To old and settled ?
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To old and settled ?
Hi, not sure if this is the right forum for this or not, if it isn't then please move it to the correct one.
When I was a kid I always wanted to fly (I blame my grandads war stories) but after I was told there was no way I could make RAF aircrew due to my eyesight the dream withered and eventually I gave up on it alltogether. It is now a great many years later, and I've come to realise that I still have the desire to fly, hence PPL training and so on, with an inkling that I would like to go professional.
However, and this is where I would appreciate your views, I'm 34, married with young kids, mortgage and a good job in IT (£30k/year). I'm obviously not going to be able to do an integrated course as I need to keep paying the mortgage, so I'm looking at pushing 38 before I do gain a fATPL. At that age would I have any chance of getting a position (I'm not bothered about flying big jets across the atlantic) that would pay about the same as I am getting now or do employers prefer twentysomethings to mould into their corporate way of doing things ?
Thanks in advance.
When I was a kid I always wanted to fly (I blame my grandads war stories) but after I was told there was no way I could make RAF aircrew due to my eyesight the dream withered and eventually I gave up on it alltogether. It is now a great many years later, and I've come to realise that I still have the desire to fly, hence PPL training and so on, with an inkling that I would like to go professional.
However, and this is where I would appreciate your views, I'm 34, married with young kids, mortgage and a good job in IT (£30k/year). I'm obviously not going to be able to do an integrated course as I need to keep paying the mortgage, so I'm looking at pushing 38 before I do gain a fATPL. At that age would I have any chance of getting a position (I'm not bothered about flying big jets across the atlantic) that would pay about the same as I am getting now or do employers prefer twentysomethings to mould into their corporate way of doing things ?
Thanks in advance.
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Jam yesterday Jam tomorrow
Training to become an airline pilot at your age is possible
However, I know many who started late that have never
done anything more than instructing (as yet) They have
mortgaged themselves into middle age and beyond....
Even though everybody says recruitment will pick up
There has never been a shortage of pilots with the minimum fATPL qualification to start the multicrew type rating courses that the airlines provide.
Unfortunately when the airline do recruit they tend to prefer
1. Selected, not self-selected candidates
2. Age commensurate with experience (High hours)
3. The youger the better >40 is 'iffy'
4. Integrated Approved not Modular
Simply put there have and I suspect there always will be too many pilots chasing too few jobs and too many airline seats chasing too few passengers. This is not opinion look at the
adverts in the papers the airlines are cutting each others throats
MyTravel (ex Airtours) is on the verge of something bad
its share price has plummeted BAs are around a quid - below its
asset value!!
A lot of consolidation will need to take place in Europe before all this is settled and it wont be pretty.
Add on the fact that the JAA have increased the cost and difficulty
of the exams and flight tests and simultaneously opened up the flood gates to all of Europes redundant pilots to take the few jobs remaining and it becomes even less pretty.
On the positive side recruitment is up and many of the 1134 pilots
in the UK pilots that lost their jobs after 9/11 are in work again
Some have retired.
Of course there is the small matter of the Gulf War II that will push up oil prices and reduce peoples travel aspirations but that
may pass quickly.
Its high risk taking up this game and many of the 10,000 UK ATPL holders and UL 4,000 CPL holders with IR will continue to exist at the bottom of the food chain....
Give consideration to using the money for buying a part share in a C172 and flying your family round Europe as another option...
Mind you it wont be as cheap as flying them Ryanair but it may be more fun..
On the other hand if you have a lot of time and money at your disposal go for it ..... ie if it goes pair shaped you can put it down to experience...
However, I know many who started late that have never
done anything more than instructing (as yet) They have
mortgaged themselves into middle age and beyond....
Even though everybody says recruitment will pick up
There has never been a shortage of pilots with the minimum fATPL qualification to start the multicrew type rating courses that the airlines provide.
