The perpetual 'Am I too old?' thread
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Yeah had a great time. Also in Salento 😆.
Lithuania was the best time of my life to be honest 😃.
BAA as a School, would not say they are the best. You can find enough info about them here on Pprune.
It was good until Indre left.
Check AirHub Flight School.
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[QUOTE=Zeky;9879122]Hello,
I believe everything you said. I am 41 and I have decided to stay 'safe'. I am not doing it (but still crazy about it).
I’m still here seven years later, age almost 48. Today I am thinking why didn’t I???
But it’s ok!
My 20-year-old daughter is about to start her ATPLs in September. She followed my dream and decided to be a pilot! She realised it was the best career for her after all. I am enjoying her progress and we talk planes all day long…. It’s meant to be this way!
I believe everything you said. I am 41 and I have decided to stay 'safe'. I am not doing it (but still crazy about it).
I’m still here seven years later, age almost 48. Today I am thinking why didn’t I???
But it’s ok! My 20-year-old daughter is about to start her ATPLs in September. She followed my dream and decided to be a pilot! She realised it was the best career for her after all. I am enjoying her progress and we talk planes all day long…. It’s meant to be this way!
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sorted with a Class 2 with the CAA for review and hopeful upgrade to Class 1 in July, keeping fingers crossed and starting hours building now. ATPL theory next once Class 1 cleared
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I have a had colleague who quit his job at the age of 42 in order to start pilot training... Now he has completed it and soon starts flying for a corporate jet airline! It might not ever be too late...!
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Considering a pilot career at 44
Hi there,I have worked in the construction/civil engineering industry for the last 25 years,my body has taken the toll over the years of construction,my mind is also fed up with the same.
I am considering pursuing this career I just don't know the cons-apart for approaching this at a very late stage(age related).
Can anyone please let me know if I am dreaming the impossible or are there other people that have been in my shoes/ what are the pros and cons being a pilot...
Many thanks in advance
I am considering pursuing this career I just don't know the cons-apart for approaching this at a very late stage(age related).
Can anyone please let me know if I am dreaming the impossible or are there other people that have been in my shoes/ what are the pros and cons being a pilot...
Many thanks in advance
Moderator
Welcome Adi,
Our moderation team may select a more appropriate forum for your question, but for now, we'll let it rest here for those who might offer an opinion.
My thoughts; It's a large investment in training, so be ready to fund that. Before making that investment in yourself, make sure your medical fitness is good, and likely to stay that way. It's bad, when you make that investment in training, then suffer a medical problem which sidelines you from flying. Then consider how (where) to undertake initial training and skill building, which you have to fund, and possible early experience building jobs to get where you ultimately want to be. One wise addition to initial flight training is to spend as much time "hanging around" the airport doing the dirty jobs with airplanes, just to get to know the airplanes, and get to be known by the local airplane maintainers and owners. There's lots to be learned on the sidelines too, if you invest the time. There certainly is a growing worldwide need for pilots, so it's worth consideration if all of the other factors line up for you.
Good luck!
Our moderation team may select a more appropriate forum for your question, but for now, we'll let it rest here for those who might offer an opinion.
My thoughts; It's a large investment in training, so be ready to fund that. Before making that investment in yourself, make sure your medical fitness is good, and likely to stay that way. It's bad, when you make that investment in training, then suffer a medical problem which sidelines you from flying. Then consider how (where) to undertake initial training and skill building, which you have to fund, and possible early experience building jobs to get where you ultimately want to be. One wise addition to initial flight training is to spend as much time "hanging around" the airport doing the dirty jobs with airplanes, just to get to know the airplanes, and get to be known by the local airplane maintainers and owners. There's lots to be learned on the sidelines too, if you invest the time. There certainly is a growing worldwide need for pilots, so it's worth consideration if all of the other factors line up for you.
Good luck!
Best of luck to you. Wise words from Dar about the financial risks coupled to health concerns without a cushion behind you. It helps if you have an academic background to get through the ATP, exams just get harder as you get older.
Most majors use an “age commensurate with experience” after a spate of fatal accidents involving those late into aviation culminating in the Colgan crash. There is also the why now? Question.
On completion of your training, you will not be getting a rock star salary and with less than 20 years to retirement will have to progress quickly. But best of luck.
Most majors use an “age commensurate with experience” after a spate of fatal accidents involving those late into aviation culminating in the Colgan crash. There is also the why now? Question.
