Am I mad???

[BigGrecian]

The idea is to get training done a.s.a.p.

This is a big downfall of students in this age bracket. They rush into the training with the first provider who can fit them in, and it ends up hurting them more in the long run.

There is normally a reason why some schools have instant availability...

There is no rush!

[MichaelOLearyGenius]

Can anyone explain to me how "life experience" makes you a better pilot?

[student88]

There is more to being a pilot then just being able to press a few buttons. Life experience counts for a lot in this game.

[Reverserbucket]

Can anyone explain to me how "life experience" makes you a better pilot?

It doesn't but it might make you more interesting company in the bar .

[redsnail]

£60,000 is a lot of money. It doesn't matter what age you're are.

If you can genuinely say "I can afford to lose that much money without seriously impacting my retirement or my family" then go for it.

If you cannot. Then the general advice of "plan for the worst and hope for the best" holds true.

As with investments, past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
easyJet and Ryanair (and NetJets Europe) all had record growth in the past 10-15 years. They absorbed a lot of pilots both experienced and inexperienced. Now that growth has either halted, reversed or slowed right down.

Will it revert back to how it was 3-4 years ago? No one knows. Probably not. There might be a small burst around 2014-2016 but there's still a lot of pilots out there to be "absorbed".
Also, the game has changed. Now a days the lo-cos rightly or wrongly want brand new 200 hour guys that they can charge silly money for a type rating and pay ridiculously low amounts of money to.

This seems to have slammed the door shut to the turboprop guys for the time being.

So, one poster said that it is unlikely you'll be an ultra long haul captain. He's probably right. (esp in an airline with strict seniority - as most operators of ultra long haul jets are)

My advice? Get a class one medical done if you haven't already. If you don't want the expense, get a diabetes check, blood px, and eye sight - esp for colour blindness.

Sit down and ask yourself, can you survive on £20K for 2-3 years post training - if you get a job?
If you don't get one and you've gone back to your old profession, can you afford to keep your IR current?
A low houred 45 year old is not very attractive to the airlines.
Remember, just because you'll hold a CPL with IR and ATPL subjects completed, does not mean you'll pass the interview/psych/sim tests.
Sorry.

I genuinely hope you prove me wrong.

[Uegoist]

you wll be another unemployed pilot...living with mom and dad...
do you really think an airline will hire a 200h pilot who can fly only a light multiengine in the pattern.

guys, you need a reality check. !!! mayb the market for 200h will improve, in 2017...

[INNflight]

Do A LOT of research!

^^^^^YES!

If you REALLY want to go for it, be prepared that you will most likely not end up with major airlines, they usually have age limits somewhere around 30.

Be prepared that you will compete with guys a lot younger, and be prepared that you may find yourself next to a captain some 10 years younger than you aswell.

You'll have a shot at it with a lot of dedication and / or ideally knowing a lot of people. Network like hell to get to do glider towing, para dropping, etc. Try to get into flying clubs - people who know people etc!

I would also strongly suggest to go for the modular route....why?!

A.) You can do it while working your regular job = income on the side!!!

B.) You get to know a lot of people in the process at your local fields who may come in handy later on.

C.) Oxford and the likes are mainly mass-producing young airline pilots. You don't exactly fit the scheme I'd say. They won't really help you getting a job either.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

D.) For 60,000 GBP you can EASILY get all your licenses if done modular. No need for an extra loan or more money to spend. Seriously.

Integrated takes you by your hand and walks you through it all, and you pay for it. Modular you'll have to do most of your research and work on your own, however it pays off!!!

Good luck, for whatever you'll do.

BTW:
Also be aware that a job may not be around the corner of your house. Have you got family? Would they relocate for you? Serious issue!

[stefair]

Can anyone explain to me how "life experience" makes you a better pilot?

IMHO, an older person is more likely to make decisions based on their life experienced gained. I have met a couple of guys at the outfits I have flown for and both of them made decisions I would have never made, only just to build the hours. Safety and abiding rules came second. Those of us flown in the GA know what I am talking about. Companies operate on very little margins so the pressure is on us. Some people will go with it, some will not. And I think younger people are more likely to let themselves get pushed around. Not always safe if you ask me.

Jonny,

Yes, I also do think age is against you but I have talked to and met a few guys who made it to the airlines despite being in their late 30s.

A good friend of mine trained with a UK school. One of the instructors there had a friend, also an instructor himself, who got his license in his late 30s or early 40s. I cannot remember it exactly. He then left his non-flying job and worked as an instructor for a few years before deciding to go for a CJ SSTR. He got hired straight away coming out of his TR course. I don't know whether that was freelance work or a salary position. Anyway, what I know for a fact is he was in his 40s when with a couple thousand hours in his logbook he got offered a job on a 320 and moved on to that and stayed with that company till his retirement. Yes, those people are rare to find but it does happen.

I think it all depends on the economical situation. If pilots are in demand you will find a job despite your age. But that's the problem, no one can predict when the upturn will arise.

Also, most people underestimate the importance of contacts. If you know the right people - and usually you meet those at airfields, flying clubs, etc. - it's so much easier to get in. I have seen it myself and benefited from knowing someone on the inside. But that's with every other profession. Unfortunately, the flying schools will not tell you that...

I have the strong feeling that the market is about to tip. A lot of hiring going on over on the continent and I think the UK is soon to follow. Yes, LOCOs like RYR and EZY are only looking for the young boys and girls right now, but should the majors open their doors again, they will be first choice and the whole market will start to spin. Those bombarding RYR and EZY with their CVs right now will not accept their Ts and Cs and rather concentrate on those outfits offering better deals. As one of the people at recruiting in AMS said to me, two years ago they could hardly find anyone and now they have 1,500+ CVs sitting on their desk...

I think if you accept the fact that you might not end up flying long haul with a major carrier you can still get a career with flying and a lot of fun out of it. The question you will have to ask yourself is, would you be willing to move for the rest of your life? Will you accept a job with little money? Also, many people tend to want more stability as they get older. But if you want to move up the latter you will have to go where the job is.

So, if you really want it, do it as most here already said to you:

Go definitely modular and get the ticket as cheap as possible.

It can also be much faster than going integrated.

Do have a lot of fun while training. Go to other countries to fly. Often it is cheaper there.

Do fly as many different types as possible to see different aircraft. I myself did my hour building on a taildragger flying into a whole lot of different grass strips throughout the UK and I loved it. That actually also helped me get the job I had before my current one. They particularly asked for people with glider and taildragger experience. Set yourself up as broad and complete as you possibly can be. Do not indicate in your CV you are after that jet job, i.e. avoid courses like that JOC thing. It will only indicate to a TP operator you will not stay for long and they will look for someone else.

Go gliding and join flying clubs, as there are other pilots who already are in the game.

Keep your eyes and ears wide open for any opportunity and go for it no matter what!

Good luck!