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Is it crazy idea te be a pilot at age of 39?
Is it crazy idea te be a pilot at age of 39? It is my husband who wanna be a pilot. Too late? I know it was his dream job and hard to say NO to one's dream. If you experts say "not too late" then I want to support his dream. What do u all think?
1 month ago
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Jasper
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Jasper Ferguson • It is aABSOLUTELY NOT a crazy idea to be a pilot at age 39.!!! I started flying again after a 20 year lay off while I raised a family. I returned to flying in 2005 and I had to get my multi-engine ticket BEFORE I could even find a job! I was 47 years old!
I am currently based in Malaysia flying a Global Express! Folks told me that I was too old to fly a jet and that I was wasting my time. Imagine how I felt when I achieved my dream (that had been on hold for 20 years) and told some of those folks where to stuff it and that I was off to fly a Lear Jet! The REAL payoff was in the realization of my dream!
Now for the rough side... financially it WILL be difficult! I had savings that I used while I earned $1500.00 per month getting back into flying. I did this for two years before I landed a decent paying job and built some experience. You all may be strapped but you have to plan on surviving somehow financially. Someone might have to work an extra job and it may be you! You need to quantify how far you are willing to go when you say... "I want to support his dream". You both need to decide what you are willing to trade.
If you all have the funds then I recommend one of those one year to a commuter jet job schools. Some folks will tell you not to pay any money to lead to that first jet job but the reality is that you can save three to six years of flying if you use one of these schools. I bought my first type rating myself (Citation 500) and I have not looked back since. Talk about accelerating a career!?
The upside to all of this... Asian and Middle East markets are booming! even our USA is starting a comeback! Pilot shortages loom in the next few years. Your hubby should have a plethora of job opportunities from which to choose.
Respectfully,
J
1 month ago
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Sara Kim • Dear J,
Thank you for your precious comment about my posting.
It is great help. Actually, we've been getting negative comments about
what we are about to do.. from friends and families..
but getting some positive reaction from someone who is in field is build up confidence in both
of us.
About financial issue.. Yes Yes.. It will be difficult for family 2-3 years or even longer(hopefully not ) I am ready for that.. luckily, we have enough funds for his flight school...
Regarding school selecting, one of his soon to be pilot friend recommend one in san diego.. but what is commuter jet job school?
Thank you again....
Sara
1 month ago
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Jasper Ferguson • Here is a reputable school that has been in business for years and has airline affiliations. They are also in California... give them a call. There are others you can find with a google search.
http://www.atpflightschool.com/airlines/pinnacle_alliance.html
1 month ago
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Rob Strijk • ABSOLUTLY NOT ...
UR TIMING COULDNT BE BETTER IN FACT ! ;-)
I WISH YOU ALL THE STRENGTH AND ENERGY TO FULLFILL UR DREAM. I STARTED WHEN I WAS AROUND 40 AND I AM AN EXPERIENCED F/O B737 WITH ALMOST 4000 HOURS ON TYPE ;-) ..
IF U WANT SOME TIPS DONT HESITATE TO SEND ME EMAIL ..
ROBSTRIJK@GMAIL.COM
1 month ago
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Vince Polden • I just flew with a gentlemen that owns a Cessna 414. He has had four of them in his life. He flies the plane with percission and knows it well. A good pilot knows when to hang up his headset. And a youthful pilot will never stop wanting to fly. Age is just a number. Go for it..
1 month ago
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Dave Ellis • :-)
1 month ago
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Jeannine Young • I started my flight training when I was 58 years old, knowing of course it would be recreational only...no career. I did it to have a passion in my retirement. OH how I wish I was only 39 and what I would do now to gain the training to have some sort of aviation career. I love flying so much and it is so much fun to share my skill and plane with friends and family. Go for it....even if you only get the Private certificate; the knowledge and enjoyment you will get out of it will be a lifelong joy.
1 month ago
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William (Barry) Hubbard • Go for it....I did at 32 years old and through my Wife's support and encouragement, I started to fly professionally, part time at 40 and then my first full time pilot position at 43...it was a struggle BUT worth it....still semi active in flying .....
1 month ago
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Adrienne Wooley • Well, no, BUT...
