ATPL to dream or not to dream approaching 34?
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I would agree with last post go modular. i am 37 and just started bristol groundschool i aim to take a year doing the study then do the cpl then see what the market is doing hopefully on the way up
Good luck
Good luck
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Thanks people for the continued feedback, just the kind of stuff I was after and some great personal stories to boot! Congrats to those of you who made the dream happen - creating one's own luck
So far, I'm thinking if you want it bad enough you can get it, although might not be instant and patience will defintely be needed in getting one's foot in the door for that first job - the timing issue!!
Defintely leaning towards a modular root, whilst having a back up plan to earn through finance if jobs are hard to come by at time of completion.
JJ
So far, I'm thinking if you want it bad enough you can get it, although might not be instant and patience will defintely be needed in getting one's foot in the door for that first job - the timing issue!!
Defintely leaning towards a modular root, whilst having a back up plan to earn through finance if jobs are hard to come by at time of completion.
JJ
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Hi JJ
Well I personally think there are pros and cons for being young or older, as being younger you might have a better chance of getting a sponsored/payed for type rating on a airbus/boeing jet whereas being older your more likely have a better chance getting a job on a turboprop or bizjet. The bizjet operators are more keen on older applicants as you are in more direct contact with the customer and although your low hours the people in the back don't know that and think you've been flying for years.
I think age was more of an issue 10 years ago as what you've got to remember is that as long as you can hold a class 1 medical then you can retire at 65 therefore someone who gains there fATPL at 35 has potentially 30 years ahead of them. BA used to retire pilots at 55, its now 65, so I dont see any reason why you couldnt get a position with them and go on to get your command, Ham Phisted being a great example of what can be done.
However, as has been said before timing in this game is everything and now is certainly not a good time to be looking for a flying job but you could start modular and see how it goes.
JJ check your pms
All the best!!!
P1.
Well I personally think there are pros and cons for being young or older, as being younger you might have a better chance of getting a sponsored/payed for type rating on a airbus/boeing jet whereas being older your more likely have a better chance getting a job on a turboprop or bizjet. The bizjet operators are more keen on older applicants as you are in more direct contact with the customer and although your low hours the people in the back don't know that and think you've been flying for years.
I think age was more of an issue 10 years ago as what you've got to remember is that as long as you can hold a class 1 medical then you can retire at 65 therefore someone who gains there fATPL at 35 has potentially 30 years ahead of them. BA used to retire pilots at 55, its now 65, so I dont see any reason why you couldnt get a position with them and go on to get your command, Ham Phisted being a great example of what can be done.
However, as has been said before timing in this game is everything and now is certainly not a good time to be looking for a flying job but you could start modular and see how it goes.
JJ check your pms
All the best!!!
P1.
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Thanks P1 forever,
Some great points. I quite like the idea of going modular and easing into the commercial pilot world, whilts also keeping another career option open and then try to pounce on that first job when the job market is more viberant and do all you can to come across as a really good mature candidate.
cheers,
JJ
Some great points. I quite like the idea of going modular and easing into the commercial pilot world, whilts also keeping another career option open and then try to pounce on that first job when the job market is more viberant and do all you can to come across as a really good mature candidate.
cheers,
JJ
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I’ll be brief
Left school at 16 with no qualifications what so ever. All I wanted to do was be a truck driver.
Got a van driving job at 17, got a 7 and half tonne truck driving job at 19 and passed my HGV Class 1 at 21. Drove trucks for 10 years between the age of 21 and 31. Drove chemical waste tankers for 6 years and drove for Eddie Stobart Ltd for 3 years.
At the age of 31, got a job at Manchester Airport for Shell Aviation as an aircraft refueller. It was here that the dream to be a pilot was born.
I did modular training in August 1999 did a 4 week PPL course at the age of 32.
Took until Sept 2005 to pass IR and 2 weeks later got my MCC
It then took another 18 months to get a job. 3 interviews later, got offered 2 jobs and took the one with Thomsonfly aged 39 and with 440 hours. I keep telling everyone this, but I also add I was very very very lucky, but then I also add that I made my own luck.
3 years later aged 42 and with 1300 hours on the 737, I am being made redundant. Me and about 100 other Thomson pilots have been for an interview with Qatar Airways in the last 2 months. I am now just waiting to hear back from them with regards a start date. I may end up on their Airbus 320’s or 777 doing ultra long haul.
So juniour jetset, its up to you what you do. What I would say is this. Ignore all that say you will fail. Just smile at them and get on with it.
At my Thomsonfly interview, I was told I would struggle with a type rating because of my age etc etc etc, I said “I understand you thinking that” and just kept smiling. I sold myself to them and 3 days later got a phone call offering a job.
If you go to a full time school, you’re the customer and not them, remember that. They are there to train you. When your trained, its up to you to get the job, not them.
Left school at 16 with no qualifications what so ever. All I wanted to do was be a truck driver.
Got a van driving job at 17, got a 7 and half tonne truck driving job at 19 and passed my HGV Class 1 at 21. Drove trucks for 10 years between the age of 21 and 31. Drove chemical waste tankers for 6 years and drove for Eddie Stobart Ltd for 3 years.
At the age of 31, got a job at Manchester Airport for Shell Aviation as an aircraft refueller. It was here that the dream to be a pilot was born.
I did modular training in August 1999 did a 4 week PPL course at the age of 32.
Took until Sept 2005 to pass IR and 2 weeks later got my MCC
It then took another 18 months to get a job. 3 interviews later, got offered 2 jobs and took the one with Thomsonfly aged 39 and with 440 hours. I keep telling everyone this, but I also add I was very very very lucky, but then I also add that I made my own luck.