Unfortunately when the airline do recruit they tend to prefer
1. Selected, not self-selected candidates
2. Age commensurate with experience (High hours)
3. The youger the better >40 is 'iffy'
4. Integrated Approved not Modular
Simply put there have and I suspect there always will be too many pilots chasing too few jobs and too many airline seats chasing too few passengers. This is not opinion look at the
adverts in the papers the airlines are cutting each others throats
MyTravel (ex Airtours) is on the verge of something bad
its share price has plummeted BAs are around a quid - below its
asset value!!
A lot of consolidation will need to take place in Europe before all this is settled and it wont be pretty.
Add on the fact that the JAA have increased the cost and difficulty
of the exams and flight tests and simultaneously opened up the flood gates to all of Europes redundant pilots to take the few jobs remaining and it becomes even less pretty.
On the positive side recruitment is up and many of the 1134 pilots
in the UK pilots that lost their jobs after 9/11 are in work again
Some have retired.
Of course there is the small matter of the Gulf War II that will push up oil prices and reduce peoples travel aspirations but that
may pass quickly.
Its high risk taking up this game and many of the 10,000 UK ATPL holders and UL 4,000 CPL holders with IR will continue to exist at the bottom of the food chain....
Give consideration to using the money for buying a part share in a C172 and flying your family round Europe as another option...
Mind you it wont be as cheap as flying them Ryanair but it may be more fun..
On the other hand if you have a lot of time and money at your disposal go for it ..... ie if it goes pair shaped you can put it down to experience...
Last edited by RVR800; 31st Oct 2002 at 13:39.
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if you like to fly, why dont you buy a share in an airplane.
a JAA fATPL costs 50k at least. With a share, at least you have a resale value.
at your age, nobody sponsors. at the moment nobody sponsors anyone.
there are some kind of sport singles/aerobatic airplanes with which you can in fact have more fun than airbus/boeing truck drivers will ever experience (even tough apparently some boeing guys made slow rolls with 757s, however its not in any airline SOPs for good reason)
If i had to it over again, i would buy a share in an airplane (sport single) and not spend one penny on that JAA fATPL. ITS A SCAM. IT HAS BEEN SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
there are some nice sport singles on the market, even pressurized ones. get an ifr rating and good ifr training however, in uk weather its essential.
a JAA fATPL costs 50k at least. With a share, at least you have a resale value.
at your age, nobody sponsors. at the moment nobody sponsors anyone.
there are some kind of sport singles/aerobatic airplanes with which you can in fact have more fun than airbus/boeing truck drivers will ever experience (even tough apparently some boeing guys made slow rolls with 757s, however its not in any airline SOPs for good reason)
If i had to it over again, i would buy a share in an airplane (sport single) and not spend one penny on that JAA fATPL. ITS A SCAM. IT HAS BEEN SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
there are some nice sport singles on the market, even pressurized ones. get an ifr rating and good ifr training however, in uk weather its essential.
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Don't buy an aeroplane!
I bought a nice fast single engine complex a couple of years ago and I must have poured twenty grand into the thing just in general maintenance, AD compliance, insurance, etc., etc.
And now I've just discovered that the crank case has a crack in it. That's a new engine--another thirty grand.
Aeroplane ownership is mind-numbingly expensive and is a surer way towards financial disaster than flight training ever could be. I did both, and when I worked out what I'd spent to date I fell off my chair. (I've had a bloody good couple of years though.)
If money's no object though, and you really want an aeroplane to go places out of the UK you're going to need something a little special: de-ice, three axis autopilot, stand-by vac, full ifr inc dme, and to keep the costs down something without a turbo with good performance for fuel burn and non-pressurised. Me, I'd have a Mooney 201. Still cheaper to fly everywhere Concorde though.
If I had my time again I'd invest all that cash in hard drugs and prostitution. Big margins.
I bought a nice fast single engine complex a couple of years ago and I must have poured twenty grand into the thing just in general maintenance, AD compliance, insurance, etc., etc.
