannabes.

Last piece of advice, do not be afraid to pick the phone up and call these airlines. They are people like me and you. Get on the phone and keep telling them how much you want to work for them. When you get rejected, get on the phone again and don't take no for an answer. This is what I did and it paid off.

All everyone needs is a chance. You may have to make that chance happen.

If any of the big operators reading this would like a recommendations, I have a friend, 41years old, 500 hours instruction looking for a chance.

Sorry for poor grammer, its late.