hello

[winner]

Guess I will try this section for more input sorry for the repeat.I am new to this site and I am sure you people have been asked this 1000 times before but here goes..I am a 48 year male who always wanted to be a pilot.I am just starting flying lessons i did do some in college. At my old age of 48 what types of flying jobs if any could I hope to get. I do have a another source of income from a business.0r Is it just to late for professional pilot? Thanks

[aloft]

Not too late to become an airline pilot, a number of regional airlines have hired pilots in their 50s. Hoping for a seat at a major carrier like Delta or United probably isn't realistic, but you've got time to put in a ~10 year "career" in an RJ someplace.

[winner]

Any more advice, PLEASE>>>

[Doug Taylor]

[ QUOTE ]
Any more advice, PLEASE>>>

[/ QUOTE ]

Corporate? Takes lots of networking to land a corporate job. What do you want to do?

[naunga]

Well as a non-pro pilot here's my take.

The FAA will let you fly for the airlines until you're 60. So right now you've got 12 years to be an airline pilot.

Of course you can fly corporate or on demand charter (I think) and cargo.

One thing you might want to keep in mind is that you probably will need to build a lot of hours very quickly, and that will take time away from other things.

If your business requires your attention to make money then you'll have to figure out how to balance that.

If you have a family that's gotten used to having your around a lot, how will they adjust when you are spending time flying that you would've normally spent with them.

How will your business and family fare when you're spending 6 days away from home flying?

An angle that you might explore is what is it about airline flying that attracts you? Is it big jets? Constant travel (of course it's constant travel to the same places)? Nifty uniforms? Love airport bars?

Then ask yourself if that something you could get places other than airline flying?

It sounds like you own a successful business, maybe you could justify owning your own plane for the business. It could even make you some money if you can lease it back to a flight school.

Again, I'm not an airline pilot, and probably never will be. It's not the type of flying I like to do. I love to travel, but want to do it on my terms to places I want to go. I want to fly places with my wife and see the world. I don't care to spend holidays in airports or 15 days a month away from home sleeping in crappy hotels, and having to be up at 3:00 AM. It just doesn't appeal to me.

Sure I'll probably never own a Citation, but then again there's nothing stopping me from doing so, and then flying it where I want.

Just a thought.

Naunga

[winner]

Guess I am looking to do some type of part-time flying and get paid for it..

[A300Capt]

Okay, I'm gonna be the fly in the ointment here. Getting started this late in life (in the world of flying that is) and hoping to land a professional flying job other than flight instructing may be next to impossible.

Airlines do hire a few folks in their 50's. The caveat is that these folks probably have thousands of quality hours and decades of flying under their belt. I don't know anyone, nor have I heard of anyone, beginning flight training at your age and have moved on to a quality job at the airlines or corporate world.

Most airlines are swimming in red ink and are cutting back. Most aren't hiring. In fact, many are furloughing and have been for years. Both United and USAir are on the brink of non-existence. This is a domino effect which effects Regional airlines and corporate aviation dept hiring. Few professional aviation depts are going to spend the thousands of dollars training a new hire only to get 5-10 years employment out of them when they can do the same with a 25-30 yr old. It's simply a numbers game.

Fortunately, you can still obtain your instructor ratings and teach on the side while maintaining your income with your other business. I wouldn't plan on moving into a lucrative flying position unless you were extremely lucky.

[winner]

Thanks for your honest answer capt. How about charter work that kind of thing?

[WIPilot]

I used to have a flight instructor who was in his mid 40's who is now flying King air 350's and another instructor before that who was in his 50's, he was part time and also flew part time in a twin of some sort (I dont remember what one it was, but it was charter.) and also he still had his "real job" on the side.

So if that shows anything its that it is possible...depending on how much you are willing/able to sacrifice for it.

[A300Capt]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for your honest answer capt. How about charter work that kind of thing?


[/ QUOTE ]

No problem. I know what you want to hear but I also want you to understand the reality of your situation before you jump in with both feet.

Would you be able to fly charter work? Sure, if you meet the minimum requirements for FAR 135 operations and someone is willing to hire you. 1200 hours (IFR charter) or even 500tt(VFR )is a lot of hours to accumulate to meet the absolute minimum requirements and at this point you really have no time to spare.

Bottom line, if you have money to burn and can take some of the pitfalls and hits along the way while pursuing a new career in aviation, by all means, go for it. If you're expecting to hit pay dirt in aviation and be able to quit your current employment I'd say it's probably not a realistic expectation at this point.

CFI'ing and charter work more than likely won't pay the bills but it will satisfy the flying bug and there's nothing wrong with that if that's all your looking for. If your looking toward moving into a cushy corporate jet job or a major airline I honestly don't think that's going to happen, unfortunately.

[winner]

Again the truth hurts, but thanks..Are you saying it would be hard for me to get hired for a part-time CFI job and later with some charter? I would still keep my full time job.

[A300Capt]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you saying it would be hard for me to get hired for a part-time CFI job and later with some charter?

[/ QUOTE ]

What I'm saying is that it takes more than just a new CFI certificate in hand to land a job somewhere. Some FBO's require you to have a certain amount of experience before hiring you. This is probably driven by insurance costs more than anything. You'll run into the same problem flying charters. You're up against insurance minimums, FAR minimums and potential employer minimums. These may all be different.

Your age might actually be a plus for an employer looking for a good CFI who is tired of younger CFI's leaving for better jobs shortly after being hired. It can be a problem when business is good. Also, I believe potential students prefer someone a little older when they're learning to fly.

Charter is a wide open field. What type of airplane does the business use? What kind of time and other qualifications does the employer require from a successful applicant? The second question is usually insurance driven and based on the first question. Nobody is going to put you in a Turboprop or shiny new jet from the get go.

I think you're gonna find that after spending all that money for ratings, in the belief someone will hire you fresh from training, may be bordering on false hope. It's kind of like believing a top medical group is going to hire you straight out of med school (like some shiny brochure would have you believe), only to find out that the truth is you still have to complete an Internship, residency and possibly fellowship experience prior to them even looking at your application.

Remember, there are also a lot of shady businesses in aviation. Some may demand you fly in questionable wx conditions and unreliable aircraft. It my seem adventurous at first but is a quick way to endangering your life, someone elses and losing your hard earned licenses.

My advice:

-Keep your current job if it pays the bills.
-Fly on the side a CFI
-If you are a good quality CFI word will get around and opportunity will come knocking.
-Watch out for shady businesses.
-Stay away from fast track aviation schools who promise airline jobs out of training..doesn't happen!

[VaughnAir]

Man does this site produce some incredible insight! I would say get through your Private and Instrument ratings before considering Aviation a career. That being said, I bowed out of my Aviation program because while I love to fly, I don't love flying enough to give up the my life now as I know it. It is not always as fun as you think.

[winner]

Thanks for all your advice,I am going to finish up my ppl and inst. and see what happens after that. At 48 i can not live in a trash can while doing this..

[Indigo]

[ QUOTE ]
How about charter work that kind of thing?

[/ QUOTE ]
"Charter" encompasses a wide variety of jobs and airplanes. However to get a job for a decent charter company you'll most likely need more experience than is required for a regional airline. That said, I think charter companies would be more willing to hire an older pilot because there is no age 60 limit and the perception is that older people tend to stick around longer.