Is it to late ,age wise ?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bagdad
Age: 60
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks guys for your input
I have visited numerous flight schools in and around Brisbane and I see what you were all warning me about ,never seen so many "BYM`s" (Bright young Men) one instructor even stated to me that he was with the school till he builds up enough hours till he buggers off to Qantas ? what has happened to the flight instructors over 40 no! 35 its like getting a lecture from a teenager with supposedly 30 years experience ?and one school wanted me to wear a uniform with epllettes?what the !
So my plan of action is to keep my job on the technical side of aviation for the mean time and save up my annual leave and do the complete PPL ,night & Instrument rating etc .so once again a bit thank you for opening my eyes as to whats out there.
Much Appreciated
So my plan of action is to keep my job on the technical side of aviation for the mean time and save up my annual leave and do the complete PPL ,night & Instrument rating etc .so once again a bit thank you for opening my eyes as to whats out there.
Much Appreciated
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brisbane, Qld
Age: 48
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mate, have you tried Redcliffe Aero? Thats where I'm going to be doing mine and there's a nice sprinking of not so BYM 
if that makes you feel better!
One thing you will have to come to grips with is that, starting out at 45, you could possibly make it into the cockpit with a captain 20 years younger than you.
One thing I've realised - white hair doesn't make you wise.
As I posted earlier, do a search for posts from me and have a read, esp the one about 'am I too old' where the above was raised.
Good luck.
Pharoah
if that makes you feel better! One thing you will have to come to grips with is that, starting out at 45, you could possibly make it into the cockpit with a captain 20 years younger than you.
One thing I've realised - white hair doesn't make you wise.
As I posted earlier, do a search for posts from me and have a read, esp the one about 'am I too old' where the above was raised.
Good luck.
Pharoah
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kerikeri, New Zealand or Noosa Queensland. Depending on the time of year!
Age: 84
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Prophead,
You have received pleased plenty of advice and information from the proceeding posts re the practicality of pursuing a flying career at your age.
The only suggestion that I would add is that prior to spending that kind of investment spend a couple of hundred dollars on a Stress ECG and full assessment by a cardiologist as to the state of your cardio vascular system.
Many pilots run into medical problems in the 45 - 50 age bracket which are not earlier indicated on the normal resting ECGs that routine medicals require.
What ever you decide - good luck with your future decision.
You have received pleased plenty of advice and information from the proceeding posts re the practicality of pursuing a flying career at your age.
The only suggestion that I would add is that prior to spending that kind of investment spend a couple of hundred dollars on a Stress ECG and full assessment by a cardiologist as to the state of your cardio vascular system.
Many pilots run into medical problems in the 45 - 50 age bracket which are not earlier indicated on the normal resting ECGs that routine medicals require.
What ever you decide - good luck with your future decision.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bagdad
Age: 60
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all your sound advice !
Much appreciated guys ! I have taken on board all your coments ,I have spoken to many folks in the aviation industry both here in Aus and South Africa and the stories ring true ! theres good with the bad .
as I mentioned in my original thread I still intend working towards a CPL in Aus but I do not intend giving up my day time job till something more lucrative comes along ,my main goal at this time would be obtaining an CPL and instructors rating and doing a few months one year maybe flying in Southern Africa ,having grown up there and having done my technical side of thing sthere I have a few contacts .
So a big thanks Guys ,you were a great help
I`ll keep you posted on developments
cheers
Prophead1123
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perth
Age: 47
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With $100,000 you'll probably get a better return on investment on something else! :-)
Then you can do what us IT guys do (earn what an airline captain earns at half the age), and use that money to fly for fun.
Or better still, buy $100k in good shares, and you might have enough money to buy your own jet!
Then you can do what us IT guys do (earn what an airline captain earns at half the age), and use that money to fly for fun.
Or better still, buy $100k in good shares, and you might have enough money to buy your own jet!
It's not about the pay. It's not about flying for fun. It's about becoming one of the elite few, the Sky Gods that daily ply our upper atmosphere in the Hi-Tech machines of the future. It's about being imeadiately recognisable as such. It's about the little kids that wisper to their mothers as you walk by, "Look Mummy, there goes a pilot". Its about living the dream secure in the knowledge that you're a part of a corporation that itself looks upon you and your ilk with awe. It's about being in that 1% of wage earners and knowing that the spectre of unemployment, lousy living conditions, the uncertainty of home ownership, and the financial instability of the family are things that only mere mortals have to worry about. It's about being part of a profession that the community not only looks up to, but just about every man in the street would secretly give his left 'nad to be a part of!
Ahhhr... Sh#t! Time to wake up
Ahhhr... Sh#t! Time to wake up
Last edited by KRUSTY 34; 7th Jul 2010 at 02:09.
........oh Lord, Krusty now ya making my heart bleed!
