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30 and going back into it

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Old 16th Nov 2012, 23:48
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30 and going back into it

Hi Guys
Have just hit 30 a month ago and have decided that I will take a month off to go and finish off my IR. Have already completed CPL in Australia in 2008.

Its funny. I have a very decent job (CE OScar infact) for the largest ecomm company and while I enjoy this, I know the heart lies at FL390. Who said money is everything? Not to me atleast.

How many of us are planning to leave whatever we are doing and heading back up there? I hope I am not too old to join a small charter or an airlines~! Any mixed feelings?
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Old 17th Nov 2012, 23:37
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You're certainly not the only one, 29 and giving it very strong consideration! Starting from scratch though. Going to get my PPL and see where to go from there.

Gave it strong consideration a few years back but the £$£$ put me off, still bored at my job so think its time to give it a proper go.If I do it I will try and fit it around my current job for as long as is reasonable to avoid too much debt. So that should give me some motivation I hope!

Hope it goes well for you!
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Old 18th Nov 2012, 19:55
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just do it !

Having researched Heli flying & got my private license I have finally decided to go for it !
Had first flight in 2003 & knew I loved it, only possible to start in 2009. 5 hr round trip by car most weekends for training and nearly 2 years I got my PPL-H.
I work as a mech engineer, deliberated many times on doing this or not. Listen to your gut & follow it !
I am scraping every penny together to start my Heli training 1st May 2013 at Bristow academy.
Two years there then back to do my IR.
Am prepared for hard work & 100% focus, and also mindful of the pitfalls. If you have researched well & covered all possibilities GO FOR IT!
See ye the other side.
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Old 18th Nov 2012, 22:16
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I'm also 29 (getting difficult to tell people I'm in my "mid twenties" now ) and have decided to take the plunge. I did my PPL a few years back and revalidated it earlier this year, and have been hour building ever since. It's great to be back up there! I've loved every minute of the flying I've done, and learned a great deal this year. It's a cliche to say the ppl is a 'license to learn' but so true.

I'm about to finish off my night rating, and studying for the ATPLs through distance learning (my hour building is finished bar the qualifier). I will be doing the CPL next year if all goes to plan. I'll then either go straight into the MEIR, or take a break, maybe do the instructor rating as I'd like to instruct part time.

Where this is all going to lead, I don't know! I'm hoping that starting at the bottom of the market is a gamble that will pay off, and maybe things will be better in one or two years on the jobs front. We shall see.
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Old 19th Nov 2012, 00:49
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Wish I never did.
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Old 19th Nov 2012, 10:07
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Exactly the same situation, although not CEO, just middle management ...

I'm 29, have been flying privately for 7 years and started ATPL theory in summer. Planning to do my exams in spring 2013, then all the practical training within 6 to 8 weeks.

And then the really hard part will start, finding some flying job. I'm fully aware that the job market in continental Europe is looking even bleaker now than in the past 2 or 3 years.

Had I done the full commercial rating back in 2005, I may have well profited from the hiring boom back then . On the other hand, now I too know that money is not everything, and that knowledge alone is worth a lot.

So yes, "just do it".
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Old 19th Nov 2012, 11:13
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Bleeke, sorry to hear that.

Why exactly? No job, bad job ... ?

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Old 20th Nov 2012, 06:58
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Guys , I started commercial training at 34 and instruct full time now. I too had a very successful career and gave it all up a couple of years ago for the love of aviation.

Money isn't everything , something that I only discovered after leaving the stress behind.

A guy my Dad knows was offered Heli training in the 80's for free but kept in his 'safe' financial advisers job. He has regretted every day since , in his words.
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Old 22nd Nov 2012, 15:09
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I am you guys a few years on. My warning to you all is don't think the benefit of having lived a different life and healthy cash reserves leave you better suited to make a good decision about what's right for you going forward.

Been flying private since 18, CPL and IR at 27, then continued to work in my old industry whilst contemplating how to get hired whilst I watched pubescent young things from CTC and Oxford walk straight into jet jobs. In the end I had to SSTR and even buy some line training despite rejecting the idea for many years.