On completion of your training, you will not be getting a rock star salary and with less than 20 years to retirement will have to progress quickly. But best of luck.
You do not say, but do you hold any flying qualification - a private pilots licence for example?
Beause if you do not, then how do you know you will even like flying?
Beause if you do not, then how do you know you will even like flying?
Last edited by Procrastinus; 1st May 2024 at 14:40.
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Hi there,I have worked in the construction/civil engineering industry for the last 25 years,my body has taken the toll over the years of construction,my mind is also fed up with the same.
I am considering pursuing this career I just don't know the cons-apart for approaching this at a very late stage(age related).
Can anyone please let me know if I am dreaming the impossible or are there other people that have been in my shoes/ what are the pros and cons being a pilot...
Many thanks in advance
I am considering pursuing this career I just don't know the cons-apart for approaching this at a very late stage(age related).
Can anyone please let me know if I am dreaming the impossible or are there other people that have been in my shoes/ what are the pros and cons being a pilot...
Many thanks in advance
Let’s take it from there.
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Never ever give up!
Hi there,I have worked in the construction/civil engineering industry for the last 25 years,my body has taken the toll over the years of construction,my mind is also fed up with the same.
I am considering pursuing this career I just don't know the cons-apart for approaching this at a very late stage(age related).
Can anyone please let me know if I am dreaming the impossible or are there other people that have been in my shoes/ what are the pros and cons being a pilot...
Many thanks in advance
I am considering pursuing this career I just don't know the cons-apart for approaching this at a very late stage(age related).
Can anyone please let me know if I am dreaming the impossible or are there other people that have been in my shoes/ what are the pros and cons being a pilot...
Many thanks in advance
so never give up! As another has said, training as a pilot is very expensive and health issues can make it difficult later in life. Lots to think about!
A friend tried and gave up on the self funded route but is now a very happy cabin crew member on a major airline having started at age 64!
Anything is possible…however.
You have a couple of major questions to ask yourself: If you stopped contributing to your pension plans today could you still retire at a reasonable age?
Financially you’ll go into a deep hole for the next two years and if you do get employed you will not be making anything meaningful that allows you to save for another 6-8 years, are you ready for that?
We don’t need to know how much you’re making now but have you looked at airline salary scales to have an idea how long it would take to make the same? Add 4 years to that, 2 for training and 2 to get to that airline ( if you’re lucky).
You’ll likely be mid 50’s by the time you equal your current salaries. There is also likely a loan you will need to pay off.
Are you ready for all of that?
Are you financially stable enough to basically freewheel the next 10 years and it won’t bite you?
Can you sell a real estate property or a side business to finance?
You have a couple of major questions to ask yourself: If you stopped contributing to your pension plans today could you still retire at a reasonable age?
Financially you’ll go into a deep hole for the next two years and if you do get employed you will not be making anything meaningful that allows you to save for another 6-8 years, are you ready for that?
We don’t need to know how much you’re making now but have you looked at airline salary scales to have an idea how long it would take to make the same? Add 4 years to that, 2 for training and 2 to get to that airline ( if you’re lucky).
You’ll likely be mid 50’s by the time you equal your current salaries. There is also likely a loan you will need to pay off.
Are you ready for all of that?
Are you financially stable enough to basically freewheel the next 10 years and it won’t bite you?
Can you sell a real estate property or a side business to finance?
On one hand, it’s pretty late to start.
On the other: Better late, than NEVER. (How strong is the desire, and how bad if never fulfilled?)
Consider the outcomes - Worst case: most of the cost is incurred, and the qualification is never quite achieved (Medical, which can come on at any time, or other). More likely the qualification is achieved but a position that pays the bills is never secured. (It can be a long and hard road from bare licence to a decent job.)
Best case - you replace your current income (after significant investment and effort) with a job that is flying. While this is a great thing for most of us, it often has downsides like roster or relocation.
A lot to consider, and being honest with yourself about what’s important and what the possible outcomes are.
On the other: Better late, than NEVER. (How strong is the desire, and how bad if never fulfilled?)
Consider the outcomes - Worst case: most of the cost is incurred, and the qualification is never quite achieved (Medical, which can come on at any time, or other). More likely the qualification is achieved but a position that pays the bills is never secured. (It can be a long and hard road from bare licence to a decent job.)
Best case - you replace your current income (after significant investment and effort) with a job that is flying. While this is a great thing for most of us, it often has downsides like roster or relocation.
A lot to consider, and being honest with yourself about what’s important and what the possible outcomes are.
