Airline age limits?
 

Hi there.

Just wondering what the oldest pilot you've seen get hired to a mainline (or regional) as a First or Second officer in Australia is?

I understand maybe the regionals will take slightly older guys, but is that just here say?

Thanks in advance.

Early 90s Qantas went to 47-48. Very experienced though.

Yeah that's a "how long is a piece of string" question. If you're talking about airlines (in Australia) hiring a 40+ year old pilot with a frozen ATPL I'd say forget it. Then again a 50 year old with loads of jet experience could probably get a job anywhere (except maybe QF)

It's never too late. People I know personally, good people, got into the majors at 40+ in the early to mid 2000's.

Look at China, yes China! We may have exported most of our jobs over there, but you can still get an excellent contract job over there when you're 60+ making more money than my wife Melania could ever need. Especially if you're not as soft as most of my compatriots. Is the turbulence American moderate or actual moderate?

Seriously folks, we are making ourselves weak and every other country is taking advantage of it. If you're 30+, 40+ or even 50+ with the right experience you can make it in this part of the world. This experience, by the way, can be attained very easily.

There is an on going pilot shortage that is just starting to raise its beautiful head. If you're thinking about it, do it with conviction and you will succeed 100%.

- - -
"Make Aviation Great Again"

Ha! Go the "Donald".

I was once an unemployed 28 year old with a CPL and a brand new instrument rating. When applying (essentially feeling out) to the major airlines, the common theme was, if you didn't have at least 3000 hours ATPL by age 25, then forget it.

The challenges for operators now, is that after decades of driving down conditions, along with the very success of air transport to the masses, there just ain't enough aviation tragics out there to fill the upcoming void.

My, how things have changed.

Spot on Krusty...

They all read from the same play book. Sit at the IATA conferences swapping notes.
Am reliably informed some carriers are 'testing the market' in the middle east...

As I said in another post:

In demographics is destiny...

As far as one employer in Australia was concerned Oldmeadow had the divide and conquer strategy set up nicely..

Wait for business cycle to turn, otherwise drag out 'negotiations' then when things turn down push for advantage, threaten that pilots will be sourced from Botswana second XI, or simply invent another subsidiary to threaten the pilot group, who ultimately continually folded....

Wash, rinse and repeat...

Sadly for management, their assertions about the 'globalised nature of the industry', as a way to drive down costs, have another side an equally powerful force that means they are also competing for supply on a 'globalised market. '

The market will clear, but sadly for management, the endless easy victories will come to an end. Rest assured the Treasurer of Australia ( a former research director of the property council) yesterday suggested to stop apartment prices falling due oversupply, that more foreigners can be 'attracted' to buy Australian apartments and protect the developers. They will ensure that the 457 visa system and whatever other construct, including kicking the can on CAO 48.1 will be considered in order to avoid any notion that supply will increase when the price rises (better pilot contracts) Their effort is futile. You simply need to look at the demographic age spread in Australia and indeed all the western world to realise they made a critical error when smashing pilot remuneration:

• A lot of time and money to acquire the skillset to fly RPT aircraft
• Not everyone has the aptitude to do the job
• The market for pilots is globalised
• Every western economy faces the same problem: an aging workforce, big expenditure commitments and less taxpayers in the generations following...

...:E

A good commuting contract will cut the Achilles heel of Australian carriers.....
Ultimately whilst claiming free markets, most employers don't really like them!