How can I update in the best possible way at age 38? Should I?
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: France
Age: 56
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How can I update in the best possible way at age 38? Should I?
I am a Commercial Pilot, FAA CPL/ME/IR with 770 flying hours, 466 of them in Turboprop until 1995 more or less. Due to a medical problem (now solved) I had to stop flying for more than 10 years. I am 38 years old now, I am French and I live in Paris now, but I do not have the JAA licence due to the same reason that stopped me from flying.
The reason of my letter is trying to get the best advice possible on what to do, what will be the best and fastest pathway to follow to put me back on track.
I work for an airline in Paris, I am not very happy with my job for many reasons, mainly because I want to fly again, and I feel that I have to hurry if I want to catch up.
From your experience, what would you do or in what order would you do the things that I list at the end? I have the chance of doing some flying time in South America where I flew before and where I still have some pilots friends willing to help me, and I have some savings to back me up economically for a year, but not more.
Also, considering that I have free airline tickets due to my actual job and that my wife will support my decision, I think I should make a move.
I have listed some actions but I am not very sure what will be the best, or if I am missing something, or maybe I should just not go for it due to my age or to the market future contracting perspectives.
Here is my list (not in order of preferences, just a bunch of ideas).
- Travel to different countries around Asia and get conversion of my CPL and visit some airlines personally.
- Do an IFR and Commercial update in USA
- Get a Type Rating (B737 or A320) in USA
- or wait for the JAA conversion and get a FAA/JAA Type Rating
- Do the JAA conversion in France while keeping my job
- Go to South America and while doing some flying, do a JAA distance learning for conversion (I personally like this one)
What would you do in my situation??
The reason of my letter is trying to get the best advice possible on what to do, what will be the best and fastest pathway to follow to put me back on track.
I work for an airline in Paris, I am not very happy with my job for many reasons, mainly because I want to fly again, and I feel that I have to hurry if I want to catch up.
From your experience, what would you do or in what order would you do the things that I list at the end? I have the chance of doing some flying time in South America where I flew before and where I still have some pilots friends willing to help me, and I have some savings to back me up economically for a year, but not more.
Also, considering that I have free airline tickets due to my actual job and that my wife will support my decision, I think I should make a move.
I have listed some actions but I am not very sure what will be the best, or if I am missing something, or maybe I should just not go for it due to my age or to the market future contracting perspectives.
Here is my list (not in order of preferences, just a bunch of ideas).
- Travel to different countries around Asia and get conversion of my CPL and visit some airlines personally.
- Do an IFR and Commercial update in USA
- Get a Type Rating (B737 or A320) in USA
- or wait for the JAA conversion and get a FAA/JAA Type Rating
- Do the JAA conversion in France while keeping my job
- Go to South America and while doing some flying, do a JAA distance learning for conversion (I personally like this one)
What would you do in my situation??
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Europe
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Go for it!!
I will go to South America, do some flying time, get an FAA TR if needed (that will give you some flying refreshing) and at the same time register in a JAA distance course (that will get you sharp enough)..
In my opinion that is the best choice.. and donīt worry about the age, at the end you will have a nice CV.
I have been in South America flying too and it is a great experience!!
Wish you the best!!
In my opinion that is the best choice.. and donīt worry about the age, at the end you will have a nice CV.
I have been in South America flying too and it is a great experience!!
Wish you the best!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Croatia
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friend in trouble
My husband is a pilot and we are fighting all the time because of same issues. He is 32 and FAA pilot with 800 hours. We had lived in USA for 6 years. We decided to come back home (Europe) and everthing here seems hard to go trough.
Now he is in a process of converting FAA to JAA and is long and he has to study again and again.
I would like to meet some people with same experiance. What about South America. I'm willing to go there if is any pilot job possible over there.
Please some help.
Go for it....Age does not metter....We live under terror of youth...uh...
Now he is in a process of converting FAA to JAA and is long and he has to study again and again.
I would like to meet some people with same experiance. What about South America. I'm willing to go there if is any pilot job possible over there.
Please some help.
Go for it....Age does not metter....We live under terror of youth...uh...
