Am I too old?

[waveydavey]

Hi,
After years of hard work and tears I have eventually managed to gather together a decent amount of money to enable me to start to pay for flight training (well, £35k anyway).

However, i'm now 34 Is it worth it? By the time I have fATPL I feel I may be seen as virtually antique.....

This is something i've always wanted to do but now it comes to dishing out this hard earned money my rose tinted glasses seem to have fallen off and i'm a bit scared to be honest!

Any advice welcome...

[Snoop]

In the absence of better advice, if you want to fly, better to do it than wonder if you could have done. If you are committed and stick at it somebody will pick you up for a position flying something, might take a while though. I am 34 now, got my fatpl at the end of the 90's. 9/11 sc***ed me. Stuck at though 'cos it is what I want to do. I am now working flying a twin, single pilot, and actually hand flying (auto pilot is a bit old and tired) It hasn't been easy to get here and I have found it a very depressing journey at times. That said life was far worse when I was stuck in an office and at least at this early stage of my career I am actually flying the aircraft and learning my trade. I can only hope that I get the opportunity to make what I enjoy so much, pay back the money I now owe.

Best of luck, and if you decide to go for it, stick at it.

[redsnail]

wavey davey,

First of all good on you for managing to save the cash. I won't say definitely go for it or definitely don't go for it but there's a few caveats that you must pay attention to before spending the money.

This isn't the late 90's where there was a massive hiring boom of low houred pilots into jets. It's now the mid 00's where pay for rating deal is becoming the norm for the airlines that have taken relatively low houred pilots in the past.

By the time you finish you'll be about 36 years old and about 200 hours. While there's no official evidence out there, anecdotally, there's some reluctance of some companies in hiring late 30/early 40 year old low houred pilots. Of course, some do get hired but relative to the 25 year olds there isn't many.

Can you genuinely afford to take a pay cut for 3-5 or more years? Sure, the SFO easyJet pay is not bad and even the FO pay isn't bad but have you looked at what a turboprop FO will get paid? Can you afford to earn that for the 2-3 years it'll take for you to get your ATPL? This is on top of what you've already spent to get your license.

You'll see a few people posting saying that their mate got a jet job at 39 etc, but it's getting much harder in this environment. Yes, the industry is picking up which is great news for all but it is still very hard work for a newly minted CPL to get a job. What you'll rarely see are people posting about how hard it is for them to get a decent job.
People are very quiet about that.

Any way, I am not a flight instructor, I don't run a flying school nor a TRTO selling type ratings. In other words, I don't want your money.

It's your money, spend it wisely.

[boeingboeingbong]

I have yet to undertake training or have any expert knowledge of the industry. However, my advice would be to go for it. Yes its a risk but where would you be in ten years time always wondering 'what might have been'?!!
good luck with whatever you choose to do mate
cheers

[lobsterbisque]

4 years ago i asked the same question, i had just started my ppl, i now have the fatpl and am 32. the advice that was given to me was that 35 was a cut off, but it depends what you have done up to now, for example are you working in the industry? As for current job hunting here is some food for thought, Thompson state that for SO positions you need to be 30 or under; CTC (i think) you need to be under 34; ba (i hear) once you put the oat/jerez stuff aside are not keen on 35 plus for so/fo low hours. but i do know of 1 guy that was 40 ish and got a job in the last couple of months, but he did have excellent contacts and has had to relocate to the other side of the country - but life is for living and dreams are had to come true, as for the sound advice from red-snail - it is a f'in nightmare this job hunting lark! Also budget 35 grand but be aware that it is likely to cost more (up to 20% i would argue) and take longer than you think, Best of luck with your decision, i do sometimes wonder if the 40K would have been better put to a house or a nice c172 - but i have no regrets.

[nzmarty]

hey - if we weren't blowing all this $$$ on flying, we'd be pi$$ing it up against a wall, or spending it on boats/racing cars/motorbikes, or our better halves would be spending it! i'm 37, will get my CPL this year, instructors rating maybe early next. maybe one day i'll get a job in a regional. if i don't try though, i'll always wonder if i couuld have. been up today doing aeros and generally having a great time. life could be worse. much worse.