And now I've just discovered that the crank case has a crack in it. That's a new engine--another thirty grand.
Aeroplane ownership is mind-numbingly expensive and is a surer way towards financial disaster than flight training ever could be. I did both, and when I worked out what I'd spent to date I fell off my chair. (I've had a bloody good couple of years though.)
If money's no object though, and you really want an aeroplane to go places out of the UK you're going to need something a little special: de-ice, three axis autopilot, stand-by vac, full ifr inc dme, and to keep the costs down something without a turbo with good performance for fuel burn and non-pressurised. Me, I'd have a Mooney 201. Still cheaper to fly everywhere Concorde though.
If I had my time again I'd invest all that cash in hard drugs and prostitution. Big margins.
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http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...threadid=65455
look up " Advice on Opportunity, what do you think?. Most easily found by searching under wannabees against my handle. This is like looking in the mirror! I have decided no, in the end, cos it just aint worth the risk and I am not selfish enough to put my family through the mill. Send me and email if you want to chat about it.
look up " Advice on Opportunity, what do you think?. Most easily found by searching under wannabees against my handle. This is like looking in the mirror! I have decided no, in the end, cos it just aint worth the risk and I am not selfish enough to put my family through the mill. Send me and email if you want to chat about it.
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I am 35 and in IT and doing a PPL too!
Just thought I would lay out my approach to this business:
I decided that it is worth it. Only after getting convincing score in the GAPAN assesment and securing my Class 1. Personally I think the GAPAN test was needed to validate the fundementals. In particular the people at GAPAN provide you with a stack of objective opinions about your chances after the assessment.
My advice: Build a spreadsheet of all the possible scenarios now. Include absolutely every cost. Do this with your missus so that she can ensure your not getting too optomistic with her money
Re previous advice, work in the cost of buying a share in a C172, P28, etc and see the just how many thousands you save on the hour building phase!!!
Visit seminars given by training firms but ensure you read between the lines! They want your money but also be aware they don't want people who might sully their lovely pass stats.
I don't believe you're too old (then again what do I know). Once you start to network with those in the industry (if you haven't already) you start to see that age is not the limiting factor, but apptitude, motivation and presentation are! (at least that is the way it looks to me).
This is a v.low risk for me because I will not be packing my job in at any point during training. My training provider is very local to me and I have the luxury of flexi-time and 5 weeks hols a year so I can just about fit in my ATPL consolidation course next year and complete my CPL the following year. I intend to get an FI(R) rating before the IR simply because I expect to need the extra hours as a traininer initially. If I like it, a trainer I will stay. I will consider the IR when I feel the time is right and not before. This I believe is the hardest part of the whole process and the single most expesive item. However, I intend to stay flexible.
Most of all I intend to earn a living flying. This prospect is frankly, the most exciting undertaking ever for me. If it does not work out I will NEVER regret trying.
Good luck and Tally-ho!
Just thought I would lay out my approach to this business:
I decided that it is worth it. Only after getting convincing score in the GAPAN assesment and securing my Class 1. Personally I think the GAPAN test was needed to validate the fundementals. In particular the people at GAPAN provide you with a stack of objective opinions about your chances after the assessment.
My advice: Build a spreadsheet of all the possible scenarios now. Include absolutely every cost. Do this with your missus so that she can ensure your not getting too optomistic with her money
Re previous advice, work in the cost of buying a share in a C172, P28, etc and see the just how many thousands you save on the hour building phase!!!Visit seminars given by training firms but ensure you read between the lines! They want your money but also be aware they don't want people who might sully their lovely pass stats.
I don't believe you're too old (then again what do I know). Once you start to network with those in the industry (if you haven't already) you start to see that age is not the limiting factor, but apptitude, motivation and presentation are! (at least that is the way it looks to me).
