What're my chances?
I’m seriously considering a career change out of electronic engineering. I guess the chances of getting sponsorship are pretty close to nil bearing in mind the current situation and also my age – 39.
If I put myself through the training I need to be pretty confident of getting a job since I have a wife, 2 kids & a cat to support. I’ve canvassed opinion from some of the flight schools and they seem mildly optimistic. I assume they would since they’d like to take a huge amount of cash from me. However, I hear that there may be a shortage of pilots in the next few years. I also hear that BA maybe starting off their cadet program again in 2003. If I quit work and start to train it’ll be in early 2003 and hopefully getting a fATPL around spring 2004.
I have three questions I’d like to get some feedback on:
1. Does anyone have any ideas on when the job situation is likely to pick up?
2. When it does pick up are their going to be airline opportunities for zero hour fATPL pilots?
3. How are the airlines going to react to a 40-year-old applicant?
I really want to do this but of course I don’t have time on my side.
Thanks in advance,
Dave