What is the Airline definition of too OLD?

[novicepilot]

Would applying at 46 after completion of JAA integrated be feasible, would any interviews be forthcoming ?

I hear conflicting replies, flight schools are surprisingly optimistic ( I can undestand why ) but what is an honest answer? Do not want certainties, but would be nice to know if its a starter.

No pessimists answer please - just realists and those who live in the real world.

[mack 1]

I am 42 years soon to be 43, further to that I am not negative. However I have made two posts on 'where are all the jobs' pages two and six I think.
They may be of interest to you.

[Arfur Feck-Sake]

I've never heard of anyone (civilian trained, not ex-military) over 40 being interviewed by flybe for a first job. It's rumoured that this is their cut-off age and the evidence seems to support it.

[Megaton]

Got my first job at age 37 with FlyBE - I think a formal age policy would probably be viewed as discriminatory. And modular too btw.

[duveldrinker]

I finished my integrated course at the age of 37. Got never invited while fellow students one by one found a job. But now I am happy being able to work full-time as FI, perhaps 'maturity' helped me here after all.

Fromal age discrimination is illegal in the EU (treaty of Amsterdam).

[boogie-nicey]

But surely some chap who has turbine experience won't be cut off at 40 or would he too face the same pitfall as a fresh wannabe? I guess at an older age you need to have alot more tricks up your sleeve to land that first job.

[8028410q]

You're never too old!!

I finished my ATPL's in May 2002, aged 37 and got my first (and only) jet job with a LCC (with a 'tiny' name) 2 years ago. I'm now 42 and still flying for them, loving every minute.

Keep going, you'll only regret not doing it when you really are too old!!

8028410q

[BelArgUSA]

Age 65 rule helps...

With the advent of the 65 age pilot retirement rule, it will in effect help for those of you who have a "late vocation" in life... It is likely that if an air carrier previously had an age limit of 40, it would be probably extended by an extra 5 years...
xxx
Hiring age limits (legal or illegal - age discrimination - etc) for airlines are merely reflecting the concern of a carrier (which are investing in training and qualifying you to captaincy) so that they can get years of return in their investment. With a good economy, some major carriers (in the USA) saw an upgrade to captaincy in less than 3 years (Continental Air Lines, late 1960s), yet some pilots hired in the mid-1970s with some other majors, suffering numerous layoffs and recalls, never were captain, and retired (age 60) before they could get their "4th stripe" on their sleeves.
xxx
If a kid in the street asks me "how long does it take to be a captain...?", I would say 10 years average... (dont start correcting me with the extremely lucky exceptions of such and such airline)... So with age 65 retirement, taking that average, and hired at age 45, you will have a career of 20 years, of which 10 years as F/O and 10 years as captain.
xxx
Hey guys, start fighting for no retirement age limit (fly as long as you have a 1st class physical) - so there should be no age limit for hiring... I have worked with flight engineers aged 70+... and they were knowledgeable and great to have in the flight deck for these "abnormal" procedures, and troubleshooting. I knew a F/E who flew the first 747s, in 1970... spending 30 years of a career in type... 20,000 hrs on a 747... then after retiring, became a classroom and simulator instructor for a few more years... do you believe they knew how to troubleshoot a malfunction...???
xxx
Finally, think about "old farts" like myself, age 63... My airline has a policy, not to transition pilots over age 60 to a new type of aircraft... I am current and qualified in 747 "Classics" and when we started to acquire the 747-400s, I was reaching age 60... My decision was to remain on the "Classic". You do not teach old dogs new tricks... I am against 2 pilot crews anyway... So, if you are an "old fart" like me, and right around age 60, and your airline has a 65 retirement age... stay on the airplane you are now...
xxx
I am often in the "selection board" for new-hires with my airline. I never have given an opinion against an applicant who is age 40 and some... a little bit of grey hair is ok, and... I like maturity... But I have voted against 21 age astronauts (with 3 moon landings in the past 90 days and 5,000 hrs Concorde PIC rating) who know it all...

Happy contrails

[pilotmike]

I've never heard of anyone (civilian trained, not ex-military) over 40 being interviewed by flybe for a first job. It's rumoured that this is their cut-off age and the evidence seems to support it.

Your information is incorrect.

I know of somebody who was called to interview with Flybe for their first commercial pilot job age 43. He turned them down as he had just received a better first job offer, age 43, flying a jet.

PM

[Neo_RS14]

It's great to hear of guys pursuing their dreams later in life, and making it. Good stuff. Where there's a will, there's a way.

[EGCC4284]

Started my training in August 1999

Took 6 years to gain CPL/IR modular

Took a year and a half to get first job ( January 2007 )

Started first job May this year

Started line training this week on 737. Flew my first passenger flight on Wednesday just gone.

Age 40 in 2 weeks time.

440 hours total. Did not pay for type rating in advance to get job.

I consider myself very lucky, but keep getting told that you make your own luck in this world.

I was also offered an Embraer 145 job in December due to start January but got offered the 737 job at the beginning of January. So that's 2 job offers that I had.

Positive mental attitude and believe in yourself.

Network, network and network.

Get your CV right and you stand a chance.

Prepare for interviews and sim assessment.

Dreams can come true if you never give up.

[chrfri]

NeverToOld

I was 41 when I completed my ATP-course. During next 4 years I send a lot of cv´s, maked a lot of calls, got the question "how long should you go on with this" from my wife. At 45 I got my first job, F/O on a small jet.

As EGCC4284 said: Dreams can come true if you never give up

[menikos]

38 years old and won't never give up and certainly won't listen to people saying oh my god you're to old specially here in France really pathetic.

Keep going

[Alicia.C]

Loop, congratulations on the job. Can I ask with which opertator and if you had to self fund the type rating?

Thanks.

[skywaytoheaven]

Final cut off age 64.5: not enough time to finish course, line training etc, before retirement.