Career prospects for a 'career changer' . . . . . aged 42
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Jam - I got my frozen ATPL aged 34 but didn't get my first (tprop) airline job until I was 38!! It can take a while but from my (ltd) experience, a goodly number of those who stick at it eventually make it ................In that four year period I did come close to packing it all in on a number of occasions. It can be a bumpy ride and I would urge you to prepare accordingly SHOULD you choose to set out on 'the long and winding road' (sorry messrs Lennon/ Mccartney). Cheers
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A question for the 30+ ATPL's reading this -
Either while working, or applying for jobs, did you get the feeling that interpersonal skills, management skills and system skills were given priority over stick and rudder stuff?
I ask as IMHO, the seat of the pants skills you either have an aptitude for or not. If you are "mature" with good handling abilities, is it better to consider Instructing as a long term career?
If you are younger, struggling with the xwind shortfield sideslipping stuff, but very good at CRM, IT and business studies, do you have a glowing big jet operator career?
Either while working, or applying for jobs, did you get the feeling that interpersonal skills, management skills and system skills were given priority over stick and rudder stuff?
I ask as IMHO, the seat of the pants skills you either have an aptitude for or not. If you are "mature" with good handling abilities, is it better to consider Instructing as a long term career?
If you are younger, struggling with the xwind shortfield sideslipping stuff, but very good at CRM, IT and business studies, do you have a glowing big jet operator career?
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I think you can analyse this too much. There are no definitive answers, unfortunately, for those in the age dilemma. It's a risk - and the older you are, the greater the risk - that only you can decide whether you're willing to take.
If you have no external commitments, that does make it easier. If you do have those commitments, you really, really have to think this through very carefully, and you must never embark on anything without ensuring that those who depend on you totally understand the risks and fully support you (financially if necessary). If you're not sure that your family can take that risk, then there's no question; this course of action is not for you. The consequences of failure are too high.
Scroggs
If you have no external commitments, that does make it easier. If you do have those commitments, you really, really have to think this through very carefully, and you must never embark on anything without ensuring that those who depend on you totally understand the risks and fully support you (financially if necessary). If you're not sure that your family can take that risk, then there's no question; this course of action is not for you. The consequences of failure are too high.
Scroggs
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thanks scroggs for your wise advice.......as always.
By the way scroggs, a bit of the subject, but you don't think not having academic qualifications above GCSE's to be an issue do you as i only have GCSE's but do have a scientific mind.
I take it they would be more interested in other issues than my academc background.
Jam
By the way scroggs, a bit of the subject, but you don't think not having academic qualifications above GCSE's to be an issue do you as i only have GCSE's but do have a scientific mind.
I take it they would be more interested in other issues than my academc background.
Jam
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At your age academic qualifications are less important than they are for a school-leaver. You have experience, particularly in the workplace, which employers will value more highly than academic qualifications. GCSEs are quite adequate.
Scroggs
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Great thread
Very interesting thread. I am the same age and 700TT.
I can relate to your dilema.
Many insights from the replies posted here though ultimatly it's your call.
Presently I am consedering to spend money on building time and/or SSTR.
I have commitments and building 1.000 more hours would take me probably a year away from my family and work and require a considerable amount of €.
I would consider the time and money well spent if I could at least end up flight instructing (I've already done it) or doing aerial work. Given the FI wages I would need to be able to retain my present job, though and that limits the choices to aprox 6 local outfits.
Presently I am doing some financial planning for this go/no go decision.
As I said before, tough personal decision.
Thanks for all the thoughts posted on this thread.
I can relate to your dilema.
Many insights from the replies posted here though ultimatly it's your call.
Presently I am consedering to spend money on building time and/or SSTR.
I have commitments and building 1.000 more hours would take me probably a year away from my family and work and require a considerable amount of €.
I would consider the time and money well spent if I could at least end up flight instructing (I've already done it) or doing aerial work. Given the FI wages I would need to be able to retain my present job, though and that limits the choices to aprox 6 local outfits.
Presently I am doing some financial planning for this go/no go decision.
As I said before, tough personal decision.
Thanks for all the thoughts posted on this thread.
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Hi all,
Immense thanks to all who've contributed to my post, and also to those who got in touch via PM. The advice and personal insights, both +ve and -ve, have been invaluable.
I've spent days deliberating on this, done a lot of research, and more importantly, talked it over with folks at home (Scroggs - sound advice BTW). Instinct tells me that pursuit of the dream is too much of a risk, mainly due to responsibilities and commitments at home; I've been made redundant and had two children - all in the space of the last 9 months. I have the finance to fund the training, but it feels like a case of 'too much to lose, too little to gain' to now fork out shed loads of money when there are absolutely no guarantees of a job at the end of it. I could well be a fortunate one, who knows, but at 42 (now 43 as I write this!) and no flying hours seems a big ask.
The FI route is an option I've considered, but the relatively poor pay (from what other posters have suggested) again makes me question it.
In the short term, I've decided to do my PPL in as short a time scale as possible as helpfully suggested by someone on this thread. If I'm totally smitten by the PPL experience, then who knows what I'll do!
Arghhhh!!!
Many thanks.
Immense thanks to all who've contributed to my post, and also to those who got in touch via PM. The advice and personal insights, both +ve and -ve, have been invaluable.
