airbourne

Aww and I remember the days you were delighted flying an SD-30!

redsnail

Ha! Good experience to be honest. I flew with one of my colleagues from Streamline t'other day on the Challenger 350. We had fun reminiscing and also enjoying cruising at FL430.

airbourne

I dont see many of the pre 2000 members here very often Reddo!

Docdibley1967

Hi,

Just got the flying ‘bug’, I am 50 have just started my PPL, plan to do CPL and then IR and multi engine. Have no desire to fly jets but am interested to know how far I could go?

I have a small used car site in UK and also do part-time counselling, it more for me can I get any job flying, whether UK or Spain, the Canaries would be ideal even if seasonal or part-time?

I m guessing and would like to be corrected I only need to achieve CPL, IR and night rating to be be able to work ?

Thanks and great thread

johnjohncafe

Go for it Docdibley and enjoy the ride !
Life is definitely too short to ask oneself so many questions and not leaving the moment...
I am going to turn 40 and I am about to start the ATPL theory course. Have already FAA CPL but it is kind of useless here in Europe.
You probably have to get the ATPL exams too and then IR + CPL.
I think the most important thing is to take care of making connections, networking is a huge factor in this business.

Zeky

Wow, that’s great.

johnjohncafe

Bravo!

DB777

All, been actively trying not to engage with this thread from when I last deeply considered it all a few years back. Glad to hear that the Modular route *might* be making a come back.

It was a post by G SXTY about his first interview / offer that helped carry me through the industry doom back in 2009/10 (can't find it now) – that kept the fire burning for me then but with a young family and the recessional risks that prevailed I just couldn't justify it then. The obsession/ambition still consumes me everyday. I've been lingering on the less positive airline threads from seasoned flyers in PPRuNe Worldwide to help discourage me from embarking on this all again, which has been working until strayed over here!

I'm closer to 40 now with 3 young'ns, all at p-school (though they're old enough to know that a family day out watching the fun on 27R from the Thistle is 'uncool'). The 150-ish hour PPL is now invalid – I want to get back up the Club every day but is hour-building (once revalidated), with a view of building on my license 'organically' and locally even worth it? Would a Modular route through one of the notable schools – BCFT was always recommended to me back then – give me a fighting chance?

I'm self-employed with the usual trappings so i've only ever been drip-feeding the flying pot as and when cash-flow has permitted, so full upfront funds to a school is a major risk. I still have my Class 1 medical so that's one box ticked, though due to being a sole trader for 15 odd years I have no actual employment history and no recent/credible qualifications that measure up against the younger crowd.

Almost convinced myself back out of it having written all this now

rudestuff

No.
Definitely don’t bother.
All that will happen if you get ‘back into it’ is you’ll end up flying a jet.
You’re 3/4 of the way there hours-wise. You could finish everything for less than £20k - at possibly the best time ever to become a pilot. You should definitely give up on the dream.

Azgalor

Hello,
I have trapped myself into strange situation.
I have finnished my university degree in 2013 as a professional pilot. I was flying my training while studying and even though I have did everything (PPL, night, CPL, IR, MEP/IR) I haven't closed that. I have hours and lessons but no exam. No, I didn't fail. I just didn't try. So let's say that is all gone. I have just university degree but no ATPL. I have knowledge and skill.
I'm 27 now, I have job and I'm fine but hell. I miss flying. I'm able and willing to invest time and money to gain my ATPL(A), do all the hours and get it finally.
However here comes the problem. I really don't want to end up in situation when I send my CV somewhere and they will see somethig like dude, 28 years, ATPL(A) and no hours and no experience and they will be like wtf, he is old. Some of my classmates are flying for 3 years or so. One of them got into cockpit 9 months ago. However I will be year older.

rudestuff

Honestly, I do not get it. On the one hand you are saying he is quite close but then you say he should give up.

rudestuff

It's called sarcasm! Of course he shouldn't give up and neither should you. Unless you're an idiot. This is a great time to get a job, 28 isn't old - I know people who started in their 40's.

rudestuff

This doesn't make sense either.. you say you have a CPL/IR - so get a job! Haven't closed that? Hours but no exam? As long as you have passed the ATPL exams, you have a frozen ATPL. You can't get a full ATPL until you have a job, a type rating and 500 hours multi crew.

r10bbr

rudestuff have you completed your atpl?

rudestuff

Nope, still frozen

Okavango

Hi all. I'd appreciate a general sitrep on the recruitment scene, particularly for those of a certain vintage (40+). I've been out of the loop a few years with family commitments though I've kept current and now thinking of giving it a go and completing training. I know of some who have recently got in to airlines though any other success or failure stories would be good to know.

hobbit1983

Okavango,

Age not really a problem. Plenty of recruitment going on across the board; regional turboprops, light GA, instructing etc. It may be starting to tail off but it's still buoyant right now.

Dan910

After years of dreaming of becoming a pilot but not being able to pursue it due to finances and family commitments I am now in a position where I could actually go for it, my problem is being in my early 30,s spending 100k in the hope of getting a job offer is just crazy.

If I attempted to go down the cadet route with a gaurenteed job offer at the end of it then it is something that I would certainly go for. Now I see Easyjet are currently running a recruitment campaign for cadets but having only 9 gcse’s Grade a-c I think I can only go down the atpl route which doesn’t come with a job offer? Unlike the mpl route which I think does, or have I understood it wrong.

I could simply go and pay to do my atpl but I’ve worked far to hard to get where I am now to go and invest 100k in something that may not pay off even if I did eventually get my atpl, the money would be coming out of my mortgage which would impact my wife and kids and ultimately would be money that went towards my children’s futures such as uni fees so it isn’t a decision I make lightly. I’d appreciate anyone’s thoughts or experiences. Thanks.

rudestuff

Why would you want to spend 100k when a fATPL costs 40k? You could start at 40 and still have a 25 year career ahead of you. If you're looking for people to talk you out of it, it's probably not the career for you.

Dan910

Only because via a cadet program, which tend to be a lot more exspensive there is a job offer attached to it. I’m sure a lot of people would pay the higher amount in order to secure a job at the end than pay a lower amount and take a chance. But my understanding is that even under a cadet program, having only gcse’s I’d only qualify for the atpl route which I think does not come with a job offer at the end?

hobbit1983

Dan910,

-Early thirties is definitely not too old.

-By all means go for a cadet scheme, but please note there is NEVER any such thing as a guaranteed job. Don't ever bet the farm.

-Modular courses offer the same job opportunities as integrated, and can be completed for approximately half the figure you quote. Choose wisely; filter any marketing claims through commonsense and a lot of research.