Is 30 too old?
I started training the year I turned 30, landed an airline job 3 years ago now, (I'm 37 presently)
That was my goal, might not be yours. Just make sure you know why you are doing this and what you are going to have to put up with to get there.
Enjoy the journey and give it a crack
That was my goal, might not be yours. Just make sure you know why you are doing this and what you are going to have to put up with to get there.
Enjoy the journey and give it a crack
Yes, do it....
Have a plan and some goals thru each year and set up a 5 year target and go for it.
You might have to move house to follow your dream, just make sure the better half is cool with that. Have seen some many breakups because the partner did not like the moving or being away from the folks/family.
good luck
Have a plan and some goals thru each year and set up a 5 year target and go for it.
You might have to move house to follow your dream, just make sure the better half is cool with that. Have seen some many breakups because the partner did not like the moving or being away from the folks/family.
good luck
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I think the previous posters have given good advice in the main. From my own perspective I can only say if you want it give it a go , bearing in mind the pitfalls. A gentleman I know, now retired, had a job in his youth flying a Cessna 421 for a world wide multi national. Of course his aim was airlines, but despite his extensive experience and being a top block his name never came out of the airline hat. The family wishing to eat three meals a day and wear shoes forced him to get a job which paid real money. He went on to carve a career which was well paid out side of aviation. In the last few weeks a couple of youngsters who I've been mentoring have gained employment flying Cessna 210 type equipment, so jobs are to be had, but bear in mind you'll be only pulling in a little more than 30K a year at the start. Can you and the family survive on that? One of them is at a place with no phone, TV, store, or any other mod cons, and no facilities for accompanied family, but does have a pub. Could you and family put up with those constraints? I can only say if you want it go for it. I remember being in the BHP office in Melbourne and a chap was showing off his corner office overlooking the Docklands which was a measure of some status. I thought, but didn't dare tell him, that my office (cockpit) had a far better view and changed from minute to minute. I would not recommend the sausage machine training schools, the two youngsters previously mentioned trained at small country schools and the instructors had the industry contacts for job placement. In one case the person actually had a job prior to doing the commercial check ride because an operator had called the instructor asking if he knew a person he could recommend. Whether it be a case of who you know, or being in the right place at the right time, or the luck of the draw, you have to have a ticket in the lottery to be in the running. Good luck whatever your decision, and I hope your dreams bare fruit.
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Well said Brian
We have finally got a situation where the young people are getting sound advice on prune, and not just propaganda from those trying to make money from them.
TINNY
No, I never did get pregnant. My wife did though.
TINNY
No, I never did get pregnant. My wife did though.
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Age not an issue
Hi,
30, in my humble opinion, is not too old to start if you're prepared to:
30's probably a good age, a good bit of life & work experience behind you, hopefully some idea of what you want from life.
I was 41 when I started in 2003, lots of folks told me what a complete pratt I was being (they still do, but for many other reasons.) After a couple of years in a very regional airline, I'm now flying a biz-jet and having an absolute ball.
Don't get old and wonder what it might have been like....
30, in my humble opinion, is not too old to start if you're prepared to:
- not have a specific goal in mind (e.g. Airline XX or Aircraft type XX)
- be prepared to be flexible in what you do, especially initially
- risk significantly reducing your income for at least a few years (if not many)
- meet some great people, and have some great times.
30's probably a good age, a good bit of life & work experience behind you, hopefully some idea of what you want from life.
I was 41 when I started in 2003, lots of folks told me what a complete pratt I was being (they still do, but for many other reasons.) After a couple of years in a very regional airline, I'm now flying a biz-jet and having an absolute ball.
Don't get old and wonder what it might have been like....
....someone once told me "never die wondering" ... so I started flying training at 41 (just like Malc) and here I am 12 years later still going strong and enjoying every minute.
So ........ "never die wondering"
So ........ "never die wondering"
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I'm currently 24 and only flying once a week while working full time in IT. I'm still in GFPT stage but would really like to study and learn full time. I have about 20k saved up from the years and just seeking advice on if I should get out of this job now and start learning full time, or keep at it until the end of the year, saving a bit more money, and then go for it.
It's probably a good idea just to start as soon as I can and get a loan when it comes to it...any advice regarding my timing? I am excited about the prospect of gaining a CPL and then going bush, I don't have any ties/mortgages/girlfriends holding me back. It's just the money issue of when to start full time.....
*stares out the window from cubicle*
It's probably a good idea just to start as soon as I can and get a loan when it comes to it...any advice regarding my timing? I am excited about the prospect of gaining a CPL and then going bush, I don't have any ties/mortgages/girlfriends holding me back. It's just the money issue of when to start full time.....
*stares out the window from cubicle*
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mike although it might be hard right now, work a little longer until you've got cost of training and living expenses plus a little extra for the job search covered. Shouldn't take too long in IT, and then you can go and train without money worries weighing on you, or, if push comes to shove, even interrupting your training.
