The Upper Age limit for entry as FO

[aryansat13]

I am 30 year old CPL holder from india , i just want to know what will be the maximum age limit for entry as First Officer in any airline in india or abroad...As few of my friends said it will be highly impossible for me to get a job with commercial airliners as my age is way to high for a first officer entry level..it will be really great if someone can throw some light into this ...

[King Julian]

Mate it depends from airline to airline.
The max age limit I've seen for FO's is 55...
So there's another good 25 left for you..:ok:

[GogglesOnTarget]

I'm going to give it a stab and I'm actually 35. I've spoken to many people, all of whom say age isn't an issue.
Our biggest challenge is the economic climate!

[Muddy Boots]

I'm 40 and going for it. There are many mixed messages on the subject.

I am just completing my training and will have to build hours somehow to make my log book sexier.

I have had some people say that it will take me longer to train for a type rating but they'll like me more as I will be more likely to stay with an airline. Also a 55+ captain would rather have someone closer to their own age next to them than a 21 year old who they can't relate to.

One of the most negative people on the subject of age was the careers chap at Oxford.

[toeyshear]

I got my first job at 35 and on the day there were 4 of us all younger than me and i was the only one pick. I think it is because what I lacked in flight experience i gained in day to day life experience.

Which is why think i Got a great job now and from completion of training to first job about 4 months done by the modular route.

T

[GogglesOnTarget]

Toeyshear, I think you've explained why Muddy Boots got a negative response from the guy at Oxford.

From what I've read on this forum, the guys from Oxford don't want people with life experience being sensible with their money;)

[Mikehotel152]

I was 30 when I started modular training. 3 years later I'm flying the RHS of a 737-800. Age was never an issue for potential employers, but your motivation to start a demanding career at your age will be examined.

Muddy Boots has it right. Older people tend to find the Type Rating especially difficult because it requires you to learn a lot of new information in a short space of time. It's all about old dogs and new tricks, if you know what I mean.

[potkettleblack]

30 is fine, mid 30's okay (I was). Any older and you need to think a bit harder about what your getting yourself into.

Firstly, many airlines have a seniority list. Time to command could be 10-15 years or worse in the more established ones. Some of these airlines may never promote those that have joined in the last few years to the LHS given that the ICAO retirement age keeps on ebbing up and their skippers could only be in their 30's at present so have a long long time to go. Consideration may have to be given to being a professional co-pilot. It may not be everyones cup of tea. If you leave to join another airline then you start at the bottom of the rung and the process starts over.

Secondly, this really is a young persons game. Young and fancy free I would dare say. Having the ability to up sticks and move around the world would stand you in good stead. The following thread has some really useful insights into the sacrifices involved, particularly for those of us with a family and kiddies.

http://www.pprune.org/interviews-jobs-sponsorship/333092-zero-hours-airline-pilot-my-story-5.html

[macdo]

started at 30
FI til 35
t.props to 36
jets since then.
Age is no barrier. IF the market is right.

[Neptunus Rex]

Ah! India.
Age is not a problem. Just take your Birth Certificate to the Chief Pilot, or even better, the CEO. If he recognises any of your antecedents, you are in.


http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/groupwave.gif

[Sciolistes]

MuddyBoots,
I have had some people say that it will take me longer to train for a type rating but they'll like me more as I will be more likely to stay with an airline. Also a 55+ captain would rather have someone closer to their own age next to them than a 21 year old who they can't relate to.
Unfortunately, somebody with more gravitas than myself should point out that unlike real cliches, those often repeated statements are generally untrue.

Muddy Boots has it right. Older people tend to find the Type Rating especially difficult because it requires you to learn a lot of new information in a short space of time. It's all about old dogs and new tricks, if you know what I mean.
As someone who did their first type rating in his early 40s I can honestly say that that is a load of received twaddle :)

Make no mistake, if you want to get your first flying job in your 40s, the odds are stacked against you, but obviously it is possible.

[MVE]

It is now against the law to discriminate on age and the people interviewing you should not be informed of your date of birth, assuming you are in the UK and its a reputable airline that is.....