Looking for a success story

petemoss · August 25th, 2004, 15:12

Hey, anyone out there start at the great age of 47 or so and are now being paid to fly? Need a good story.........

mpenguin1 · August 25th, 2004, 15:22

Harrison Ford, I think that he was 47 years old when he filmed the movie "Air Force One", now he was paid to fly.

Just kidding dude!!!

petemoss · August 25th, 2004, 15:37

dude..................come on

CaptainChris87 · August 25th, 2004, 17:39

If you want to be an airline pilot, Just GO FOR it, from what I've been hearing you could still make it as far as a Reigonal Captain before you come to that retiring age. And Im sure there are success stories of people in their 30's and maybe even 40's here in the forums. by the way I'm 16, and Im just a few lessons into my Solo.

montanapilot · August 25th, 2004, 18:23

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If you want to be an airline pilot, Just GO FOR it

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And what in your vast experience in the airline industry supports this proposition you make?

flyover · August 25th, 2004, 18:41

I flew with a co-pilot who had never even ridden in an airplane until after he was in his 40s. Took a vacation, told his wife that's what he wanted to do. He was a IT guys at a bank. Took a job as a night janitor to make extra money for lessons. Hooked up with a night freight company while continuing his IT job. Got on with a legacy carrier in his late 40s.

eeg · August 25th, 2004, 18:41

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And what in your vast experience in the airline industry supports this proposition you make?

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What ever Bro...

petemoss, look around you'll find some good success stories.

Just remember this; You'll receive alot of different opinions on this subject, just use all the negative energy that people use to put you down as fuel to scrub it right in their face when you do succeed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

montanapilot · August 25th, 2004, 19:16

[ QUOTE ]
What ever Bro...

petemoss, look around you'll find some good success stories.

Just remember this; You'll receive alot of different opinions on this subject, just use all the negative energy that people use to put you down as fuel to scrub it right in their face when you do succeed.

[/ QUOTE ]

now if you would actually take the time to see who my post was a response to, you would know that my reply was not towards Pete Moss.

It was to CaptChris87. I said it cause I think that some of the young un's at JC are pretty happy to give out advice on subjects which that have absolutely no knowledge about.

eeg · August 25th, 2004, 19:21

Like I said...Whatever bro

montanapilot · August 25th, 2004, 20:02

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Whatever bro

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dont know what the heck crawled up your ass but i suggest that you back off.

Fearless · August 25th, 2004, 21:06

Pete,

Well, I guess it really depends on what you want to do. One of my former instrument students got his CFI at the ripe young age of 66 and is now happily instructing part-time. He's not making all that much money (perhaps $6000 a year), but that's not why he's doing it.

If you're looking toward airline flying, then you have a tough road ahead of you. I speak from personal experience. At age 42, I was the oldest person in my new-hire class at a regional airline. Movement is slow right now. With luck, I might possibly upgrade before age 50. Then what? Assuming my company survives (not a "given" in the current environment), I can look forward to being a very junior captain for the next 10 years.

There's probably no one on this board who enjoys flying more than I do. I knew when I left my "desk" job for a flying career I was throwing away any chance I might have for a comfortable retirement - I've spent what should be the most productive years of my life working entry-level flying jobs, squeezing every nickel and sleeping in my car when I couldn't afford an apartment. Nothing like being 45 years old and living in a crash pad with seven other pilots (or flight attendants). This might be O.K. when you're a college kid, but it gets old in a hurry when you're 47.

Many people on this board also underestimate the difficulty of landing a job at a regional, but that's another story. If you do decide to pursue a flying career, please think it through carefully and keep your options open.

Some jobs that are NOT subject to the "Age 60" (mandatory retirement) include:

Flight, ground, or simulator instructor
Banner tow pilot
Glider tow pilot
(Most) Part 135 Freight operations
Corporate flying
FAA inspector
NTSB (Accident investigation)
Teaching jobs (i.e., at an aviation university)
Aircraft maintenance
Avionics technician

(Some of these aren't flying jobs per se, but you do get to hang around pilots and airplanes all day and get paid for it.)

Good luck
FFFI

rv7 · August 25th, 2004, 22:09

I'm like totally diggin all the "dudes" and "bros" in this gnarly thread. Keep it up dudeskis. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

August 25th, 2004, 22:10

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I'm like totally diggin all the "dudes" and "bros" in this gnarly thread. Keep it up dudeskis. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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Yeah Bro. I get ya. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cwm27.gif[/img]

MikeD · August 25th, 2004, 23:27

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
And what in your vast experience in the airline industry supports this proposition you make?

[/ QUOTE ]

What ever Bro...

petemoss, look around you'll find some good success stories.

Just remember this; You'll receive alot of different opinions on this subject, just use all the negative energy that people use to put you down as fuel to scrub it right in their face when you do succeed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I would venture to say that 15 year old being called on for giving a 47 year old advice on a serious life changing career move warrants more than a "whatever bro". This decision is one that takes a little more study about the ins and outs of what needs to be done, not just a "go for it"

VaughnAir · August 25th, 2004, 23:44

My response as always. What are you giving up to persue this? Answer this, and go from there. You will find people that have done it, but to what extent of success are you looking for?

MikeD · August 25th, 2004, 23:52

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My response as always. What are you giving up to persue this? Answer this, and go from there. You will find people that have done it, but to what extent of success are you looking for?

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Correct. At midlife, it's not a decision one can just jump into the next day. Yes, there have been success stories, and there will continue to be. But there's many more decisions to be weighted, than if a 19 yr old were in the same boat.

VaughnAir · August 26th, 2004, 00:06

From my own experience. I am 29, five years older than my instructor. I have about one year left in school to finish my AAS in aviation. My instructor made a comment today that I am not much older than him. That simple little comment kind of shocked me in the wrong way just for the simple fact that a five year age gap between us, meant an 8+ year head start (for him) in the same ultimate pursuit. So what I am trying to say, if you currently have not much total time, with a degree add three years to your age. That's when it's seems the average time till you could get an airline job. 35 to 37 will be when I will be hireable, if nothing changes!

MikeD · August 26th, 2004, 00:12

[ QUOTE ]
From my own experience. I am 29, five years older than my instructor. I have about one year left in school to finish my AAS in aviation. My instructor made a comment today that I am not much older than him. That simple little comment kind of shocked me in the wrong way just for the simple fact that a five year age gap between us, meant an 8+ year head start (for him) in the same ultimate pursuit.

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Agree. Just one more of a number of things to consider before "jumping ship" into a new career; especially these days. I'm not saying it can't be done, but depending on one's situation, there may be more or less hidden hurdles that you definately want to research and plan for. Something far more than just following one's heart.

mastermags · August 26th, 2004, 00:15

I actually have a success story. My private instructor began flying about the age of 41. Two years later he was instructing me. Now he flies for a surveying company (day job), CAP on saturdays, a kingair occasionally, and has his own business. He is a Nafi Master CFI, ATP, and commercial helicoptor pilot. He is now 46.

CaptainChris87 · August 26th, 2004, 00:27

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
And what in your vast experience in the airline industry supports this proposition you make?

[/ QUOTE ]

What ever Bro...

petemoss, look around you'll find some good success stories.

Just remember this; You'll receive alot of different opinions on this subject, just use all the negative energy that people use to put you down as fuel to scrub it right in their face when you do succeed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I would venture to say that 15 year old being called on for giving a 47 year old advice on a serious life changing career move warrants more than a "whatever bro". This decision is one that takes a little more study about the ins and outs of what needs to be done, not just a "go for it"

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This thread had no responses for quite a time, the only response I found was the joke by Mr Penguin(which is cool). By Pete's reply I can tell he realley wanted a serious answer. all I did was Tried to help a fellow member by encouraging him to go for his goals, and using my knowledge from what ive learned from the PEOPLE IVE TALKED TO HERE. and to MAKE HIM THINK SERIOSULY ABOUT JETCAREERS AND THAT WE OR THE PEOPLE HERE ARE HERE TO HELP. Not make jokes. And I GET Flammed for doing that? by the way Good Luck! (Mainly on montana's quote)

VaughnAir · August 26th, 2004, 00:28

Just as a side note, I am in need of an English major to help correct my propensity for run on sentences! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

MikeD · August 26th, 2004, 00:41

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
And what in your vast experience in the airline industry supports this proposition you make?

[/ QUOTE ]

What ever Bro...

petemoss, look around you'll find some good success stories.

Just remember this; You'll receive alot of different opinions on this subject, just use all the negative energy that people use to put you down as fuel to scrub it right in their face when you do succeed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I would venture to say that 15 year old being called on for giving a 47 year old advice on a serious life changing career move warrants more than a "whatever bro". This decision is one that takes a little more study about the ins and outs of what needs to be done, not just a "go for it"

[/ QUOTE ]

This thread had no responses for quite a time, the only response I found was the joke by Mr Penguin(which is cool). By Pete's reply I can tell he realley wanted a serious answer. all I did was Tried to help a fellow member by encouraging him to go for his goals, and using my knowledge from what ive learned from the PEOPLE IVE TALKED TO HERE. and to MAKE HIM THINK SERIOSULY ABOUT JETCAREERS AND THAT WE OR THE PEOPLE HERE ARE HERE TO HELP. Not make jokes. And I GET Flammed for doing that? by the way Good Luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

One explanation so as not to ruin his thread:

Simple as this: I understand the desire to be positive, and that's cool. But this scenario is one that takes more than just a simple answer, it takes an informed answer. Let's say that someone started a thread saying that they were going to go interview with Southwest or Delta, and wanted advice on what to expect. Even though I may possess knowlege of the interview process for each airline based on what "I've learned from people I've talked to" (and some of my own experience); I'd let them give the answer, because I, regardless of what I've heard/learned, don't really know the answer; and I definately don't have the current gouge on the subject. So I'd be doing a disservice trying to answer the question at all considering the other audience members of the board, since the question is far more indepth than a yes-or-no question.

CaptainChris87 · August 26th, 2004, 00:46

I see what your trying to say MikeD, but that response was mainly to MontanaPilot for his attitiude and use of vulgar language. I understand the fact that your right, its more than a yes or no question and that indeed there are more experienced members in here. I agree that we all must learn from each other even the experienced people on this board, but again as I said I just did not like Montana's approach in correcting me.

E_Dawg · August 26th, 2004, 00:54

Let's just drop it and focus on the point of this thread.

Anyway I have a 'sucess' story. I guess it's more like a 'getting there' story than anything but here goes... my cfi was 43 (???) around 43 anyway. I did inst, comm, and cfi with him and he got a job flying cargo. He is now a training captain in a single and will probably move into the twin pretty soon... upgrade times are pretty quick. I'm not too sure what his future plans are, from recently talking to him it sounds like he's going to keep his current job for a while and build up some time to get on at Southwest or Jetblue... I think he's around 45 now so he still has some time.

He is a guy with incredible focus, the guy can REALLY get something done when he puts his mind to it... He had a poster on his wall of the cockpit and would do flows when he was in groundschool. He 'dry flies' with a cockpit poster of the twin to get ready to upgrade even though he hasn't flown a twin in a year. The guy has done various jobs during life and when he decided on aviation he put his mind to it and got a degree while cfiing and working another job full time.

So basically he worked like crazy and gave up a lot to be where he is now; but he is still 'just' flying a single around, still working like crazy, and only making whatever they make over there (no idea, probably not much). And this is several years into his professional flight career, after spending thousands on training.

So I would say it comes down to how much you have and how much you are willing to give up... i.e. is a shot at a new career worth being away from your family? My cfi lived alone, had a girlfriend and that was it. I don't think it'd have been possible if he was married with kids.

Windchill · August 27th, 2004, 10:20

Instead of looking for a success story . . . you could try to create one that could serve as inspiration to others in your shoes down the road.