If your want to do things fast, modular distance learning is fastest. You can go at your own pace - no waiting for the rest of the class!

You only get 22 days holiday a year?! I feel sorry for you!

I'd say it would be near impossible to complete in 2 years, more like 3. Its going to be even more difficult if you've a family as well.

You will have to give up your job for the CPL MEIR stage, as most of the time it is completed in a 2-3 month block; unless your company is will to give you unpaid leave or a gap year.

Nothing is impossible, its never too late to do it (within reason), go for it if you really want it!

I'd recommend you go and see an AME and ensure you can pass a Class 1 medical before you proceed with any training.

Once you get the £45 validation can you fly in the UK with an FAA PPL or does there need to be some form of conversion done first ?

No flying needed. You just need to fill in srg2140 and show knowledge of Air law & ATC. (This can be a chat with an examiner or a PPL/CPL/ATPL exam pass)

No night rating needed? Does it not get dark in the USA?!

Lots to think about, thanks for the tips. I hadn't thought of doing the ppl elsewhere. It's an interesting thought. Three years might be more realistic I guess? I can spread the saving a bit more that way.

35k was less than I was budgeting for but I'll aim for the bigger savings just in case. Is it normal to buy a share in a 152 or similar then sell it on six months later? I guess if you are up front with the syndicate they might accommodate.

On a more general lifestyle note is it likely airlines restrict when holiday can be taken?

We don't have kids but my wife is a teacher and based on a maximum of 900 hours per year I'm fairly confident on short haul a decent home/work balance can be struck but if I can't book holiday during school breaks , presumably the airlines busiest time, my whole plan is somewhat scuppered.

Find a company offering 5/4 roster and go on a few shorter breaks with your new found wealth :ok:

The FAA PPL includes night training so you get night privileges by default (unless you take your test in Alaska in the summer)

How much effort do you want to put in? You're talking about 2 years, possibly 3 years - but it's easily achievable in 1 year. If you consider your career earnings, every year you delay will cost you at least £100,000. There are jobs now. There might not be in 3 years. Borrow the money and get it done asap.

tgw....

Ahhh......welcome to the realities of commercial flying...

I can’t speak for all airlines but I suspect some form of restriction is almost a given .....

We are seniority based airline but even so have a points system to try and stop the senior pilots hoovering up the popular leave periods, avoiding working Christmas etc..

Just a quick one guys and girls i am currently 32 and my dilemma is to go integrated or modular, I know of integrated cadets in there mid 30s who have gained employment at EZY. My preference would be modular as it’s the cheaper of the two, but begs the question how many mid 30 cadets the like RYR take when competition is so fierce from young guys Queuing up for a type rating, the gamble to me seems pretty straight forward 50-60k for modular with frozen atpl with maybe little hope of employment or 100k+ gamble whitetail at a big provider eg L3 Fte cae etc just looking foy any help guidance anyone been in my position gained employment mid 30s after traing thanks in advance.

I'm not in commercial aviation but hope to be after converting to EASA. As someone who has worked for a few years in private executive jets and some organ transport in my 6 years flying professionally I have never spent a New year's at home and most Nationals holidays were away as well.

I'm not saying commercial is like this but a lot of people aren't ready for the compromises you make in your work/life balance.

I actually studied my PPL with a guy that asked the instructor if theres an airline that would respect getting Saturdays off because he was a seventh day Adventist haha

Hello there lightheart. I am currently looking to join either quality fly in Madrid or Atlantic fta in cork Ireland at the age of 37.
It pleased me to read your thread as all I've heard Is the grand old age issue.
I would be interested to hear the school you used in America that incorporates the commercial experience at the end of training.
I do remember seen this before and any info on quality fly would be much appreciated.
Regards.

Hi all,
I'm 29 years old, only a few hours into my PPL, always wished to be a professional pilot (don't care if airline or not), I've seen that an air school in Poland have a 0 to fATPL, for 45 000 € in 18 month. I have the money, no mortgage, and would still have money left if I spend 50 - 70k in pilot training.

Am I too old to take the jump in 2018 (let's say 2019 because of the delay) ?
Also, let's say I get my fATPL in two years, so by 31 / 32 or even 33 to be pessimistic, do you think I stand a chance of finding a job ? I don't intend to go straight to airline but it seems to me that everybody is only aimed toward airliners as if it was the only sector recruiting. Are there no jobs in GA or Corporate in Europe or abroad ?