This is a v.low risk for me because I will not be packing my job in at any point during training. My training provider is very local to me and I have the luxury of flexi-time and 5 weeks hols a year so I can just about fit in my ATPL consolidation course next year and complete my CPL the following year. I intend to get an FI(R) rating before the IR simply because I expect to need the extra hours as a traininer initially. If I like it, a trainer I will stay. I will consider the IR when I feel the time is right and not before. This I believe is the hardest part of the whole process and the single most expesive item. However, I intend to stay flexible.
Most of all I intend to earn a living flying. This prospect is frankly, the most exciting undertaking ever for me. If it does not work out I will NEVER regret trying.
Good luck and Tally-ho!
Last edited by Kefuddle_UK; 31st Oct 2002 at 19:27.
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AndyGB,
Quote:
__________________________________________________
I'm 34, married with young kids, mortgage and a good job in IT (£30k/year).
__________________________________________________
I'm afraid just by reading that I would advise against it. Sorry but I would never advise any married man, with young children, a mortgage and a good job/income to do professional flight training. It's too risky and to some extent reckless as well. To be honest a happy family life is far more important than a career change in mid life. The things you have are worth protecting not jeapardizing.
A PPL and flying for fun is your safest bet. It's not the same but it's something.
Best of luck.
Quote:
__________________________________________________
I'm 34, married with young kids, mortgage and a good job in IT (£30k/year).
__________________________________________________
I'm afraid just by reading that I would advise against it. Sorry but I would never advise any married man, with young children, a mortgage and a good job/income to do professional flight training. It's too risky and to some extent reckless as well. To be honest a happy family life is far more important than a career change in mid life. The things you have are worth protecting not jeapardizing.
A PPL and flying for fun is your safest bet. It's not the same but it's something.
Best of luck.
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I would have to agree with all of the above in all honisty. I was 34 before I got any stick time. I started in the Army, (non aircrew), and loved it; then into IT, and hated it, but at least I made a fair bit of dosh.
So I set out to follow a dream, and ended up here in Canada doing the odd bit of bush flying, instructing, and dropping skydivers from a C182 which is only 10 years younger than my Dad. But I flew over 400 hrs this season, and had a great time, with a great bunch of people.
If I supplement my flying pay with working in a local factory, and doing some janitor work, I get by financially......just. But I have chosen my life style, and like it......mostly. But was it really the most sensible thing to do ??
I guess that if in 10 years time I am flying an Airbus for Air Canada, then yes. However, if I am still getting $5.00 a load and cleaning toilets on the side..........but only time will tell.
But with all that said, I have always vowed never to regret my decision.
So I set out to follow a dream, and ended up here in Canada doing the odd bit of bush flying, instructing, and dropping skydivers from a C182 which is only 10 years younger than my Dad. But I flew over 400 hrs this season, and had a great time, with a great bunch of people.
If I supplement my flying pay with working in a local factory, and doing some janitor work, I get by financially......just. But I have chosen my life style, and like it......mostly. But was it really the most sensible thing to do ??
I guess that if in 10 years time I am flying an Airbus for Air Canada, then yes. However, if I am still getting $5.00 a load and cleaning toilets on the side..........but only time will tell.
But with all that said, I have always vowed never to regret my decision.
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Andy, I know what you're going through. I'm 33, married, 3 young kids, own business, earning over £100,000 p.a. Got it all, you might think. But I've always wanted to fly, and life is too short to stick at doing something you don't love.
For me, it's not about the money. It doesn't buy you happiness. But it does enable the family to have a nice life. My wife thinks that if doing what I'd love to do would make me happier, then I should do it, because the family will benefit more from a fulfilled husband/dad than they will an unhappy provider. Great in theory, and wonderfully supportive.
I agree with other posters who say it's not worth upsetting the family situation. That has to be the most important factor in your decision. If they are 100% behind you, then go for it. 90%, then don't. Remember the very real possibility that you may have to move across the world to secure a job, and this will have a big impact on the family.