I also used to think money was not everything but that changed after I spent everything I had ever earned. Most of my earnings actually went on supporting the lifestyle my missus and kids had gotten used to during the good times (you can’t take it away once you give it to them). This was because I failed to make a single penny out of 1 year of being "employed" by two airlines. I used to make £350 per day and yep, I lost all my riches in the process of chasing this dream and would be in debt right now if I didn't sell my shares and car. Think wisely fellas. “Money isn’t everything” is just a cliché especially when you’re heading into your 30s with a tonne of baggage behind you.
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Old 22nd Nov 2012, 16:48
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It's good to have some life experience behind you, and I know loads of guys who only started flying after several years in another profession (including myself). Aviation is a very fickle industry and far from secure. Having something to fall back on if required is very valuable in this day and age.

The other thing which it does do, is make you appreciate your flying job alot more. I'd hate to go back to the Mon-Fri 9-5 rat race, but at least I could to keep a roof over my head if I had too! Theres an awful lot of pilots who no nothing else other than how to get an aircraft from A to B.
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Old 23rd Nov 2012, 00:36
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I got my Comm at 32, gave up a 13 year career in casino's at management level and never looked back, now 13 years later, I am a G550 Capt. All I can say is don't follow the trend, think outside the box a little and be prepared for a few sacrifices that are well worth the pay off!!
Good luck.
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Old 23rd Nov 2012, 12:32
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Fellas
Many thanks for the reply.

Agreed with all the comments. Joined pprune 10 years ago and am surprised to see the change in my own tone. Yes, age does play a factor and being a well rounded person is an important trait for a pilot with life experience behind. Dont get me started. Wife left 2 years ago coz I was too depressed not flying etc etc.

How was the change? Leaving desk job behind to head back to training and in the hunt for a job? I am planning to take a month off early next year for the IR module and no way am leaving work. Not that stupid anymore. Even 2 years ago I would have done it but money is everything, I agree
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Old 24th Nov 2012, 00:16
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The journey

I got my CPL when i was 26, but first flying job at nearly 31.
My advice to anyone is to knock on doors, and don't give up! Perseverance pays off, and be ready for knocks/setbacks.

I knocked on doors in 3 countries, each time I got a jobs, after hanging around.I had my first formal interview when I was 37 and 4500 hours TT, that was for an airline, never got it, it took 4 more airlines, before i got in.

Be prepared to network and make friends, don't make enemies, it's too small of a world.

My goal was to fly a heavy jet and I achieved that and ticked the box, a few years ago I went corporate , and really enjoy the job/lifestyle/people, everybody finds there niche.

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Old 25th Nov 2012, 18:48
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Perseverance

I've read the topic and also all the answers you guys posted and I want to share a little bit of my own personal story with aviation.

I started flying back in 2006 at the age of 22 and got my PPL in Jan. of 2007. Then I started doing commercial but had to stop for financial reasons since I started having problems with my dad who was funding my training. In 2008 after making up with my father I managed to go back and complete ground school for commercial and instruments, and I finally got the CPL with IR on March 1st of 2010 at age 26.

Main problem was that now my dad was under major financial woes and could no longer help me further my training. So I started working a call center job (since it requires no skills and they provide new hire training) to help out around the house and to support myself, because our financial situation was not good, even though in the previous years we did enjoy a pretty good quality of life.

So fast forward to 2012, and I was still working the same job, doing the best I could and showing up everyday on time, and even though the situation was hard and the job was tedious I kept my mouth shut and didnt complain, for I new that I was able to ride it out and I would spread my wings again. My performance was so good that I was promoted within the company, and started making a good salary that gave me access to credit and now this current month of November 2012, I got myself current on instruments and I started doing some time building and I'm also getting my Multi Engine rating.

Going back to the airport and getting back on an airplane and to be able to be at 6000 feet looking down is priceless. Like Da Vinci said "for once you have tasted flight you will walk with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

Now that I look back and I am able to see all the obstacles I've had to overcome and the effort I'm putting into this I can tell you guys that its well worth it to pursue your dreams.

I'm currently 29 and yes I do get that feeling that I'm falling behind all those kids who have had the good fortune of being able to undergo flight training without stopping due to family or financial reasons. But I cant be that hard on myself, the circumstances will be different for each and everyone of us. I do belive that things are what you make of them. I'm out there trying to make my own opportunity. I'll keep you guys posted to let you know how I'm doing. Maybe this story can motivate some of you folks.