You need to consider that loans without the security of a full time job are hard to come by these days (or the bank might simply call it in once you quit your job, they're very risk-adverse at the moment), and you will be sitting on that loan for years as you won't have disposable income to pay it back out of for the first few years..
I have seen too many eager student pilots who had to stop start their training to go back to making money, which in the end just costs time and money because you take two steps forward and one back in your flying progress, especially when it comes to instrument/instructor ratings and other advanced stuff.
In terms of timing, the economy (and the pilot market on the back of that, probably with quite considerable delay to work off the pilot supply surplus) will take at least a year to recover, so if working and training might take you well into next year, you might just find that this slots you slap bang into the next market upturn.. fingers crossed
You need to consider that loans without the security of a full time job are hard to come by these days (or the bank might simply call it in once you quit your job, they're very risk-adverse at the moment), and you will be sitting on that loan for years as you won't have disposable income to pay it back out of for the first few years..
I have seen too many eager student pilots who had to stop start their training to go back to making money, which in the end just costs time and money because you take two steps forward and one back in your flying progress, especially when it comes to instrument/instructor ratings and other advanced stuff.
In terms of timing, the economy (and the pilot market on the back of that, probably with quite considerable delay to work off the pilot supply surplus) will take at least a year to recover, so if working and training might take you well into next year, you might just find that this slots you slap bang into the next market upturn.. fingers crossed
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Devils advocate!!
I too went through this very conundrum at the age of 35, wondering if my age would work against me. I spoke to many people and collected many differing opinions. The result? Age is no longer a barrier.
If age is your only concern, forget it and start as soon as you can, it's becoming more and more an irrelevant factor as time goes on.
The real question, (at least is was for me) was whether I was willing to put in the time and money, for an industry which I had become very disillusioned with. Having had a differing, but professional career already established, I began to ask the same questions anyone would (or should) ask when looking to change direction. Unfortunately, none of the answers I got from the aviation industry were good enough for me to justify the move.
I don’t think I had come across an industry in which so much responsibility and training is expected but so little respect and financial reward is given. In discussions, I found myself, many times having to convince people that yes FO’s on regionals actually earn 40k/year. Even more is the disbelief that as a left seater you could expect 55K, No-one outside of aviation believes this. I also knew that I would be going back to the days of antiquated terms and conditions, working RDO’s and stressing for a promise of 3% pay rise which of course, my employer is going to do everything he can to avoid giving me.
Don’t get me wrong here and before anyone shoots me down, I love flying, have done since I was very young, have a CPL, done some ATP’s etc but also want to spend time with the family and pay the bills all whilst feeling I have a modicum of respect from my employer. Too much to ask?
Some positions in GA etc are different to this picture, but from what I could see, the industry is very different to what it used to be.
My point is, if you are coming from an already existing professional career (older guys), you may find that you will not be transitioning to a similar environment. Remember, that after 6 months, the romance will wear off and it becomes a job. When this happens you need to ask yourself, are my T’s and C’s enough? The last thing you want is to spend your days as a disgruntled employee and hating a job you tried so long and hard to get and regretting the fact you ever did it.
It should be said, there are also many guys who have been in the industry and, for the reasons mentioned above, walked away from it. Many, happier for doing so.
If age is your only concern, forget it and start as soon as you can, it's becoming more and more an irrelevant factor as time goes on.
The real question, (at least is was for me) was whether I was willing to put in the time and money, for an industry which I had become very disillusioned with. Having had a differing, but professional career already established, I began to ask the same questions anyone would (or should) ask when looking to change direction. Unfortunately, none of the answers I got from the aviation industry were good enough for me to justify the move.
I don’t think I had come across an industry in which so much responsibility and training is expected but so little respect and financial reward is given. In discussions, I found myself, many times having to convince people that yes FO’s on regionals actually earn 40k/year. Even more is the disbelief that as a left seater you could expect 55K, No-one outside of aviation believes this. I also knew that I would be going back to the days of antiquated terms and conditions, working RDO’s and stressing for a promise of 3% pay rise which of course, my employer is going to do everything he can to avoid giving me.
Don’t get me wrong here and before anyone shoots me down, I love flying, have done since I was very young, have a CPL, done some ATP’s etc but also want to spend time with the family and pay the bills all whilst feeling I have a modicum of respect from my employer. Too much to ask?
Some positions in GA etc are different to this picture, but from what I could see, the industry is very different to what it used to be.
My point is, if you are coming from an already existing professional career (older guys), you may find that you will not be transitioning to a similar environment. Remember, that after 6 months, the romance will wear off and it becomes a job. When this happens you need to ask yourself, are my T’s and C’s enough? The last thing you want is to spend your days as a disgruntled employee and hating a job you tried so long and hard to get and regretting the fact you ever did it.
It should be said, there are also many guys who have been in the industry and, for the reasons mentioned above, walked away from it. Many, happier for doing so.
Last edited by boardpig; 12th May 2009 at 06:19. Reason: Spelling leaves a lot to be desired.