I guess secretly yr right on all counts but being a pilot these days is no big deal as the general public who now pretty much all fly as apposed to those few who could afford to do so & respected pilots as Gods no longer feel that way as flying is now just another boring means of getting there. Don't get me wrong I still like to hear the little kids say look mummy there goes a policeman even though I'm wearing my flying monkey suit
The mystery of flying, the mystique actually is no longer there for the up & coming newbies as it's just a big video game (well Airbus wise) & with cadetships now emerging as the way of the future this 'game' is open to anyone whom can afford the training with sights set on an airliner right from day one without having to do the hard yards(but that's another story!).
As for the topic here, age? Well I'm living proof that it is (or was) possible to start late & get somewhere within an industry where once upon a time if you where not in the Airlines by 25 ya missed the boat! The Airlines are only one aspect of flying albiet thought to be the top.
To all those living a dream (of flying) let not the bounds of our Earthly existence stop you for flight is still a marvel of our modern times
Wmk2, sits beside Krusty & shares tears..........or another drink
I guess secretly yr right on all counts but being a pilot these days is no big deal as the general public who now pretty much all fly as apposed to those few who could afford to do so & respected pilots as Gods no longer feel that way as flying is now just another boring means of getting there. Don't get me wrong I still like to hear the little kids say look mummy there goes a policeman even though I'm wearing my flying monkey suit
The mystery of flying, the mystique actually is no longer there for the up & coming newbies as it's just a big video game (well Airbus wise) & with cadetships now emerging as the way of the future this 'game' is open to anyone whom can afford the training with sights set on an airliner right from day one without having to do the hard yards(but that's another story!).
As for the topic here, age? Well I'm living proof that it is (or was) possible to start late & get somewhere within an industry where once upon a time if you where not in the Airlines by 25 ya missed the boat! The Airlines are only one aspect of flying albiet thought to be the top.
To all those living a dream (of flying) let not the bounds of our Earthly existence stop you for flight is still a marvel of our modern times
Wmk2, sits beside Krusty & shares tears
..........or another drink
Beautifully said Wal', and perhaps my post should have been in one of the cadet threads. I know exactly where you're coming from, but even so I couldn't fine the "tounge in cheek" icon.
As for being a late starter, I'm certainly hearing ya'. Didn't take my first lesson till 27, and like you said, back then if you didn't have significant experience by 25, then forget a career in the airlines. Fortunately things have changed in that respect, and even Krusty is now earning a survivable wage after doing his decade in GA, and almost as long again as a low paid F/O! He still doesn't feel it's enough for all the years of deprivation though, and frequently bitches about it.
So prophead123, by all means go for it, but do it for the pure love of it. If you are motivated by the long lost notions of the profession (as ranted by Krusty) you may be disapointed.
Best of luck.
As for being a late starter, I'm certainly hearing ya'. Didn't take my first lesson till 27, and like you said, back then if you didn't have significant experience by 25, then forget a career in the airlines. Fortunately things have changed in that respect, and even Krusty is now earning a survivable wage after doing his decade in GA, and almost as long again as a low paid F/O! He still doesn't feel it's enough for all the years of deprivation though, and frequently bitches about it.
So prophead123, by all means go for it, but do it for the pure love of it. If you are motivated by the long lost notions of the profession (as ranted by Krusty) you may be disapointed.
Best of luck.
Ahhh Lowdown. Didn't you know that age and cunning will always defeat youth and exuberance, or words to that effect.
PA39 is quite correct prop'. Nothing wrong with testing the water first.
PA39 is quite correct prop'. Nothing wrong with testing the water first.
'lodown'..........I don't play footy so 'Nodoze' would have no effect on me Viagra? Well I believe that product makes ya heart go faster, that same effect can be achieved by doing an RNAV into BLT at night in the poo although you would be pretty 'stiff' to miss out But I'll take the nuuuurse thanks very much
Krusty have you ordered ya rockin' chair yet? We can sit on the same mythical veranda & dream of daze gone by in the not too distant future Mate I didn't hold a full time flying job 'till I was 43. Fortunately I was employed in another field related to aviation for many years where the money was far better than GA driving so I guess I had the best of both worlds there for a while.Once upon a time newbies worked several jobs just to fly anything with wings. These days Govt loans (hex or whatever ya call it) advances the money to go get a flying job, oh well I guess they invented mono planes too, that's progress!.........I think
Wmk2
Viagra? Well I believe that product makes ya heart go faster, that same effect can be achieved by doing an RNAV into BLT at night in the poo although you would be pretty 'stiff' to miss out But I'll take the nuuuurse thanks very muchKrusty have you ordered ya rockin' chair yet? We can sit on the same mythical veranda & dream of daze gone by in the not too distant future
Mate I didn't hold a full time flying job 'till I was 43. Fortunately I was employed in another field related to aviation for many years where the money was far better than GA driving so I guess I had the best of both worlds there for a while.Once upon a time newbies worked several jobs just to fly anything with wings. These days Govt loans (hex or whatever ya call it) advances the money to go get a flying job, oh well I guess they invented mono planes too, that's progress!.........I thinkWmk2