[pirata]

Wavy davy,

You are never too old if you have determination and commitment to make a go if it you will eventually reach your "dream". This is something only you can honestly answer! And don't kid yourself no one said it was going to be easy!
I too also started a bit on the late side and gradually through shear determination have managed to make it!

Good luck !

Pirata!

[Crazypilot A]

Go for it buddy! The first time i called V1 it was magic and has got better and better. If this is what you really want then go for it!

[jamestkirk]

TOO OLD

I am 34. Just passed the 500 hour mark and FI 'ing until a first officer postion magic's itself out of nowhere.

It is a gamble and there have been times i wondered if it was all worth it. I sold my house to pay for the course, left job etc.

I have been instructing for about a month now. Admiitedly, its at the school i have been flying at for a few years now. It is however extrememely good fun (along with badly paid and mentally exhausting). It's good to be paid to fly instead of shelling out £120ph.

As so many people have said before on previous posts; I'd rather be flying a PA28/C150,2 around giving something back to propsective pilots than sitting in the office wondering what could have been.

Or, in my current situation, what may be.

[carbheatout]

Personally, I think i'd rather go back to the office earning £40k'ish for another year and save some money to pay for a type rating, and give myself a REAL chance of flying a proper plane sooner.

My PPL instructor recently gained employment after 3 years instructing - after having had to contribute a 1/3 towards his rating.

[The mole]

Yes you are too old and no it isn't worth it. Discuss.

[wheelbarrow]

As harsh as it sounds, I think that once you are over 30, you are much less attractive to employers with low hours.

Quite honestly, you are a risk to them.

If I were you, I would get a PPL and pay some money off your mortgage.

Flying for a living is no longer the fun it once was.

[dogsbolx2]

How Old Is Too Old???

Just to give you all hope.
I was 39 when I did my first flying lesson, the only schooling qualifications I have are 7 CSE's no A levels or degree.

Now I am now 46 and I am type rated on a Jet, flying for a excellent company and having the time of my life.

All this talk about been too old just spurs me on!
Pursue your dreams, set your self goals and go for it!

It worked for me.

[Megaton]

Sorry but some of this is horse $hit. Whatever you may have heard, being over 35 isn't the end of the world. I'm 38, low hrs (sub 500 when I started) and am now an F/O with a LCC. Furthermore, I have just had an interview and sim check for a large (v large) flag carrier. I may, or may not, get the job but I have been interviewed and sim checked at the age of 38 for an jet job with just over 600 hrs. On pprune and ppjn people talk about their personal experiences. Generally, you hear more about negative experiences than positive. Apply for the jobs and make your own mind up.

[jamestkirk]

ham phisted

I, for one, thank you for the positive response.

I am 34 and looking for the F/O position. I have a post a little further up the thread.

Good luck with the outcome you mentioned

[8028410q]

Gents,

NEVER GIVE UP! I've been out of training for 3 years now, did my training aged 37 and qualified at 38. The last 3 years have been a nightmare, but I've kept the faith.

Now, at the age of 40, I've just secured a place with a LCC and start my TR in the next few weeks.



8028410q

[waveydavey]

dogsbolx2, Ham Phisted, jamestkirk and 8028410q... thanks for the positive replies. It's good to see that there is realistic hope for the slightly more mature of us!!

[sir.pratt]

.Generally, you hear more about negative experiences than positive. Apply for the jobs and make your own mind up.

that's because the positive ones are too busy working, and... well, busy

[Megaton]

sir.pratt

Very true. My post was made after arriving home after 11 hrs and 6 sectors

[Flap Speed]

Gents,

NEVER GIVE UP! I've been out of training for 3 years now, did my training aged 37 and qualified at 38. The last 3 years have been a nightmare, but I've kept the faith.

Now, at the age of 40, I've just secured a place with a LCC and start my TR in the next few weeks.



8028410q

I can vouch for this. Keep optimistic and confident... 802841q has been long overdue a spot and I'm delighted to see him get what he wanted. Perseverence and an unwillingness to lie back and be walked over have paid off. It will sure beat flying the desk he's been at for... for... ages!!