For me, I think I've almost decided (is that suitably non-committal?) that I'll keep my job, get PPL, maybe some further ratings, and buy a part share in a plane. Keep it a hobby. That said, why am I going to the Flyer show?
For me, it's not about the money. It doesn't buy you happiness. But it does enable the family to have a nice life. My wife thinks that if doing what I'd love to do would make me happier, then I should do it, because the family will benefit more from a fulfilled husband/dad than they will an unhappy provider. Great in theory, and wonderfully supportive.
I agree with other posters who say it's not worth upsetting the family situation. That has to be the most important factor in your decision. If they are 100% behind you, then go for it. 90%, then don't. Remember the very real possibility that you may have to move across the world to secure a job, and this will have a big impact on the family.
For me, I think I've almost decided (is that suitably non-committal?) that I'll keep my job, get PPL, maybe some further ratings, and buy a part share in a plane. Keep it a hobby. That said, why am I going to the Flyer show?
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there are one or two roses amongst the thorns
I'm not saying either way but here are some current examples...
I know of a gentleman who this year has been hired as a FO with a budget carrier, aged 38. The former lead singer of Iron Maiden has recently been hired as a FO and he must be in his late 30's by now (perhaps more). There are others who haven't though and also don't forget that these chaps had the necessary hours to get a foot in the door (which takes a further two years to add to your plan).
Britannia are currently recruiting type rated pilots up to the age of 45 (see their website for details). That gives you 11 years from now to get type rated (though bear in mind that hiring criteria does fluctuate, but still, it should make you smile).
My flight instructor graduated from an ab-initio school last year aged 40. He has a wife and 4 children, though he does have a side business. I suspect that considerably helps to offset the costs.
In the Clive Hughes book, page 77 will definately be of interest to you. It talks about the niche available for +35 wannabee pilots in the turboprop and freight market. Pay is around £14-£38k it says.
'You pays yer money' at the end of the day but there are routes in to fly. It depends upon what you want, how much you want it and what you can do to keep all the balls juggling.
If there are three words to remember its -
motivation, motivation, motivation, motivation
Craggenmore
I know of a gentleman who this year has been hired as a FO with a budget carrier, aged 38. The former lead singer of Iron Maiden has recently been hired as a FO and he must be in his late 30's by now (perhaps more). There are others who haven't though and also don't forget that these chaps had the necessary hours to get a foot in the door (which takes a further two years to add to your plan).
Britannia are currently recruiting type rated pilots up to the age of 45 (see their website for details). That gives you 11 years from now to get type rated (though bear in mind that hiring criteria does fluctuate, but still, it should make you smile).
My flight instructor graduated from an ab-initio school last year aged 40. He has a wife and 4 children, though he does have a side business. I suspect that considerably helps to offset the costs.
In the Clive Hughes book, page 77 will definately be of interest to you. It talks about the niche available for +35 wannabee pilots in the turboprop and freight market. Pay is around £14-£38k it says.
'You pays yer money' at the end of the day but there are routes in to fly. It depends upon what you want, how much you want it and what you can do to keep all the balls juggling.
If there are three words to remember its -
motivation, motivation, motivation, motivation
Craggenmore
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Once agin it sounds like a mirror to me to, but I decided to go ahead and risk it all. I now fly RHS B737 so it can be done but needs lots of luck.
This was my story
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...threadid=55731
Good luck to you..
This was my story
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...threadid=55731
Good luck to you..
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family life is far more important than a career change in mid life
I'm afraid I can't really help you Andy, I'm 32 (0bviously on the wrong side of death
), and am half way through the modular route. All I would add, and this is not in anyway a knock to anyone here, is that a recent poll shows a large amount of wannabes here are in their early to mid 20's. I do remember all too well, that at that age, 35 seemed a very long way away. Best wishes with whatever you choose.
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I can only add that the Clive Hughes book is probably the best investment you are going to make if you're considering flight training.
I bought it, followed the advice and am now RHS B737. I started training when I was 30, got my current job at age 34 and with only 320 hours TT.
