Want to follow a dream
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Washington
Want to follow a dream
Hey Everyone!
I am wondering if it's possible to work up to being a fixed wing med evac pilot starting from scratch at 40? My family has a rich history in aviation. I even got 23 hrs as a kid but have since lost my log book and have no idea if my instructor is even still alive. I've always had a love of flying, even built an apartment in my grandad's hangar when he passed to help my mother work around the airport to brokerage all his planes and equipment. My kids are now grown and would LOVE to get after this. Finances aren't a huge barrier for me as I get paid decently where I'm at so I thought...shoot let's see if it can be done. Thanks in advance!
I am wondering if it's possible to work up to being a fixed wing med evac pilot starting from scratch at 40? My family has a rich history in aviation. I even got 23 hrs as a kid but have since lost my log book and have no idea if my instructor is even still alive. I've always had a love of flying, even built an apartment in my grandad's hangar when he passed to help my mother work around the airport to brokerage all his planes and equipment. My kids are now grown and would LOVE to get after this. Finances aren't a huge barrier for me as I get paid decently where I'm at so I thought...shoot let's see if it can be done. Thanks in advance!
Joined: Mar 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 345
Likes: 38
From: Lander, WY, USA
That can certainly be done, my story is quite similar. Got my Private license at age 40, 4 years later, working as a CFI. Single and debt-free made it simpler than most. While working through the ratings, I was overseas 6 months of the year (earning the money for training), and started out with no intention of being a professional, just sort of kept going down the "path." You could surely get those ratings in less time. Then another 2 years building time as a freelance instructor in a small town. The time-building could be done quicker as well, if you went to a busy big-city flight school as an instructor, where you would most likely be flying a lot. My first Part 135 job was 1st officer fixed-wing air ambulance, at that time it was 2-pilot. You'll probably need a minimum of 1200 hours, most air ambulance ops are single-pilot these days, that's the requirement for Part 135 PIC. Many operators want pilots to have their ATP license, so that's 1500 hours minimum.
So, for me, starting at age 40, flying over 30 years, with 25 years professionally, now ready to retire, it's been a good run. Instructing, charter, corporate flying, I never wanted airlines (religiously opposed to wearing neckties), and by preference in smaller towns, was never going to get rich, but I've made a good living.
Go for it!
So, for me, starting at age 40, flying over 30 years, with 25 years professionally, now ready to retire, it's been a good run. Instructing, charter, corporate flying, I never wanted airlines (religiously opposed to wearing neckties), and by preference in smaller towns, was never going to get rich, but I've made a good living.
Go for it!
