Am I Over The Hill?
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Worcs UK
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Some advice from a 39 year old fATPL holder:
1. ATPL exams can be difficult to achieve if you are working full time.
2. CPL GFT quite easy really
3. ME IR can be a bit tricky
4. MCC good fun and no assessment
So all the difficult stuff out the way and now you can start looking for a job!
Well, not really, particularly for me the most difficult time has been post qualified. Having spent two years and 120+ CV's further on I have still not secured even an interview. There is an distinct prejudice to employing non-type rated pilots and non-airline experienced pilots over the age of 30 even worse over 40.
This is the difficult bit, dont kid yourself that having valuable work experience will make your CV rise to the top of the pile, because it wont.
Despite some jobs appearing now, they are not in abundance and are mainly obtained by younger people. No doubt some older pilots do get jobs but they are in a minority. Whether this situation will change is yet to be seen, but dont hold your breath!
If you can afford it, and can stand the disappointment of not getting a job then go for it with your eyes wide open. You will here a lot of bravado on this forum from people saying "go for it".
If you can find a commercial pilot who has succeded at an older age, then listen to their advice and perhaps tell me what they said.
Sorry to be negative, but you might as well know how it is before your leap into a commercial flying career.
cheers
MJR
1. ATPL exams can be difficult to achieve if you are working full time.
2. CPL GFT quite easy really
3. ME IR can be a bit tricky
4. MCC good fun and no assessment
So all the difficult stuff out the way and now you can start looking for a job!
Well, not really, particularly for me the most difficult time has been post qualified. Having spent two years and 120+ CV's further on I have still not secured even an interview. There is an distinct prejudice to employing non-type rated pilots and non-airline experienced pilots over the age of 30 even worse over 40.
This is the difficult bit, dont kid yourself that having valuable work experience will make your CV rise to the top of the pile, because it wont.
Despite some jobs appearing now, they are not in abundance and are mainly obtained by younger people. No doubt some older pilots do get jobs but they are in a minority. Whether this situation will change is yet to be seen, but dont hold your breath!
If you can afford it, and can stand the disappointment of not getting a job then go for it with your eyes wide open. You will here a lot of bravado on this forum from people saying "go for it".
If you can find a commercial pilot who has succeded at an older age, then listen to their advice and perhaps tell me what they said.
Sorry to be negative, but you might as well know how it is before your leap into a commercial flying career.
cheers
MJR
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 30
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The thing you have to consider is that there are no guarantees for any of us, whatever our age, in this business. If you can accept that then go for it. You are obviously less likely to wind up with a widebody command than someone starting out aged 20, but I know several people who came into commercial aviation at your age and are now happily flying turboprops and smaller jets (eg Dash 8/737/320). It is a risk, but most things in life are about calculated risk aren't they?