You don't mention where you live or what sort of job your husband envisions, or why he wants to be a pilot. I have been an airline pilot in the US for 15 years, so I can tell you a little from my perspective.
If he wants to be an airline pilot the suggestion of a school affiliated with a commuter is really the only way to go. He doesn't need to spend time instructing and can hopefully go right into an airline position. Here is what the school won't tell you: the pay is incredibly low - look up airline pay scales online; reserve will be a fact of life; the US is in the process of implementing a new rule that will require 1500 hours for commuter pilots; there is no guarantee he will ever get a job at a major.
The pay first. It is horrible, but then you have to consider expenses. Are you willing to move to wherever he gets based? What if he gets displaced - will you move again? You will likely need to work as well. How will moving affect your job prospects? If he commutes, he will need a place to stay in base (paying rent) and possibly a car if not a city with good public transportation. My first job had 8 days off per month on reserve, and I often had to commute on my off days. When will you see each other? What about current or prospective children? This is why AIDS is so prevalent - that's Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome! Imagine the pipes are burst, the kid wrecked the car, you are in a city far away from your family and hubby says, see ya, I'll be back in a week. How will you cope?
The 1500 hour requirement will likely be mitigated a bit, maybe by the type of school a pilot attends. But right now we don't know which ones would get a break. Typically a student would leave a school like that with 300-400 hours. Where will the rest come from? Check out the other discussion about the pilot who wants an fo job with 255 hours.
There are corporate opportunities as well. Normally you can't commute to these, you'd have to move. A job with wal mart, for example, would mean moving to the depths of Arkansas. Is that going to work for you?
Flight schools right now are facing some different realities. First, they can't fill all their spots (there are good reasons that people do not want to be pilots anymore). Not everyone in those schools intends to fly for a living. Many quit when their graduated friends tell them what it's like. And many can't get even the crappy jobs out there!
Finally, why does he want to be a pilot? If it's for love of flying airplanes, he'd be better off flying general aviation. Airline flying is not fun flying; we do it in the safest way possible, on the autopilot, and to the same destinations. There are many long days and short nights. There is a lot of continuing training, regulations concerning every area of your life, and you miss a lot of holidays and important family events.
I hope you both talk to pilots who do the type of flying he wants to do in the place you want to do it. Be forearmed with lots of information about what you're getting in to. Best of luck!
1 month ago
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Ndiwa Wachina • i like the discussions.am about to make similar decisions.
1 month ago
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Jonathan Oaks • Get a plan together that has absolute timelines, line up the money, and DO IT!! I waited for the money and since that would run out from time to time, I've never fully completed flight training, and now it may be too late for me to continue, because I didn't follow the advice I'm recommending to your husband. GO!! DO IT!!
1 month ago
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Drew Radford • Don't let him not give his dream a try, I did the same thing in 2000, walked out of my 10 year career at Boeing and went to ATP (good school provided you hit the books hard on your own) and had a job in under a year.
I will say Adrienne is 100% correct also, I left the airline career last year after hitting the age/future opportunity equation that said staying in makes no sense financially, I would never get to the pay level I needed to make the sacrifice worthwhile. I have the most incredible wife who supported me completely but it was very hard on our relationship. He needs to do his due diligence and find out what the realities are in the reigonal airlines, it's a tough road. If you live in domicile it's much easier so if it's at all possible move to where he flys, that will make all the difference in the world. I'd still be flying if it were possible for me.
There are lots of other opportunities besides the airlines to scratch the flying itch so don't limit yourself, Good luck!
1 month ago
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Jonathan Johns • Don't give up any of you! Commuter/Regional Airlines are a pain, they use to be a necessary evil, but over the next 5-7 years you will see many people just skipping them altogether. Most of us flyers are just true blue aviators... the difference between and aviator and a pilot, is that an aviator loves flying, they figure out how to fly and make a living and staying airborn, and the pilot is just looking for a job. And Jonathan... you are doing so good, and you are literally a couple of hours from the FAA checkride... I am going to be real direct here and give you your own advice JUST DO IT!!! I will help you, let me know what you need to do and let's go brother! BTW everyone, I gave up on the airlines started 3 different businesses, and finally settled into the fact I am a true blue aviator and started a flight school with a partner... and we love it!