It's tough going, very hard work and yes your family life does suffer, even after the training - I live in Cardiff but work out of Gatwick, I rent a room in Crawley and only see my wife every couple of weeks - we've decided not to move to the South East yet because of the inflated house prices. Okay that's our choice but but it's still a big factor.
And before you start training add at least 30% in time and cost to your expected budget, things do go wrong - wx, aircraft availability, retests etc, it all costs.
Bear in mind as well that many airlines will be looking at self funded type ratings too - Ryanair do at the moment and Easy, JMC and others are likely to join in, that will cost another £20 grand on top.
I bought it, followed the advice and am now RHS B737. I started training when I was 30, got my current job at age 34 and with only 320 hours TT.
It's tough going, very hard work and yes your family life does suffer, even after the training - I live in Cardiff but work out of Gatwick, I rent a room in Crawley and only see my wife every couple of weeks - we've decided not to move to the South East yet because of the inflated house prices. Okay that's our choice but but it's still a big factor.
And before you start training add at least 30% in time and cost to your expected budget, things do go wrong - wx, aircraft availability, retests etc, it all costs.
Bear in mind as well that many airlines will be looking at self funded type ratings too - Ryanair do at the moment and Easy, JMC and others are likely to join in, that will cost another £20 grand on top.
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Andy ,
The best advice I can give you, and I'm sure others agree is try and maintain some way of keeping an income eg P/T work in your own proffesion so that you will have work to go back to after your training is complete.
I went to Oxford on the Ab Initio course and it took SEVEN years to get a job!
The best advice I can give you, and I'm sure others agree is try and maintain some way of keeping an income eg P/T work in your own proffesion so that you will have work to go back to after your training is complete.
I went to Oxford on the Ab Initio course and it took SEVEN years to get a job!
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You obviously can get a job at 38, but it doesn't mean that you will. Are you prepared to risk your family's welfare on that possibility?
Really, to answer that question fully you have to honestly quantify why and how you want to fly. If being in the air, controlling a small aircraft, possibly with some aeros or formation thrown in, is what floats your boat - do it privately, and continue earning a good living in IT. If, on the other hand, you're determined to exchange your dreams for the sometimes-less-than-wonderful environment of an airliner flight deck, then get on with it!
There've been a couple of threads recently on the realities of flying an airliner professionally. Look them up. You'll find, as in all jobs, there is repetetive routine, interference from above, too much paperwork, not enough recompense (we don't all work for a US major!), etc. etc. In other words, it's real life as you already know it! It has its compensations, and they are significant, but the romance of flight largely belongs outside the professional sphere. If it's romance and ideals fulfilled you're looking for, you may be barking up the wrong tree....
Really, to answer that question fully you have to honestly quantify why and how you want to fly. If being in the air, controlling a small aircraft, possibly with some aeros or formation thrown in, is what floats your boat - do it privately, and continue earning a good living in IT. If, on the other hand, you're determined to exchange your dreams for the sometimes-less-than-wonderful environment of an airliner flight deck, then get on with it!
There've been a couple of threads recently on the realities of flying an airliner professionally. Look them up. You'll find, as in all jobs, there is repetetive routine, interference from above, too much paperwork, not enough recompense (we don't all work for a US major!), etc. etc. In other words, it's real life as you already know it! It has its compensations, and they are significant, but the romance of flight largely belongs outside the professional sphere. If it's romance and ideals fulfilled you're looking for, you may be barking up the wrong tree....
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Good question
I suspect the answer lies within your self, more than anything, im 35 going on 36 soon but i took the plunge, looking to get into an RHS of anything really.
I currently have a CPL, but delayed my IR for obvious reasons. So by the time the market picks up i will probably be 38 and hopefully , just hopefully, there will be positions in the freight, or small airline sector that want the more stable and im not going to say less ambitious because i think that would be incorrect, just more grateful for the opportunity to get into the RHS.
