Am I too old to be an airline pilot?

Question

I'm 30 and have just started flying lessons while I'm still groundcrew in the Royal Air Force. I'll leave in bout 5 years and I really want to persue my dream of being a pilot. Am I way too old to be starting from scratch, to want to fly for an airline one day?

Answer 1

I just started flying lessons as well and was wondering the same thing I'm 32 and the general consensus is no. From what I have seen on starting pilot salaries it will be tough for a few years but i really want to do it so a pay cut is a sacrifice I'm willing to make for a few years so if you really want to do it go for it.I'm not sure which country you are in but i understand that they recently raised the mandatory retirement age in the U.S. to 65 so that will help us here and maybe you as well if decide to come here and work.

Answer 2

No, not at all

Go ahead, pursue your dreams

nothing can stop you if you are determined and focused

also being with the RAF is no small thing

Best of luck for the future!

Answer 3

no way its never too late 2 persue a dream...go for it and good luck...x*x

Answer 4

Hello,

(ANS) NOP!! 30 years old still gives you many many years remaining to become a commercial airline pilot. What matters most is your skills and ability to learn.

I think you will find that what seems to matter the most in commercial flying (after you have passed your commercial pilots license) is the sheer number of hours experience in the air. And this is despite the type or kind of aircraft, from a simple single engined cecensor, to a hawk trainer jet through to a 737 airliner.

Ivan

Answer 5

See www.pprune.org/forums

There is a thread there somewhere (in the pilot training forum I think) entitled "How old is too old" or something like that. You will get MUCH better information there (with respect) than you will get here....

Good luck with your journey. I was 33 when I got my first job and never looked back.

Answer 6

By the time you are 35, you should have amounted enough solo hours to apply to become an airline pilot.

Answer 7

ur only 30 , thats  not even close to old, besides no1s too old to pursue their dreams

gOOd Luck

Answer 8

No, you have lots of time left. Get your PPL and your CPL and you will soon have enough hours to apply- you can count all your hours of learning as well.

Answer 9

No, you'll be fine. Having been in the RAF will be a great advantage. If you haven't already realised it, the airlines are the biggest old boys club in the world.

Answer 10

No, you still have lots of time at age 30.

Answer 11

no, you are not too old. You might struggle to get into a sponsored school ( like the "Midland" in Scotland ) so you'll have to find a way of funding it yourself probably.

I would recommend you really look at this carefully. Commercial pilots dont' earn a great deal. The industry has seen many redundancies over the past few years.

And, its boring. I had a PPL and a C172 for 3 years and it bored me to tears. If you are thinking of Commercial jets, you will find them entirely procedure driven with no scope in the job for any initiative or imagination.

Its true that airliner manufactures have to leave some tasks as manual just to keep the pilot active and awake.

Are you sure you want a job like that ?