1 month ago
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Adrienne Wooley • Ah yes, the "pilot shortage". I've been waiting 20 years for that! Will never happen as long as we are willing to pay for jobs or fly for free just for the chance to fly, or fly a twin, or a jet, or a bigger jet. Controllers get paid a lot more than we do. Not because their job is harder but because no one would do it for free just for the chance to control an airplane!
1 month ago
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Alan Tipps • There's a lot more to do in this industry than just fly for an airline or a G-V for a corporation. Only thing your husband can't do is waste any time. Usually, the people talking about the coming "pilot shortage" are flight schools and career assistance companies. But this time, in the next decade, there will really be a shortage of qualified pilots across the industry. We're coming out of a deep downturn, and if it's anything like the hiring boom of the late 90s, he should be able to ride that wave into a decent position. But it will be a small window of opportunity, so he needs to get his ratings as quickly as he can and start building time as fast as he can, so he can be in a position to take advantage of the hiring. Once the window closes, it will be closed for another decade or so. Train while things are slow, so he can be ready when the hiring picks up. In the corporate world, it's all about relationships. Making contacts. The fact that he's pushing 40 can be an asset in many ways, because he's mature and has learned how to carry himself. Customer interaction is key, as is being able to be on the road with the same people for weeks at a time, so his maturity and experience from other industries and life in general could serve him well. Like others have mentioned, if you guys are willing to accept some instability and/or financial transients for a season while he's training, there's nothing standing in between him and his dream.
1 month ago
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Matteo Gorza PMP • I'm 39, I'm aeronautical engineer and I see lot of airplanes on a computer monitor. I got PPL in May and I passed the 12 exams for the ATPL at first try in June.
I love to fly and now I would become professional pilot, but I have same doubts as others: money, age, family...
But I think in our live we have to try to meke real our dreams.
24 days ago
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Storm Williams • If for no other reason other than to expand one's skills, I would recommend learning to fly to anyone. And 39 years old? A mere child.
23 days ago
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Gregg Bender • Not at all. As long as you can pass the physical, your age doesn't matter. My long-term plan is to get my glider rating. I have a PP cert, but haven't used it in years. Flying a sailplane with an instructor was exhilerating...
23 days ago
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Donn Thomas Borden • Apparently the assumption here is that the ultimate goal is professional commercial aviation. I was there. After forty years in Boeing airplanes, beginning with the B-52 and culminating with twenty years in the B-747, I don't think I'd do that today. My time was the "Golden Age" of commercial aviation, guided by such aviators as Eddie Rickenbacker, Juan Trippe, Jack Frye, Bob Six and others. Airlines are no longer run by airline "people". By all means, give flying a try, and give it your best. Just be prepared for some disappointments and hardships along the way. All the previous comments here have validity. I wish you the best. Regards.
22 days ago
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Robert Fenton • I can show you my resume and you will definitely think twice about it. This career is definitely not conducive to family life. But on the other hand I wouldn't change a thing. If I had to do it all over again I may have made different choices, but I may not have had as many memorable experiences either. Follow your heart and hope for a lot of luck!
21 days ago
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Robert Fenton • Oh, and I might add that I am not married. Had I been I'm sure my wife would have had as many "memorable" experiences they would just be different ones. ;)
21 days ago
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THOMAS DAY • I am now 38 and earned my PPL last year right after I lost my job of 15 years. That's right, I earned my private pilots license while unemployed. Fortunately for me I also have a supportive spouse who backs me 110%. Honestly that is the most important factor. Yes, my wife and I are making huge sacrifices now because I have to earn my instrument, commercial, CFI, CFII, multi-engine and MEI ratings. Fortunately for me I am receiving a little assistance from my G.I. Bill benefits but the road will still be long and hard. My wife totally understands my passion for aviation and is sticking it out with me eventhough I'm either flying or studying til 2 and 3am (but I love it). Aviation is in our blood and that passion will never leave no matter how old we become. The more you support "each other" the greater your relationship will become and aviation will be his only mistress.
21 days ago
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Jacqueline Dudman • I plan' life permitting' to become a little Heli pilot, I am over ouch 40+....
