32yr old wannabe near NZWN...
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32yr old wannabe near NZWN...
I have had a call from an old friend who is keen to become a professional pilot. (first mistake).
I tried my best to put him off, but he wont let it go. Being a bit out of the loop myself, I thought you lot might be able to help.
He's 32 and would be 33 by the time he gets his cpl. Is he too old to get started?
He's been looking at going to the u.s. for training, but without looking at it too much, I wonder if its a false saving. Once you convert license etc. Plus there is allot to say for going through you local aero club and getting to know local people.
He lives in Wellington and has looked at W aero club and Kapati, any comment? Any other suggestions?
I tried my best to put him off, but he wont let it go. Being a bit out of the loop myself, I thought you lot might be able to help.
He's 32 and would be 33 by the time he gets his cpl. Is he too old to get started?
He's been looking at going to the u.s. for training, but without looking at it too much, I wonder if its a false saving. Once you convert license etc. Plus there is allot to say for going through you local aero club and getting to know local people.
He lives in Wellington and has looked at W aero club and Kapati, any comment? Any other suggestions?
Well, the chances of him getting a top airline job are not as high as if he was younger, and he will struggle to get "experience comensurate with age." However, there are people in their forties who get airline gigs so 32 isn't too old, it may just be more difficult.
IMO, if it's what he wants to do, then he should give it a go. Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. He would also be an ideal candidate for a mid-level turbo-prop type airline (QANTAS link, Air NZ link, etc) as he would be more likely to look at a job like that as a career rather than a stepping stone.
It can be done, and it has been done. My first flight instructor was a nurse up till she was in her early 30s when someone bought her a trial flight and she switched careers. She had a job with Ansett NZ before it collapsed.
I don't have an opinion about whether he should go to the US or not as I don't know much about it.
IMO, if it's what he wants to do, then he should give it a go. Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. He would also be an ideal candidate for a mid-level turbo-prop type airline (QANTAS link, Air NZ link, etc) as he would be more likely to look at a job like that as a career rather than a stepping stone.
It can be done, and it has been done. My first flight instructor was a nurse up till she was in her early 30s when someone bought her a trial flight and she switched careers. She had a job with Ansett NZ before it collapsed.
I don't have an opinion about whether he should go to the US or not as I don't know much about it.
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It can definitely be done, but you have to be either very good or very lucky to get into the airlines if you are older but with little experience.
I did it by getting all my licences and then heading for Europe, where hiring is done in a far more pragmatic way than it is here. However, you have to get a JAA licence (which means doing all the exams/flight tests again), and you will be treated like a leper on your return to NZ.
If he "won't let it go", then I'd tell him to do it. There is nothing worse in life than looking back and saying "what if...?"
As far as WHERE to do it, I'd advise doing some of it here (if not all of it), however remember that NZ is a bit of a backwater in aviation terms, and he might find some overseas exposure helpful. The Kapiti Aero Club have an established Academy and biggish plans, but can be a bit disorganised (or so I have heard from some students there). The Wellington Aero Club aren't really that well equipped for commercial training, and avoid the Flight Centre at all costs!
He will probably find it better flying at Kapiti anyway, as he will spend a lot less time waiting for his turn to land or take off. When the time comes for busier airspace or instrument approaches, he can just head up to Palmy for that.
If he does go overseas for training, the USA is cheap but the JAA licence is where it's at if he wants to fly in in Europe (unless he has a US citizenship he won't get work in the US). You can do JAA training in the USA (mostly Florida I think), which keeps the cost down.
Hope that helps...
I did it by getting all my licences and then heading for Europe, where hiring is done in a far more pragmatic way than it is here. However, you have to get a JAA licence (which means doing all the exams/flight tests again), and you will be treated like a leper on your return to NZ.
If he "won't let it go", then I'd tell him to do it. There is nothing worse in life than looking back and saying "what if...?"
As far as WHERE to do it, I'd advise doing some of it here (if not all of it), however remember that NZ is a bit of a backwater in aviation terms, and he might find some overseas exposure helpful. The Kapiti Aero Club have an established Academy and biggish plans, but can be a bit disorganised (or so I have heard from some students there). The Wellington Aero Club aren't really that well equipped for commercial training, and avoid the Flight Centre at all costs!
He will probably find it better flying at Kapiti anyway, as he will spend a lot less time waiting for his turn to land or take off. When the time comes for busier airspace or instrument approaches, he can just head up to Palmy for that.
If he does go overseas for training, the USA is cheap but the JAA licence is where it's at if he wants to fly in in Europe (unless he has a US citizenship he won't get work in the US). You can do JAA training in the USA (mostly Florida I think), which keeps the cost down.
Hope that helps...
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I'd agree with MOR
Its not too late age wise
Kapiti is a good outfit for the commercial. I've done plenty of hours at Wellington Aero Club but that was mostly pleasure and PPL conversion.
It is very busy and regularly you would only fit in maybe 4-5 circuits in an hours flying compared to I dunno, 10 at kapiti.
The ATC at wellington are superb though so no need to be afraid of entering there.
Its not too late age wise
Kapiti is a good outfit for the commercial. I've done plenty of hours at Wellington Aero Club but that was mostly pleasure and PPL conversion.
It is very busy and regularly you would only fit in maybe 4-5 circuits in an hours flying compared to I dunno, 10 at kapiti.
The ATC at wellington are superb though so no need to be afraid of entering there.