Last edited by factor-x; 7th Dec 2012 at 01:57. Reason: Improper grammar and needed proper paragraph separation
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Old 26th Nov 2012, 01:55
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factor,
great post.

with you on that about everyone's circumstances being different. i just wanted to hear from people who have fought it all the way and whether they ended up with a flying job or not is irrelevant. I don't think not being able to fly is going to kill us (perhaps mentally ) , but as you said, "for once you have tasted flight you will walk with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

Guys, out of topic, but what do you think is a good place to go and finish off my IR? South Africa/Canada? Australia is where i did my CPL from and it's bloody expensive. Also, not really keen on heading back downunder.

Basically need to do some remedial (out of action for 2 years) + IR + license conversion.
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Old 26th Nov 2012, 08:29
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my dad who was funding my training
my dad was under major financial woes
in the previous years we did enjoy a pretty good quality of life
I am able to see all the obstacles I've had to overcome
Factor-X, your post makes it pretty clear who overcame the obstacles.


Flying isnt hard, paying for it is hard.
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Old 26th Nov 2012, 16:48
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Factor-X, your post makes it pretty clear who overcame the obstacles.
Flying isnt hard, paying for it is hard.
Agree with you clunk1001, paying for training is the hardest part. But if we really want it then I'm sure we will find ways to make it happen like I did.

And yes alot of credit has to go to my dad for funding a huge chunk of my flight training, practically all of it. However one thing that I learned from the old man is perseverance and to be proactive.

He said to me one day: "son, yours is what you have in your pockets. Stop thinking with my pockets (his money) and start thinking about your own pockets."

The point I was trying to make by mentioning that I started working a call center gig (which is my current job) is that unless you go to college (which I did once I started working) then flight training on its own will not give you any really marketable skills.

Before flight training I had 2 years of college but no degree. So when I was out there on the job market I had aviation industry specific training but nothing that could give me a decent paying job in the aviation industry or in any other industry either. So the only jobs available to me were "customer service jobs."

Its also really ackward to submit a resume and list pilot ratings for something totally unrelated. As a matter of fact my current employer was reluctant to give me a chance. He said "why are you applying for a job here if the airport is right across the street" and "are you sure you will be happy here?"

So needless to say I had to explain in detail my current situation for that moment in time, and after stopping to think about it the guy shook my hand and told me to come in next monday for new hire training.

I've learned alot from this experience, and while I was away from flying I decided to go back to college to complete a degree, I decided for a 4 year degree in "Transportation & Logistics Engineering". So far I've completed my freshman year. Logistics is a pretty huge field down here in Panama City, Panama.

So the thing I learned is that there will be ups and there will be downs, you never know when life will take an unexpected turn on you, we just have to roll with the punches, smile and look at things on the bright side, even though some situations are extremely difficult and very painful to digest.

If something should happen like the airline or company you're flying for shuts down for whatever reason, or suddenly you fail a medical test and you cannot fly anymore then you really want to have something to fall back on. I can just imagine how difficult it must be for someone who only knows how to take an airplane from point A to point B not to be able to do it anymore.

Last edited by factor-x; 26th Nov 2012 at 17:40.
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Old 5th Dec 2012, 21:49
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Succesfully passed my multiengine checkride

I just wanted to comment that I succesfully passed my multiengine checkride on a Piper Seneca 2.

Best wishes to all!
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Old 5th Dec 2012, 23:08
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I enjoyed your posts Factor.. I'm in a similar position, basically through being a bit of a tool and partying too hard in my early 20's it's taken me ages to get my hours done.. Now I find myself without a degree, working a job I hate to get my MEIR.

I don't have too many regrets though, I feel that once employed and having tasted a job that I absolutely loathe every day to get to where I am I'll value that first flying contract a lot more..
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Old 6th Dec 2012, 11:58
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Richiedapilot,

I have been battling to get funds together to do the ATPL theory in Europe, let alone the actual flying

Managed to get current and do the MEP by going to Eastern Europe. You might want to have a look there too. Maybe best to wait till April as all countries will be EASA as then there should be no discussion anymore whether training is approved or not, just check the approval of the FTO.

Know for sure though that the UK accepts training and testing done there for ratings and recurrency training
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