I've spent days deliberating on this, done a lot of research, and more importantly, talked it over with folks at home (Scroggs - sound advice BTW). Instinct tells me that pursuit of the dream is too much of a risk, mainly due to responsibilities and commitments at home; I've been made redundant and had two children - all in the space of the last 9 months. I have the finance to fund the training, but it feels like a case of 'too much to lose, too little to gain' to now fork out shed loads of money when there are absolutely no guarantees of a job at the end of it. I could well be a fortunate one, who knows, but at 42 (now 43 as I write this!) and no flying hours seems a big ask.
The FI route is an option I've considered, but the relatively poor pay (from what other posters have suggested) again makes me question it.
In the short term, I've decided to do my PPL in as short a time scale as possible as helpfully suggested by someone on this thread. If I'm totally smitten by the PPL experience, then who knows what I'll do!
Arghhhh!!!
Many thanks.
That's how I started.
Mmmmm. Couldn't get in to mil flying so I thought I'd do a PPL for pleasure and to prove to myself I could.
PPL in hand now so what's next. Well, could do an FAA IR, just to keep skills improving. Hmmmm. I might as well do the ATPL exams. They can't be that hard, can they?
Since I've done the exams I might as well do the CPL. Bu55er it. CPL is no use without the JAR IR so I'll convert my FAA IR. Now suddenly I've got CPL/IR with exams. In for a penny and all that so finish off with a MCC. Several thousnad pounds and a few years later it's all finished but I do have a blue licence with one turbo-prop type-rating in it and I'm just about to start a jet TR.
Flying is insiduous. You start with a PPL and before you know it you've spent thousands chasing a dream. Never any guarantees but if you don't have a go.... On the other hand, there are a lot of wannabes who have more money than ability. Try PPL for size and see how you get on. Good luck and make sure you enjoy it
Mmmmm. Couldn't get in to mil flying so I thought I'd do a PPL for pleasure and to prove to myself I could.
PPL in hand now so what's next. Well, could do an FAA IR, just to keep skills improving. Hmmmm. I might as well do the ATPL exams. They can't be that hard, can they?
Since I've done the exams I might as well do the CPL. Bu55er it. CPL is no use without the JAR IR so I'll convert my FAA IR. Now suddenly I've got CPL/IR with exams. In for a penny and all that so finish off with a MCC. Several thousnad pounds and a few years later it's all finished but I do have a blue licence with one turbo-prop type-rating in it and I'm just about to start a jet TR.
Flying is insiduous. You start with a PPL and before you know it you've spent thousands chasing a dream. Never any guarantees but if you don't have a go.... On the other hand, there are a lot of wannabes who have more money than ability. Try PPL for size and see how you get on. Good luck and make sure you enjoy it
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I agree 100% with Ham Phisted... it is addictive... did my PPL 2-3 years ago... now studying for ATPLs and can't wait to get onto the flying element of a CPL. I may never fly professionally but that doesn't mean I don't want to fly at all.
I say do that PPL... you can stay in full time employment whilst doing it so the financial risk to you and your family is relatively low... taking your family and friends flying for the first time is very rewarding... I'm sure your kids would love it
Then you can even finance you ATPLs whilst still working (as I am).... and even do the CPL at weekends if you want to go that far.
If you take the training in small bite sized steps I don't believe you have to get 000's of pounds in debt to chase you dream. Lots of people in the industry have pointed out to me that the right hand seat of a 737 isn't the only way to get involved in avaition. I know one or two people in your position who now work in different industries (for considerably more money than that a typical first officer gets) and instruct at weekends... they are very happy with life.
Best of luck with it anyway... and thanks for starting the thread... best I've seen on Pprune for quite some time
I say do that PPL... you can stay in full time employment whilst doing it so the financial risk to you and your family is relatively low... taking your family and friends flying for the first time is very rewarding... I'm sure your kids would love it
Then you can even finance you ATPLs whilst still working (as I am).... and even do the CPL at weekends if you want to go that far.
If you take the training in small bite sized steps I don't believe you have to get 000's of pounds in debt to chase you dream. Lots of people in the industry have pointed out to me that the right hand seat of a 737 isn't the only way to get involved in avaition. I know one or two people in your position who now work in different industries (for considerably more money than that a typical first officer gets) and instruct at weekends... they are very happy with life.
Best of luck with it anyway... and thanks for starting the thread... best I've seen on Pprune for quite some time
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The important thing about Ham Phisted and Grass strip's v useful posts are that they show an alternative to the "all or nothing approach". As suggested you might like to get your PPL and add to your qualifications and experience as you want to and actually enjoy the journey. As an aside, "Did you enjoy your training?" would make a very interesting Wannabe Forum poll!
Doing it this way you should able to maintain a better balance between flying and other equally important commitments in your life and at the end of it you're likely to be less in debt. Being older, you probably aren't looking for the same things from a job as a younger person, which would leave you open to so many more ideas about how to make a living from flying aeroplanes. See if you can find an overlap between the jobs that you would like to do, the jobs that you can realistically get and the jobs that you can afford to take: that's your target.
Doing it this way you should able to maintain a better balance between flying and other equally important commitments in your life and at the end of it you're likely to be less in debt. Being older, you probably aren't looking for the same things from a job as a younger person, which would leave you open to so many more ideas about how to make a living from flying aeroplanes. See if you can find an overlap between the jobs that you would like to do, the jobs that you can realistically get and the jobs that you can afford to take: that's your target.