My main concern is the value of a fATPL, are you employable with this (even just para-drop, glider towing or instruction if I pass a FI certification) or are there so many pilots in the market that no places are available for a new old (let's say 33) pilot ? I would be willing to move anywhere for my first job (would be limited by visa so I suppose I could only fly in Europe maybe Asia or Africa).

At my age I know it's now or never, I won't do it if I have no chances at all of finding any kind of pilot job, but if it's possible, I would take the jump. Worst case scenario, I would have passed ppl vfr night and ifr always useful for a hobby, be short of 70k, and without a job, but I'm sure in my sector I would find another job easily.

I wonder how long before people think they're over the hill at 21? Get the licence you pillock.

@jackrabbitslim7: Just go for it, I am also 29 and started from 0 in December 2017 when I realized that doing paperwork in Norway for the rest of my life is not realizing my dream. I did the theory exam for PPL in January and I am already flying while reading more useful theory + training on AE for the ATPL exams during the time outside my 5 flying slots during the week.

I actually chose to train at 0-ATPL+FI in Poland (not only because I am Polish :D ) for about 49 000 Euro (210 000 PLN) instead of paying like 100 000 ++ Euro for less flying hours and more theory in western Europe. But if you plan to fly for some very special airlines then maybe you have to have it on your CV that you did some CTC, L3, CAE or something else if you want get invited on interview + screening there with only 200h from school. As for me I believe its more better to get more flying with both traditional and glass cockpit planes + FI for less than half the price of the integrated school. And you get done just as fast or even faster if the weather is good. And if experiencing problems with getting invited to the interview and the screening, its possible to pay 30 000 for type rating and 500 hours (+ get the job after the line training if you are good) and still get 20 000 euro cheaper from it than the integrated course for 100 000 ++.

So don`t wait for 2019 just go for it, visit Warszawa. Lodz, Poznan check the schools and choose the one you find most trustworthy, I am satisfied with my choice if I chose the integrated outside of Poland I would still be just reading the theory, while now I can both read the theory for ATPL and fly. Its much better that way since you have more than enough time to learn + you can learn by heart the stuff that is important when you see how important it is in the plane (and learn much important stuff that is not asked about in the exams), in addition to what you learn for the exam.

I'm 36 and just had an assessment with Ryanair, so I guess they don't care so much about age.
Still didn't pass, but that's another story.

Ok thanks for your replies. I just wonder what can of job can you find with just a fATPL with only 250 hours. I suppose I would need to log way more hours after the CPL, and maybe pay for a type rating before even being able to apply for job offers.

@jackrabbitslim7: Well if there are no invites for interviews after getting done with the flight training then there are probably 2 paths: 1. Teach new students as FI and build up hours until getting the invitation eventually or 2. Teach new students as FI until being completely sure that enough time have passed since applying everywhere and then use 30 000 on type rating + 500 hours on B 737 or A 320. A type rating without at least 500 hours on type is probably not giving any bonus or even worse the company hiring will miss the opportunity to supervise your type rating training.

Either way even with type rating + 500 hours on type its still 20 000 Euro less than west European integrated schools with known names and probably a better starting point with those 500 hours than 200 hours, no FI hours and no jet or turboprop hours.

Hey guys,

I’m just looking for a little advice. My situation is as follows

I’m currently 15 months through a 3-year course to become a Merchant Navy Deck Officer, I love the navigation side of the course. Having been to sea once already I have however realized I’m just not passionate about shipping or the ships themselves.

I worked in the airline industry before as cabin crew in the UK and the Middle East, then planned roster for a low-cost carrier in Australia. I have always loved the Airline Industry, but it has taken being involved in another transportation sector to make me realize planes, airports, and hotels are my home, and a taste of navigation to make me dream of moving from the cabin to the cockpit.

My issue is I’m 36 years old and I’ll be almost 39 by the time I finish my Merchant Navy Cadetship.

The ways I see it is I have 2 options

1: Finish the cadetship and try to get a job onboard a ship as an Officer and uses the cash and time off to get my fATPL.

2: Quit now and use the cash I saved in the middle east to go get my license and try to get back into an Industry I know and love doing a job I aspire to.

I'm looking to book my first flying lesson, to get the ball rolling.

Any advice would be great.

Even if you get a job by 40 that will be 20 or 25 years as a pilot. (Given that you keep healthy and don’t end up with medical issues at older age)