Thanks for your message. Being a FO at age 25 is awesome. When did you start? And how many hours did you have when you got that job?

Actually i can legally work and live in Europe as i do have double citizenship (Argentinian & Italian). Unluckily i don't have the same rights for USA.

As for Argentinian being a ****** up country and the other comments, it is and has pretty much always been, and always will be so i will leave this country for sure, becoming a pilot or not.

I'm very relieved for you, that you have dual Italian/Argentinian nationality.
Now you have options.
But your are also in the same boat along with many others.

There are many ways forward for you.
You never know what the right path is until you have been down that road and can look back.

The company I work for is not really interested in hiring just pilots.
I don't really consider myself as just another one.
You have to bring something else to the table.
I am an all round aviation professional, that will do anything to advance aviation.
I live, eat, breath, sleep this stuff.

Sure I've got an Airline Transport Pilots License - Single and Multi-Engine land.
And more type rating than I can list.
But I also have a Flight Engineer License - Turbojet.
Aircraft Mechanic - Airframe and Powerplant.
Aircraft Dispatcher.
Flight Instructor - Airplane, Instrument, Multi-Engine.
Ground Instructor - Airplane, Instrument.

And I got all those licenses before age 24.
And don't forget four years of Aeronautical Engineering college and a four year Aircraft Engineering apprentiship.
Some of the people I work with, have far more impressive credentials than I do.
You'll be up against some pretty determined people.

I feel that the last thing that this world needs is another A320 co-pilot that thinks they are Gods gift to aviation.
There is so much more to it than.
"'positive rate - gear up, 400' nav, 1000' auto-pilot 2 command, let's eat".

I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world.
Should you decide to do it.
But half-hearted attempts always fail.

I am now 31, soon will be 32... and if I choose to wait to 35 years old and only then start training. Will I make mistake in your opinion? I know that it is hard to say "you will" or "you will not" but what would you tell me if I am your friend and tell you this.

And I planed it like that, partly because of (some of the most important things):

1) I have wife, but we still don't have children. We want to have children from now on and I guess that it will be really hard for her to be alone with small baby while I am somewhere in Europe on training. And it is very likely to happen (that we have baby) if I start training now. Having baby later is not option as we will be too old to have first child in near 40, at least for me (but please don't argue about this).

2) I have really great job right now and I need to do some more steps to ensure my future and to have certain "backup" job if I don't succeed as pilot. I can't do those steps tomorrow as I need some more working experience (something like gaining flight hours - but just in law) :)

3) I have luck (or bad luck) to live in Bosnia which is rather poor and ****** up country and for example Wizz air has base in my city. I would be perfectly happy to fly for Wizz, and with FO income you can live in Bosnia really good while in rest of Europe you can't even rent a house. I see that Wizz is constantly employing new people and that they are growing and I guess that not much potential FOs fighting to work in my country. But how like is that they will hire one 35-36 years old pilot and let him work at his home town? (I can work in EU too as i have Croatian citizenship too).

4) I am not looking to become rich in way that because I am captain of Airplane I have house with pool and Porsche for me, my wife and every child :p. I must admit that (thankfully to my parents and my work) I have enough money to finance my training and would be satisfied if in rest of my working life I repay invested money in training and earn some more money...


If I am 5 years younger I would not ask this and would do it, but now I am not sure what to do. To drop this plan as unrealistic and too optimistic or to to proceed with it. I am aware that 3rd point is too stretched to be my main goal and, but you can see that I would be happy even with this scenario which 99% of pilots will not be happy with.

I have probably gone too deep with my "story" but what do you think about everything I said? Sometime it feels like good plan (as I don't expect much in return, have money for school and have support from wife) but also sometimes it feels to me that I will be too old to start all this and that I will be counting on too much uncertain things. I don't have friends with real life flying experience as captains or FO, so I can't evaluate my thought without your help. That is why I ask it heir.

P.S.
Right now I don't have any permits for flying and I would probably go with integrated way. Maybe get PPL in meantime...

hi
iam 30 years with degree in foreign language and social media marketing and iwant to be pilot is too old now

How long has this thread being going on? I think we can answer all questions with a simple: "have you got the money?" and close it!
Learning to fly takes a pile load of money, even going PPL ain't cheap. If you are young you need someone to pay your training; if you are middle-aged and you have some money you still need the time to switch between your normal job and the training; if you are old and rich you can always buy your job.
Why only rockstars and teenagers work in aviation? Because they had the money. Period.
So, if you got the money you might get a job, otherwise you can only do it as an hobby and, frankly, that might be enough if you really love aviation. A job is not the answer to your passion.

Someone's having a good day :-P

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

Ha! Good experience to be honest. :D 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. :D

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

Are we ever too old?
 

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

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.

Wow, that’s great.

Bravo! :ok:

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 :ugh:

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.

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.:confused:

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.

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.

rudestuff have you completed your atpl?

Nope, still frozen