Besides if you go to CPL level only it would improve your flying skill, then you can make your decision if you want to plunge loads more money in.
I personally think if you are realistic, take your time by spreading the training, and research the arena you can fall lucky.
My first PPL instructor got his first airline job at 42 and is still with them so maybe there is a lot to be said for us older ones??
I currently have a CPL, but delayed my IR for obvious reasons. So by the time the market picks up i will probably be 38 and hopefully , just hopefully, there will be positions in the freight, or small airline sector that want the more stable and im not going to say less ambitious because i think that would be incorrect, just more grateful for the opportunity to get into the RHS.
Besides if you go to CPL level only it would improve your flying skill, then you can make your decision if you want to plunge loads more money in.
I personally think if you are realistic, take your time by spreading the training, and research the arena you can fall lucky.
My first PPL instructor got his first airline job at 42 and is still with them so maybe there is a lot to be said for us older ones??
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Thanks for all the replies guys. I think I had made up my mind not to go for it and was looking for someone else to talk me out of it. I just can't risk the families security like that.
I think I'll just enjoy the PPL, and maybe try for an FI rating in a couple of years but leave it at that (unless of course I bump into a friendly airline owner in the street and they offer to pay for all my training), although somehow I don't think that will happen, do you
To all those of you who have decided that it's worth it (especially those oldies like myself) I wish you luck.
Andy
I think I'll just enjoy the PPL, and maybe try for an FI rating in a couple of years but leave it at that (unless of course I bump into a friendly airline owner in the street and they offer to pay for all my training), although somehow I don't think that will happen, do you
To all those of you who have decided that it's worth it (especially those oldies like myself) I wish you luck.
Andy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: UK
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Too many of us - Stay settled
If I had had PPRune when I made the decision to proceed
I probably would have made the same choice.
Good for you for using a valuable resource and happy flying
This forum cuts out the Flying School hype
It instead deals with the real market situation
RV
I probably would have made the same choice.
Good for you for using a valuable resource and happy flying
This forum cuts out the Flying School hype
It instead deals with the real market situation
RV
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: France
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Career change?
Hi Andy...
I'm one of the lucky ones who maned to establish a flying career long before starting a family, and on the negative side, I have to say it's a lot of stress having to include your familiy into what can often be a very insecure job prospect....although many have done it.
I reckon the best success stories are those who become airline pilots in their late thirties but manage to retain thier own business interests outside aviation so that if th eflying job either takes along time to happen, or your airline decides to lay off staff, or post you to a location where you don't want to be, you can stay put with your other source of income and at least hang onto your family.
Also, may I suggest that you simply start flying for pleasure, and perhaps you'll find yourself in a situation where you can build hours for peanuts (glider towing, parachute dropping, share an aircraft syndicate etc) and then re-assess your situation after a couple of years. if you don't get into commercial flying then your only expense will have been controlled into th ehobby you always wanted.
Finally, if you go for the hobby route, have a try at the gliding scene. It's fun and less expensive.
happy landings
I'm one of the lucky ones who maned to establish a flying career long before starting a family, and on the negative side, I have to say it's a lot of stress having to include your familiy into what can often be a very insecure job prospect....although many have done it.
I reckon the best success stories are those who become airline pilots in their late thirties but manage to retain thier own business interests outside aviation so that if th eflying job either takes along time to happen, or your airline decides to lay off staff, or post you to a location where you don't want to be, you can stay put with your other source of income and at least hang onto your family.
Also, may I suggest that you simply start flying for pleasure, and perhaps you'll find yourself in a situation where you can build hours for peanuts (glider towing, parachute dropping, share an aircraft syndicate etc) and then re-assess your situation after a couple of years. if you don't get into commercial flying then your only expense will have been controlled into th ehobby you always wanted.
Finally, if you go for the hobby route, have a try at the gliding scene. It's fun and less expensive.
happy landings
