View Full Version : Some advice for someone considering a career change
Wondering if I can get some good advice from some pilots out there. I am turning 35 and considering a career change . I would like to be a commercial pilot. I am currently a licensed aircraft engineer endorsed on the little buses to the big buses,Boeings to Embraers but what I would really like to do is fly. Obviously I have many questions. I guess the number one question is ,am I too old to start this dream of mine? What would be my career prospects ,and where could I reasonably end up? I understand left seat on a 777 is a bit much . Financially I would be able to pay for my training and fast track it as much as I could . I have been with my current employer 12 years now and have good seniority but am willing to give it up to fly. I here Jazz is taking guy's right out of flight school but wonder if my age would be an issue? I have a canadian/european passport as well and saw some schools down in the states that give JAA licenses for about 50k completed in about a year , would this be a good option? Obviously I would prefer to stay in Canada as it is home ,but am willing to explore any options . I am married but have no children so it makes it a bit easier if we have to move. What are the good flight schools in Canada ? How could I build my time quickly? Answers or advice to any of these questions would be much appreciated.
Kliperoo
22nd Oct 2007, 10:33
Hi.
With the upcoming demand for pilots age is fast becoming an old "they looked at that in the past". While youre correct in saying that at 35 your chances of reaching left seat in a 777 are slim, they are not a lost cause, especially if you could be a CPL with MEIFR and a type rating in a year and a bit.
As for Jazz, they have hired guys straight out of university, youre right. I hope that one of them views these forums and can give you the inside scoop but from what I have seen so far its a trial and not an open door to all of us below the 1500 hour mark. (I hope Im wrong for your sake and mine!).
The university route is the most popular at the moment with the new pilots, and most employers are beginning to look favourably upon it in this part of the world. If that is not an option, then the old flight school system does just as well, you just dont end up with BAv (or something like it) at the end of your name.
Just remember: age equals maturity (or it should :uhoh:) and some employers may take you over a younger candidate because they view you as being a stable option.
Johnny767
22nd Oct 2007, 20:10
My 2 cents.
Don't even consider the "Aviation College" gig. Find a good reputable Flying School, close to where you live. More importantly, find a good Instructor.
Keep working as an AME, fly like crazy in your spare time, take vacation time and go hard with the Flight Training.
Private, Commercial, Multi IFR.
Once you find a good first job, then resign your AME job.
The sky's the limit, Air Canada is hiring guys in their late 40's. IF (?) that turns your crank, consider it. If not, there are going to be so many jobs around, you'll have your pick.
Your age, your Aviation background, will be invaluable.
Best wishes.
20driver
22nd Oct 2007, 23:08
No experience with either but :
Moncton Flight College - Moncton NB
Harvs Air - Manitoba
Seem to get good reviews and might be the sort of residential place you are looking for.
No comments what so ever on the job market in Canada but it seems to be very good all over for the next while.
20driver
54.98N
23rd Oct 2007, 17:00
Red 5,
Jonny767 talks sense. Keep your job, do everything part-time, you'll still have an income and wont be building up debts. Once you're finished training you've still got an income stream to keep you current (which is just as important).
54.98N
Thank's for the advice, it is much appreciated. Regarding leaving my job, I just thought it would be the quickest way to get all my ratings. However I think you guy's are right. Thank you vey much.
yoohoo748
23rd Oct 2007, 21:46
IF you really do want to get into the flying gig... remember that it is one of those jobs that does take you away from your family for days on end. That being said, Johnny is spot on. Don't quite your day job. College if fine, but my thoughts that with this boom that we are having right now, you could and should, if you were very keen, get your CPL and MIFR in a matter of 6 months to a year.... If you have the money on hand. Years ago I finished my PPL in just over a month (not including ground school and getting my medical sorted out... 'nother story). CPL takes as long as you have decent weather and cash. I can't recall any restrictions, but seriously see if you are able to mix your multi and IFR into the mix when you are doing your CPL. Save you a few bucks. No matter where you got your CPL from, your first employer will most likely look at you as a complete greenhorn that still needs some serious training. A CPL is merely a license to learn.... and we never stop learning.
alapt
27th Oct 2007, 07:26
GO FOR IT, no questions asked. I always wanted to fly, finally got the balls and the cash to do it at 34. Was left seat of a tristar at 44....not bad I think! If you delay, at 55 you will say I should have and probably regret it. If you don't make it, you will say at least I tried. The only failures or regrets you will ever have in life is what you have not tried! I should have started at 25...but you know things.....PS I was and also am an AME:D
faireydelta
27th Oct 2007, 16:50
Absolutely not too late if you go the european route. Do the JAA ATPL in the US, most cost effective way to go. I am a Canadian working in Europe and I've seen both sides of Atlantic. Way better in Europe, overall. The majority of FO's I fly with have under 1000 hrs, total time!, and they are in the right seat of a medium jet (72,000kgs). In Canada, 1000 hrs won't get you the right seat of a turboprop. These guys pay for their type ratings and although most canadians balk at that, here it's seen as part of their educational background. Here, a guy with 3000 hrs total time probably has most of that on a 737, A320, so on..and they are seen as ready for an upgrade. I'd say 5 years to a left seat in a medium jet in Europe (from a cold start) is very feasible. Just wished I had known about this 20 plus years ago when I started flying in Canada. Also, they make in the right seat what I made in Canada in the left seat! Don't beat your head against a wall in Canada..go to Europe if you want to fly and get treated as a professional.
NavPilot
27th Oct 2007, 20:55
Faireydelta,
don't you need the 'right to live and work in the EU' for that ?
faireydelta
27th Oct 2007, 23:57
Yes, of course, which RED5 says he has. For those of us Canadians with recent European ancestry, obtaining a European passport may simply be a matter of filling out some forms..it was for me. Spend a few minutes on the internet on various consular sites to see if you qualify. Depending on whether or not one or both your parents were naturalized Canadian citizens at the time of your own birth, you may be able to claim the right to an EU Passport. I've heard some say this claim can be made on the basis of a grandparent with European ancestry, but I haven't looked into that myself.
Thank you guy's all the responses are very helpfull and I appreciate your enthusiasm. I do have a british passport as well and saw that Ryanair has a cadet program for guy's with as little as 250 hours any insight to this?I am currently looking at flight schools now in the Montreal area.
THEICEMAN
29th Oct 2007, 07:57
Go for it! At least do your PPL & see what you think.....
Sure you can fly the A320s & 737s one day, because it's too late.......but nothing wrong with flying King Airs also with a good company.
Never flown them, but apparently the Dash8 & CRJs are fun?
Bets of luck!
Go for it, I'm nearly 29 and have come from the U.K to do my training (cheaper over here), having spent many years talking about it and saving.
Definately more jobs in Europe, as long as you pass your tests and stump up your $40,000 type rating money, Ryanair for one will take you on after 200 odd hours straight into a shiny new 737-800 (I have a friend in his 40s that did this). I, like you would rather make a career in Canada, but you'll have to consider that towards the end of your training as things can change, the aviation boom in Europe was a direct result of the huge demand for low cost air travel. Canada is yet to experience this, but surely it's just a matter of time and when it does, the current 'pecking order' of pilots will not be sufficient to meet it, so hour requirements will fall.
Just my opinion, personally I'm gonna do all my training here and then convert to JAA if I decide to go back to Europe, but I'm hoping a low cost boom develops in the mean time because I really kinda like it here.
Good luck :ok: