54 Year Old Career Pilot Aspirant

[marsden]

Hello Everyone.

I found this forum by chance and have read a few of the threads and feel this might be a good place to spend some time.

I'm 54 years old with essentially 0 hours of flight time (I took 3 hours of instruction in the 1970's ) and have this crazy dream of flying commercially.

I wish you all good luck and as time goes by I will relate to you some of my challenges. I know I will benefit from your combined knowledge, experience, wisdom and camaraderie.

My greatest I hope is that I'll be able to give back at least as much as I receive from you all.

[Seggy]

Welcome!



Do you have a training plan?

[Tld]

Welcome! It's not a 'crazy dream'.....(or many of us are just as crazy .) You've got to go after what makes you happy.

[mrivc211]

I was gonna say 54 might be a little late, but now remembering that age has been pushed backed to 65, you've got plenty of time. What field were you in before this?

[marsden]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Welcome!



Do you have a training plan?

Thanks!

I was putting the cart before the horse and assuming I'd be able to pass the physical and now that the initial exhilaration of finally confronting this last great dream gives way to the practical considerations I'm wondering if my flight career will be limited to that done under an inflatable wing and a big Ivo-prop behind me. I just opened a new thread in the medical section entitled, "Should I Give Up The Dream?"

Then the training plan would be to look at as many of the schools as possible. I've been in contact with ATP and Flight Safety and visited the Websites of several more. I'm going to get a credit check sometime within that span of time and talk to some lenders.

So basically, if I can pass the physical and get financed I will settle on whichever school best suits my needs and personality.

If an obstacle presents a no-go, then it's Powered Paragliding I guess.

Sometimes you can fool around and think life's options will always be there for you. And sometimes you wait too long and miss out.

Carpe Diem.

[marsden]

Originally Posted by Tld

Welcome! It's not a 'crazy dream'.....(or many of us are just as crazy .) You've got to go after what makes you happy.

Thanks!

It's like the girl you always loved but somehow you got your signals mixed and you drifted apart but you never stopped loving her and after you are divorced you know that she's always been the one. So you look her up and hope she's still alive, available, as attractive as she was and she is still attracted to you and that you haven't grown apart too much from way back when.

But, enough of the metaphor, getting back to pursuing a commercial flying career is the one true love of my life that I wish I'd never let go.

So, while I still can I want to give it my best shot.

[marsden]

Originally Posted by mrivc211

I was gonna say 54 might be a little late, but now remembering that age has been pushed backed to 65, you've got plenty of time. What field were you in before this?

Mainly auto sales and radio broadcasting.

If I could spend 9 years flying commercially and then find some other way to remain in the air after that, I'd be pleased as punch.

[Qgar]

NEVER give up on a dream. I wanted to be a Flight Attendant from the first time I flew when I was about 12 years old. I was talked out of by my family and instead followed a "safe" life/career path. A couple of years ago my mom passed away and it put life in perspective for me. I followed my crazy dream and after a few rejections and a very brief stint as a gate agent, I was hired by Colgan for their new EWR Q base. BTW, this happened as a result of encouragement from fellow JC'ers, Seggy and Cruise. I absolutely love my new career and wish I'd "gone for it" sooner, but everything happens for a reason and I guess it wasn't the right time before this!
Oh yeah, and I'm almost as old as you---I'm 50---so, it truly is NEVER too late.
Good luck and keep us posted!

[aloft]

Far be it from me to squelch a dream, but unless you're financially well-off, pursuing a flying career at your age is a tad foolhardy. It will take you a bare minimum of $30-35,000 to earn all the necessary ratings, after which you will earn poverty-level wages for the next 1-3 years while you accumulate flying hours in order to get your first airline job--which will also pay you a poverty-level wage the first year. For most career-changers, it will take about 10 years to get back to the same salary level in a flying career, and by then, you will be up against mandatory retirement.

My advice: stay in your current field, get your private ticket, fly recreationally. Shooting for a flying career at your age, you're dooming your odds for a livable retirement.

And no offense to WildCougar, but you really cannot compare the two. Becoming a flight attendant a) has an up-front cost of zero, b) doesn't take 3 years to qualify for the job, and c) you can start directly at a major.

[melax]

If you want to become a commercial pilot, you have the finances, the time and the motivation, no problem. I don't see your age being an obstacle. 54 is still young and your past experience can be an asset. Don't let anybody discourage you. Next year I would like to see your post about you having your Commercial multi instrument rating + your CFI (a must).
Go ahead and do it !!

[Velocipede]

Get right to the training. Stay focused. You can have a career as a regional airline pilot at the Captain level. You are too old to ever be a Captain at a major airline. If you keep your goals realistic, you will be much happier.

[doog]

Originally Posted by marsden

I'm 54 years old with essentially 0 hours of flight time (I took 3 hours of instruction in the 1970's ) and have this crazy dream of flying commercially.

My buddy is 56 and last week started sim traning for his new job at American Eagle. He has been flying for 28 years and has over 500 multi though because he owns a Dutchess. With the mandatory retirement age raised to 65 I don't see any reason you can't do it too, but you'd better get cracking.

[MFT1Air]

Plenty of intangibles not mentioned, but if the dream is there and you wish to pursue, by all means, do so.

I have a nice military retirement which keeps me content once I do the empty nester thing. You may have not have the financial concerns many have, so if not. . .go for it.

[aloft]

From the sounds of his other thread, it doesn't appear that age will be his barrier to entry, but medical issues.