Practicalities of hunting down that first job.
Would it be an option to try meatbombing or instructing in your local area on your blocks of days off? I'm a bit out of touch with the GA job market so not sure if an employer would be flexible enough to allow that sort of thing.
If your missus has a portable vocation and could get a job in one of the towns in the top end, I would have both of you putting out feelers now while you're working, then bite the bullet, rent out the house, and head north on adventure.
Sounds fun.
If your missus has a portable vocation and could get a job in one of the towns in the top end, I would have both of you putting out feelers now while you're working, then bite the bullet, rent out the house, and head north on adventure.
Sounds fun.
Gidday Gearup'.
39, no debt and house paid off! Well done, but therein may lie the problem.
I was 30 when in the similar situation to yourself, at least hours and career wise. A supportive wife (at the time), no kids, and the absolute arse out of our pants. Back then unless you had the mins for the airlines by 25, you weren't going anywhere. Times have however changed. My wife finally called its quits some years later and on my own with lots of networking, no real lifestyle, and a smattering of luck, I managed to crack a series of gradually improved GA jobs. 9 years later, right place at the right time, jagged the big one. First officer Regional airline, $32K PA!
I have since remarried, 2 children, house in a nice suburb, even an SUV in the driveway. Despite a good income, I doubt that we will ever have our house paid off. one of the prices I have paid. I absolutely love my job. I look back all those years and honestly feel it has become the career I always dreamt of. But as I have said, at a price. If I could do it all over again, the one thing I would have done is to kick it all off at 18!
The point I'm trying to make, is about reality. While never letting go of the dream is essential, you probably might have to ask yourself, at 39, was my dream, financially irrational as it is, strong enough to become a reality.
I hope I'm wrong, but you may have to admit, you might have missed the boat!
39, no debt and house paid off! Well done, but therein may lie the problem.
I was 30 when in the similar situation to yourself, at least hours and career wise. A supportive wife (at the time), no kids, and the absolute arse out of our pants. Back then unless you had the mins for the airlines by 25, you weren't going anywhere. Times have however changed. My wife finally called its quits some years later and on my own with lots of networking, no real lifestyle, and a smattering of luck, I managed to crack a series of gradually improved GA jobs. 9 years later, right place at the right time, jagged the big one. First officer Regional airline, $32K PA!
I have since remarried, 2 children, house in a nice suburb, even an SUV in the driveway. Despite a good income, I doubt that we will ever have our house paid off. one of the prices I have paid. I absolutely love my job. I look back all those years and honestly feel it has become the career I always dreamt of. But as I have said, at a price. If I could do it all over again, the one thing I would have done is to kick it all off at 18!
The point I'm trying to make, is about reality. While never letting go of the dream is essential, you probably might have to ask yourself, at 39, was my dream, financially irrational as it is, strong enough to become a reality.
I hope I'm wrong, but you may have to admit, you might have missed the boat!
I think that if the airlines is not "the be all and end all" for a pilot in this situation, and they are comfortable with accepting that the likelihood of becoming a millionaire in the airplane flying game is essentially zero, there is a potentially sound career in GA / regionals and that 39 is not too late to make a run at it - but it will require dedication, tenacity and humility. I gotta respect the courage, if the attempt is made!
There are some jobs in the GA sector paying well over 100K - and if it's doing the sort of flying you like, well, that's awesome.
Several GA operators are realising that stability in crewing is important and will try to look after their people in an effort to keep them. Uncommon it still is, but worth looking into. Mature pilots with the right training and approach to helping develop a business are a sought after commodity - and they are possibly somewhat more attractive if their logbook hours are behind the traditional airline "age vs experience" recruiting curve...
We'll see more of this in the years to come, I think.
There are some jobs in the GA sector paying well over 100K - and if it's doing the sort of flying you like, well, that's awesome.
Several GA operators are realising that stability in crewing is important and will try to look after their people in an effort to keep them. Uncommon it still is, but worth looking into. Mature pilots with the right training and approach to helping develop a business are a sought after commodity - and they are possibly somewhat more attractive if their logbook hours are behind the traditional airline "age vs experience" recruiting curve...
We'll see more of this in the years to come, I think.
I've recently released a fifty year old with no previous jet time, turbo prop only, to line as an A320 F/O. He will probably upgrade to Captain in two to three years and is likely to stay until retirement, but could realistically still get a job elsewhere if he wanted to move on. A wide body command is unlikely, but you never know.
There are opportunities out there and at the moment Asia and the Middle East are the places to look.
There are opportunities out there and at the moment Asia and the Middle East are the places to look.
Hello, I got my first flying job at age 35 with about 250 hours and five years later am still enjoying G A with very little interest in airlines.
Have travelled all over Aus with work and seen many areas which I would not have had access too if not for the type of work we do, and we get paid to do it.
Just like one big five year holiday!
The downside is one practically live out of a suitcase
I am however interested in where "the some jobs in G A that pay over 100k" are.
Also from what I hear you are lucky to get close to that in a regional airline?
Have travelled all over Aus with work and seen many areas which I would not have had access too if not for the type of work we do, and we get paid to do it.
Just like one big five year holiday!
The downside is one practically live out of a suitcase
I am however interested in where "the some jobs in G A that pay over 100k" are.
Also from what I hear you are lucky to get close to that in a regional airline?
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Someday I will find a place to stop
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
6 Posts
I am however interested in where "the some jobs in G A that pay over 100k" are.