We all have one life, and I wish to do what I am passionate about.
- Require employment in the near of amazing flying machines, would also help me to excel further...
21 days ago
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Craig Osbourne • Follow your dream. anything is possible !
20 days ago
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ALICIA GUANA • Sara sky is the limit! do not hesitate in following your dreams, and in this case, encourage him to follow his. It´s wonderful to do what you want, and people is happy when doing that. Future will tell if recreational or professional, who knows. But the main point is to enjoy and never feel too old to do sthg you like.
Help him and enjoy together. Good luck.
20 days ago
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Simon Ramseyer • Be careful what you wish for is all i would add .
20 days ago
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Maria-Anna Muller • Stay hungry, stay foolish :-) (Steve Jobs)
20 days ago
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DHARAM VEER JAIN • You should support him for his dream .....
Its not too late .....
19 days ago
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Sanne Zimmermann • I have supported a husband who changed careers into aviation when he was 30 and have never looked back since. Yes, it was very hard for 4 years, but I was willing to do whatever it took. Now I am working in aviation myself. It's demanding and fascinating at the same time. If you are willing to go for it with him and stick with him through the rough patches it will work out (as said above, aviation will always ask you to be a little more flexible than if he had a 9-5 job in an office) - I wish you all the best!
18 days ago
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Bruce Hinds • Last year I heard about a guy that wanted to get his pilots license so he could take his girl friend for a ride. He was 92! Go for it!
18 days ago
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Thomas Harvey • It is not to late for your husband to follow his dream. However, it is so critical that he focus on his dream, to achieve it. Like any other dream, it may require some sacrifice in other parts of his life to achieve his dream. There are many segments to aviation, some like teaching can be fulfilled close to home, others liike flying charter, may take him all over the world. It is how one designs the solution to the dream that is also important. Happy Landings!!
18 days ago
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Tetsuro Aoi • Dreams exist to be realized indifferently from people's age. Without trying nothing can happen. As you are ready to support him, it will be a big help and the best chance to him. Good luck!
18 days ago
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Paul Mannino • This should dispel that myth...an 80-year old man solos: http://www.gvnews.com/news/gv-man-solos-in-plane-reaches-goal/article_555126d2-0142-506f-8380-3458b55c4061.html?mode=story
18 days ago
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Paul Mannino • This article from AOPA just popped into my inbox: http://sz0121.wc.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/mail?app=mail#20. Scroll to the section titled "Learn something new at 22 or 92."
18 days ago
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Staffan Nelsson • Go for it! We need more female pilots in the airline industry! I wish you success!
18 days ago
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Catherine Tobenas • 39 is the perfect age. mature responsible. But if you start doubting you might not be ready yet. Aviation is something you "jump" into without looking back or down.....
18 days ago
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John MacDonald, MA • Depends on what you want to fly as well as where you want to fly. There is a timing issue and with a start now you would be in a better position in a few years. There are challenges, salaries can be thin depending on the situation and you will ahv to pay your dues. Networking is also an option-I have a friend who went through a commuter school but was hired with one of his friends F/O on a Falcon Jet. He traveled for 5 years but was not home much, and in the end his hours and time paid off as he is now with Virgin Atlantic as an F/O on their B777's. Just like any career change make sure that the familiy understands and that the financial aspects will not cause an issue.
18 days ago
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Renato Donadio • Life is too short for such questions! I started flying at 36, instrument rated at 40 and at age 51 I am pursuing a Commercial ticket to be followed by CFI.
Flying is like any other pursuit, or dream, in life - the only thing that matters is what you want it to be. Flying, like other endeavors, has its pros and cons and he must form a plan, set goals and do his homework. There will be peaks and valleys but he will find a fraternity of people willing to mentor and support him in his training and beyond.
I have gotten to do many things I never really believed were possible before I started flying and accomplishing my goals led to fulfilment and was a positive influence on other parts of my life.
The best experience so far is several dog fighting flights in a Marchetti SF260 with AirCombatUSA. There is something about pulling a climbing turn at 4 G's and watching the world spin past the canopy that is totally awesome!!!
Good Luck!!!!!!
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