3 years later aged 42 and with 1300 hours on the 737, I am being made redundant. Me and about 100 other Thomson pilots have been for an interview with Qatar Airways in the last 2 months. I am now just waiting to hear back from them with regards a start date. I may end up on their Airbus 320’s or 777 doing ultra long haul.
So juniour jetset, its up to you what you do. What I would say is this. Ignore all that say you will fail. Just smile at them and get on with it.
At my Thomsonfly interview, I was told I would struggle with a type rating because of my age etc etc etc, I said “I understand you thinking that” and just kept smiling. I sold myself to them and 3 days later got a phone call offering a job.
If you go to a full time school, you’re the customer and not them, remember that. They are there to train you. When your trained, its up to you to get the job, not them.
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Life is good and you can do anything you want to do, 2 pieces of advice:-
1. As others have stated timing is everything.
2. Do not "DO NOT" get yourself into vasts amounts of debt for this career. Its a great job but not worth paying vast amounts of your $$$/month to the bank. You must have a life.
1991, Age 19 First Solo!
1992, Quit flyin no money as at University!
2001, hated my boss so much started learning to fly again.
2004, quit, told my boss to stick his job - they begged me to stay!
2005, first commercial flying job.
2009, B737 Captain
Good luck. Remember timing, no debt! Age, well, whatever!
EGCC---- Good luck, all the best. Hope you find another job soon.
1. As others have stated timing is everything.
2. Do not "DO NOT" get yourself into vasts amounts of debt for this career. Its a great job but not worth paying vast amounts of your $$$/month to the bank. You must have a life.
1991, Age 19 First Solo!
1992, Quit flyin no money as at University!
2001, hated my boss so much started learning to fly again.
2004, quit, told my boss to stick his job - they begged me to stay!
2005, first commercial flying job.
2009, B737 Captain
Good luck. Remember timing, no debt! Age, well, whatever!
EGCC---- Good luck, all the best. Hope you find another job soon.
Last edited by LAX; 15th Feb 2010 at 00:37.
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With this Qatar airways job.... I assume it is based in Doha.... have you ever been to Doha?? It is rather different to living in the UK to say the least.... hardly the most exciting place on the planet 
My point it is might sound glam working for Qatar airways if you have never been/lived in the Middle East but in your late 30s/early 40s moving to somewhere like Doha is not to be taken lightly...
My point it is might sound glam working for Qatar airways if you have never been/lived in the Middle East but in your late 30s/early 40s moving to somewhere like Doha is not to be taken lightly...
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JJ,
Started PPLat 33
ATPL's done by 35
CPL, IR by 36
MCC 37
Got a Jet Job 38, now drive a 737 NG and Classic and really enjoying it.
Don't listen to the nahsayers, it can be done.
FC
Started PPLat 33
ATPL's done by 35
CPL, IR by 36
MCC 37
Got a Jet Job 38, now drive a 737 NG and Classic and really enjoying it.
Don't listen to the nahsayers, it can be done.
FC
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Dude just GO 4 IT!
Pros:
1.Living a life dream - priceless feeling at the very last moment of Your life.
2.You can have other job than flying, at any future worst scenario.
Cons:
1. Waste tons of $$$$, lifetime at any future worst scenario (=no jobs offer after finishing the training). But its only $$$$ and You tried.
2. Probably no BA cpt seat, BUT WHO CARES bout BA if You can fly turboprops, bizjets or doing FI.
All the best & stay forsty!
PS. I´m older than You and I´m starting my PPL this year.
Pros:
1.Living a life dream - priceless feeling at the very last moment of Your life.
2.You can have other job than flying, at any future worst scenario.
Cons:
1. Waste tons of $$$$, lifetime at any future worst scenario (=no jobs offer after finishing the training). But its only $$$$ and You tried.
2. Probably no BA cpt seat, BUT WHO CARES bout BA if You can fly turboprops, bizjets or doing FI.
All the best & stay forsty!
PS. I´m older than You and I´m starting my PPL this year.
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With this Qatar airways job.... I assume it is based in Doha.... have you ever been to Doha?? It is rather different to living in the UK to say the least.... hardly the most exciting place on the planet 
My point it is might sound glam working for Qatar airways if you have never been/lived in the Middle East but in your late 30s/early 40s moving to somewhere like Doha is not to be taken lightly...
My point it is might sound glam working for Qatar airways if you have never been/lived in the Middle East but in your late 30s/early 40s moving to somewhere like Doha is not to be taken lightly...
Might not be the best place in the world but its still a job.
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I think 34 is a perfectly reasonable age to begin training. My ground school course had five or six guys in their 30s, and two more were in their 40s. Those guys were older than the rest of us, but they were a determined bunch with outstanding exam results.
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Thanks to all you people with positive input. In life you have the dreamers and the infidels when it comes to a subject like this- like the positive folk on here with all their encouragement, I too believe in daring to dream and that limiting thoughts are just that and one must rise above them to achieve one's real life dreams.
Many thanks,
JJ
Many thanks,
JJ
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Junior - I think you should say who sent you that letter in your first post! It's total, total garbage. There were several people on my course that were over 30, including myself and I think it is fair to say we massively outperformed the youngsters as a group. Each and every old bloke on my course got a good job too - all on jets.
Experience, attitude and desire to succeed are important factors in ATPL success and from what I've seen (I'm generalising) these seem to be qualities that older people can bring to the table. Don't let anyone tell you you're too old. I started at age 32 in 2006 and am now in a great job in the left hand seat of a modern jet.
Experience, attitude and desire to succeed are important factors in ATPL success and from what I've seen (I'm generalising) these seem to be qualities that older people can bring to the table. Don't let anyone tell you you're too old. I started at age 32 in 2006 and am now in a great job in the left hand seat of a modern jet.
