Age Concern: Am I too old?

[heliski22]

Must be summat about 81, DK...

I thought it was great that, no matter where I was (and it has been a lot of places this past couple of years) I could depend on a text message now and then from my mother. But she never went near a computer...

Until, at Christmas, my sister made her a present of an iPad...

Now, at 81, she's just started doing Skype, Facetime and whatever else it is you get to do with an iPad...and loving it!

At 81, people, at 81...

Wasn't it Billy Connolly who once told Michael Parkinson "Growing old doesn't bother me at all, it's growing up scares the **** out of me...!"

You're never too old...

[smokie78]

NEWBIE....AWE NO!

Hello,

I'll keep this short.

I'm 36 have never done any heli training ever. I did go solo fixed wing.

Question: Is it too late to start training, how much does it cost, and is there many job prospects at the end of it all?

Thanks!!

[Arm out the window]

Answers:

No; about $65,000 Aust; and some.

[GoodGrief]

Yes; $100k+ US; not that many for low timers.
Don't look at the figures for minimum flight time. Plan for 200 hours.

Looks like you got your answers in 2010 already.
http://www.pprune.org/professional-p...ml#post5462752

[Dw101]

Training to become a commercial helicopter pilot at 38..... Is it worth it?

Hello

My dream is to fly helicopters for a living. And in 2/3 I'll have the means to invest in training to do so. I've been looking at Bristow's combined Easa/Faa course in Florida as the first step.

I'm very keen to go ahead with this but my one concern is that I'll be 40 by the time qualified and just starting out instructing to build hours.

My questions are is it worth it as you can't fly solo over 60 (thus a short career and a struggle in latter years)??

And prospects of working abroad outside of the Uk With obtaining visas etc as I'll be willing to relocate ??

Many thanks

[Same again]

You do not mention your person financial circumstances. If you have an awful lot of money stashed away then by all means have a go. If not then you would be well advised to invest your money into your pension fund rather throw it at Bristow.

You would also be well advised to have a look at the gloabl helicopter market which is closely tied to the oil market and has not been in such dire circmstances for quite some time. There must be thousands of well qualified helicopter pilots unemployed at the moment and with little prospect of any change in the near future. Also have a look at the £/$ exchange rate if you are considering training in USA.

Well done for seeking advice before committing yourself.

[ersa]

Like the previous post, if your cashed up, then have a go. Don't bank on getting a job with bristow aged 40.

The usual visa's requirements apply worldwide, age , skills and medical....

If you have to take any loan for this flying ......FORGET IT

[Dw101]

Thanks for your replies.

Basically I have a property which is a great investment in London.
If I sell to fund training I'll also have some over to reinvest. Not a massive amount but enough.

The thought is to go and follow the dream and take the highs and lows as they come.
Or to sit on an investment and be comfortable in later life. Although this would mean an unexciting and tedious work life until then.

Also what is the hope of working beyond 60 as a pilot ?

[P3 Bellows]

Dw101

Although this would mean an unexciting and tedious work life until then.

That says it all really. If you have the money you should give it a go. Life is not a dress rehearsal and you're here for a good time, not a long time.

Best of luck.

P3

[helimutt]

If I was you i'd forget it. Right now is probably the biggest ever industry downturn in recent history. I know of many very well qualified pilots who have recently been made redundant and can't find work, with no upturn in sight. I made a full time career change to the industry at 37 and have luckily been employed fully in all of that time, but I did go through a couple of contract losses and change of employer due to that.

Invest your money wisely. In a couple of years if things are changing then maybe re-consider, but for now my advice, is don't waste your money. Oh and only multi crew after 60yrs, and single crew to 60yrs old.

Consider without sponsorship you'll need PPL (£15k+)/CPL/Multi eng(£10-15k/IR (£30k+) and at least 200 hours all paid for before getting even a look in, with many others ahead of you. Common sense should give you your answer.

Sorry. Would I do it all over again? Nope.

[Thracian]

I'd suggest going for a PPL-H and having fun for yourself, spending money you earn with another job.
This will get you to heli flying without any big risk (of course, depending on the time you will be able to spare for private flying).

That's what I did when I was already 42.

Thracian

[Dw101]

Guys.... Thanks for taking to reply.

I really think it comes downs to a head/heart decision.
Still have a couple years to make up my mind. 😊😬

Also one more question.
Do job prospects become easier if you look to do specialist flying and enrol on for example mountain flying courses ?

[Pontius Pirate]

Dw101

As helimutt suggested, save your money. The current market is ****e and no amount of add on courses will change that...
I suggest heading out to the Yukon to pan for gold...hell I might even come with you, who knows I could get lucky and find enough to replace what I blew ffs!!

[lostandconfused]

Hi,

I'm sure you've heard the question a 1000 time before, but:

I'm 31 and want to be a commercial hell pilot.

I've done hell trial lessons before but thats it.

Can anyone advise if my age and hours as a newly qualified pilot would become prohibitive when looking for jobs ?

Also any current advice about the cost of training from zero to fully qualified and the jobs market would be appreciated.

[Sick or ski]

See above replies... Offshore pilots being laid off worldwide by the hundreds. Onshore the market is flooded with very experinced people plus a steady stream of ex-mil. Not a good time spend £100K on training.

[Border]

54 and considering doing CPL

I'm 54 years of age and have been considering going for the CPL, I have my ppl(h) since 2006 and have logged approx 700 pic, can you advise me if it would be worth my while going for the CPL especially at my age and more so with the current climate of layoffs due to covid 19, thanks in advance for any advice offered

[Hot and Hi]

Unless you simply do it to up your game as a private, business and leisure pilot (which would be a good reason). No, I don't think it would be worth your while as a career move.

[gulliBell]

Nobody is going to hire a 54 year old freshly minted CPL. Nobody. So yeah, as Hot and Hi says, unless you simply do it to up your game as a private.

[Robbiee]

Originally Posted by Border

I'm 54 years of age and have been considering going for the CPL, I have my ppl(h) since 2006 and have logged approx 700 pic, can you advise me if it would be worth my while going for the CPL especially at my age and more so with the current climate of layoffs due to covid 19, thanks in advance for any advice offered

I wouldn't do it now, but if we ever get things back to normal (and all you want to do is teach, or maybe give rides somewhere) sure.

I'm 48 (also with approx. 700 pic) and I (sometimes) still think it might be fun to give rides in Vegas if I make it to my 50's,...and can still pass a class 2 medical?

[helonorth]

Originally Posted by gulliBell

Nobody is going to hire a 54 year old freshly minted CPL. Nobody. So yeah, as Hot and Hi says, unless you simply do it to up your game as a private.

True, but if things ever get back to normal, plenty of places will hire a 700 hour CFI. Not that much more to do to obtain. I will say that without an instrument rating, your job prospects will be slim, even if you get 1,500 hours or more.