Realities of taking up aviation at an older age.....
 

Hi all, I am after some legitimate career advice from those involved in the industry.

Bit of background on myself, I have a CPL, I originally did my MECIR and I have passed all my ATPL theory subjects. I have also done CSU and retractable under carriage. However I did all this about 6 years ago.

I'm 29yrs old and am wondering what the realities are of me financially putting everything I have on the line to brush up on the skills, get current and get to an employable level to fulfil my dreams of being a professional pilot. I've had plenty of jobs in my life but nothing fulfills me like flying does, it's all I've ever wanted to do. 'Life' however got in the way and I haven't been in a position to fully pursue my aviation dreams until now and am just wondering what the realities are of doing this at my age and of building a real career could be.

Thanks in advance.

If you don't mind living in marginal poverty for the next 20 years, go for it!

Otherwise, get a qualification that will pay you well so that you can live comfortably as well as occasionally go flying where you want for pure pleasure.

I started after I was 30, went north, worked hard, moved around and now in a capital city flying a turboprop twin (5 years later).

Am I earning anywhere near what I was earning in my previous career? Hell no!
Did I have to work my arse off? Yep!
Did I live in the middle of bum F%ck nowhere earning a pittance? You better believe it!
Did I have to learn to just smile and nod and keep my mouth shut when when you encounter some very "special" operators? <sigh> Yep...!

Did I make life long friends and have an adventure of a lifetime? Bloody oath I did!
If I had a glass ball and had've known how hard it was would I have just stayed in my 6 figure job before I started out? Not on your life!

If you've got the drive and you're willing to work hard and deal with everything that "is" GA, then go for it!

29 is not old. There have been many others who made career changes in to the aviation industry well after that age. If you really want it, just do it.

. .. . . . sent you an email . . . .. Biggle's fly's open . . ..

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I didn't get my CPL until I was 27.
Went bush just before I turned 30.
Finished my ATPL subjects when I was 33.
Got into the majors at 35.
Gave up a job with good salary and company vehicle to go live in a remote community with a salary that made the poverty line look good!
At 29 years of age, you're already ahead of where I was at that stage!

Left a ****ty paying job for aviation, so didn't really notice the difference.

You are not old, I didn't do my first flight until early 30s, now approaching 40 and about to start at a regional.. Did a bit of instruction and a bit of time up north. Probably not realistic for me for a command in a mainline in Aus but you never know, and I'm open to living outside of Aus, so we'll see. You won't have any probs at your age.

In GA, most of the people on the ground, i.e the guys you'll be working with are great with a few exceptions. Those exceptions usually end up in management positions in GA because they can't get a job anywhere else, and they take their issues out on you. Get used to being served bowls of vitriol (poo) that you don't like, don't wanna eat, and don't deserve. Chew repeatedly for about 5 years or so and smile while you do it, then move on..

Good luck..

Run the numbers.

Budget on $15K roughly to get comfortable up to speed flying wise.

Budget on $15 roughly for job hunting and travel

Plan on an income of $30,000 per annum in Year one with $5000 annual increases for the next 6 years, and then greater jumps I suggest but probably never above $120,000.

Irrespective of how much fun it is, the numbers have to stack up.

Thanks for all the replies everyone! Lots of insight which is exactly what I was after. My biggest fear was that I had left it too late to gain a command with a regional or domestic and would get stranded somewhere before that.
If there is anyone in Melbourne who went through a similar decision/experience and doesn't mind a coffee and sharing their experience I would love to hear about it.....

Do it. I had another career from 1989-2009. Left that and got first flying job at 38yo. Did ATPLs. 4 1/2 years later I got an Airbus job. It's hard work but it's worth it. Do it.

Considered how you would feel if you didn't go for it? Run the alternative scenario, that should shine some light.

Wow...... What's with all the positive responses? Surely I'm dreaming here- never has a thread like this had so much helpful, informative and glowing endorsements for GA!
I'm with them all....
Reality- it will cost you ALOT of time, money and effort.
Reality- if you put all that in and have a professional and dedicated attitude towards it, you will be rewarded. It's those who don't that continually sling the mud around.
Give 100% in aviation - Any less is dangerous.

One of the worst things you could do is many years from now, say when you're around 65 or so, find yourself saying something along the lines of

'Jeez I wish I'd done that when I had the chance..!':ugh:

Yep, go for it 100%. Nothing less will do.

Good luck.

Just be wary of alot of people in Australia who in recent times have had a awesome run in terms of job progression. Learning to fly to flying a jet in less than 5 years is not the long term average for career progression.

Plenty of people in the 45+ age bracket these days would have had runs of 10+ years to a jet most of which would have been on well below an average income. Once upon a time you needed 5000+ hours to be competitive for entry to a regional airline because that's just what everyone had.

You are not to old by any stretch and I would suggest that you may have to consider a stint overseas if to want to fly a jet at some point as the Australian job market at the moment is not all that good. However you have to be in it to win it and to a certain extent you make your own luck but just have some sort of a plan for your career and finances if you get stuck on the ladder on the way up, usually due to no fault of your own.

Thanks Neville. I'm realistic in that I don't expect to make it to jets in 5,6 or even 7 years time. I guess part of what I wanted to clarify was that making command on a passenger jet is an achievable feat.
I think personally I'd love to make command on twin turbo prop with a regional carrier and then can reassess from there. I have always loved the turbo props and would be more than happy and content to make it that far.