Help and advice please for an old bloke!
 

Firstly, sorry moderator for posting this query here; it just seems to be the busiest forum so I thought I'd chance it.

Hello good people and hopefully future colleagues; I've just returned to live in The UK having resided in The Antipodes for over 20 years; pressing family commitments have caused my repatriation. I'm reasonably experienced, over 9k hours, TRE/I on heavy t'prop 20t, m'crew RPT, sim instructor etc. Licence Aus/Kiwi but 49 yrs old, UK citizen. Just about to start EASA stuff; just done the medical.

By the time I've completed this process, I will prob be 50 and not very current. I appreciate that BA, VA and Easy are realistically not going to be interested as I understand I am getting on a bit for them; no jet time means my marketability is limited also. Could I be in with a chance with FlyBe, Logan or Easterns? In fact, I'd be happy in anything that will provide a steady living.

Please understand that I just don't know the market here, that's why I thought I'd reach out. I accept the fact my career might be over, I just hope it isn't.

Many thanks for your help and advice.

Gday mate
 

I am asking the same question. Except 45 yrs of age and 14k jet anything from corporate to wide body. I would really like a gig with ryr or EZY. My wife is European and my background is European. I really don't need to get out of bed again at midnight every night. Any thoughts ?

Yr

Bit parky up in Latvia in Winter, but they are nice folk.

Do understand that you want to be in the UK, with this gig you wouldn't be so often, although commuting is "almost" possible.

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@2monthsoff: i know that Flybe is looking for FO. Perhaps you can try them and then getting an upgrade later on.

Thats all i know.

Good luck.

Twomonthsoff, I think with that sort of experience your career is never over chap, Keep hunting. Just an idea, what about non-rated Ryanair? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think they have an age restriction. Yes you have to stump up the rating costs, but you could write it off through a loan, pay it off in reasonable time. For this you could have a jet job, good roster and reasonable pay in this day and age with the opportunity of command in 3 years. Like I said Just an idea into the pot, Goodluck with the other companies.

Many thanks for your encouraging replies.

fly4more: a little surprised to see BA's enlightened attitude to more mature operators; certainly provides some hope. Thank you

Fly26: Ryanair would be great; good choice of bases as well. Cheers

dboy: Flybe are probably my first choice at the moment as I live close to two of their bases. They seem to be a company recovering well from previous setbacks.
Thanks

captplaystation: I'd be more than happy in Latvia. I've recently unpacked my 'North Face' stuff; unused for years but now in preparation for a new lease of life! Thanks for that one

You rock: all the best to you mate; there appear to be plenty of opportunities here ie Europe, flexibility is probably the key, with realistic expectations and being not too picky I guess. Good luck

If you watch this space with Flybe you might see DEC about to happen in the far reaching bases. First officers left to upgrade is getting towards a big fat zero.

The old bald and bold pilots!
 

I suspect age limits will go the same way in the EU as they have done in the US. Almost no US regional airlines have max age limits.
If you can pass the class 1 and check rides, that is all they want, so I'm not surprised BA list 58!

I've only just returned to fixed wing flying and just started to look around for non type rated P2 jobs (I have an FAA ATP and ADX ticket), so if anyone knows of anything then please PM me.

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