Can I still become a commercial pilot?

Question

At age 31 and after 5 years of practicing law (and all the time reading aviation journals) I am at a point in my life where I need a change. I would really like to become a commercial pilot for a U.S. airline.

I'm in generally good health, I wear glasses, but can be corrected to 20/20 (I would pay for lasics if I had to). I'm a little overweight, but could bring that down as necessary. I have some disk problems in the L4-5 and have a few bouts with clinical depression in the past.

As far as investment of time and money, I have or can come up with whatever it takes to make this work.

My question is simple: Have I come to this realization too late in my life or could I realistically become a commercial pilot within the next few years? Any assistance would be nice as I have no idea where to even start looking for an answer.

Answer 1

it take thousands of hours of flying time before you will ever even be considered for an airline pilot job (most have 20 years of flying experience before they ever get to see the cockpit of a 747)

Answer 2

if you have the money you can, and are qualified to become a pilot by getting your license and training, i know this because i want to become one as well i am 13 and i have already flown a plane

Answer 3

It is never too late, BUT...

1) Your depression may be a problem when you are trying to obtain your Flight Physical and if you can get that one the airlines won't like it. And they will find out. The lower lumbars should not be too big an issue unless there are nerve issues that affect the use of your lower extremities. As far as your eyes are concerned talk to a flight surgeon before having your eyes carved up!

2) The steps to get from no pilot certificate to a commercial ticket takes time, and the required flight hours are high.

First the Private SEL, than Instruments, Commercial, Flight Instructor, Multi engine rating, and finally ATP.

what most people do (military excluded) Get to the Flight Instructor part as quickly as possible. A CFI ticket lets you earn money, up till now you paid for the privilege! You won't make a lot of money and depending on where you live it may take a while. I had to move from Portland OR due to weather as there is not much flight instruction going on during a rainstorm. San Diego is a great place for instructing as are Arizona and Florida. Economics also play a role of course.

You become employable to a freight company operating under Part 135 when yo get about 1100 hours plus. From there you go on and get a Type Certificate in an Airliner and start sending out resumes to the big guys.....

Here is an old truism in aviation:

How to make a small fortune in aviation...

START WITH A BIG ONE!!!

Check out www.ameriflight.com

it is a great freight company and on their website you can find the section of their requirements for pilots.

Good Luck

Greg W

retired  CFI-I, AGI, Commercial Pilot, SEL MEL, IFR

Answer 4

Don't listen to anyone who says

1.You have to be in the Airforce

2. No youre too old and can't do it

3.You need 1,000,000 hours to fly

YOU CAN DO IT..... i myself was in law school everyday and couldnt wait to get out of class to (no, not see my girlfriend) play flight simulator.  I started to hate business and law and everything about the grimey corporate world of brown nosing and *** sucking for an extra buck.  So, I switched majors and went to a flight school...  Now I am flying and love it so much more.........  I wakeup in the morning and go, AHH, DONT HAVE TO SIT AT A DESK.,

Go online and search for your nearest airport and look for an FBO flight school.  It will cost about 35K-55K for all of your ratings but will probably take under a year. Trust me do it!

Your law degree will NOT go to waiste because nowadays airlines want to see a degree and your law degree would be very impressive during an interview.  I am training with guys that are 40-45 years old that wanted a career change too.  I know a few Regional Airline Pilots that changed careers at exactly your age!  Now they love what they do.

The sooner you start, the better for you..  You could literally start training next week if you just go to your local airport and talk to people at flight schools.  After you get your licenses and ratings you can instruct and build time, then send out resumes.  Outlook for pilots in the future looks great right now.  The regionals are undergoing a shortage and need pilots.  Go to your airport and find a flight school TOMORROW!!!  DONT WASTE ANYTIME IF YOU LOVE AVIATION

Answer 5

clinical depression is aka Bipolar disorder if your depression is otherwise caused, you have a chance of a special issuance.

    You will be required to get a work up and opinion of a Psychiatrists, be off any meds for a set minimum time.

    if you are on ssri's sorry, you will not able to pass the required faa physical exam.

    ÃƒÂ‚§ 67.107 Mental.

    Mental standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:

    (a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:

    (1) A personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts.

    (2) A psychosis. As used in this section, “psychosis” refers to a mental disorder in which:

    (i) The individual has manifested delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition; or

    (ii) The individual may reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition.

    (3) A bipolar disorder.

    <snip>

    c) No other personality disorder, neurosis, or other mental condition that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds—

    (1) Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or

    (2) May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.

Source(s)

    Title 14: Aeronautics and Space

    PART 67—MEDICAL STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION

A 1991 change in the reporting requirements on FAA Form 8500-8 mandated all visits to health care providers, including counselors and psychologists, were required to be reported on each physical. The Federal Air Surgeon (FAS) wrote a letter to all Aviation Medical Examiner’s (AMEs) in September 1992 acknowledging that the effect of this interpretation of the 8500-8’s instructions discouraged pilots from seeking mental health assistance. The FAS indicated that the FAA encourages pilots to seek assistance for all conditions, but does not want to restrict flying for those conditions that did not affect flying safety. His clarification, later incorporated into the explanation section of question 19 on the 8500-8, stated that visits to mental health professionals were reportable ONLY if it was due to alcohol/substance abuse OR resulted in a personal psychiatric diagnosis.

Clearly, pilots and controllers seeking counseling for marital or family problems who were functioning well, but seeking to improve their situation, have no obligation to report that counseling. Counseling by clergy, or even your personal physician, is not reportable if there is no personal psychiatric diagnosis, no alcohol or substance abuse and no treatment with medications. Visits to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for conditions described above are also not reportable.

The FAA will allow pilots and controllers who have been diagnosed with depression and treated with medication to hold an Airman's Medical Certificate after certain conditions are met.  First, they must be off medications and remain without significant depressive symptoms for at least 90 days.  Ongoing counseling is allowed and encouraged.  They will have to complete an psychiatric and psychological evaluation, usually performed by their treating psychiatrist and psychologist.    Upon completion of this testing, a clinical summary and periodic progress notes are forwarded to the FAA for review.  The review process may take several months.   If the condition is waiverable, the pilot will have to submit periodic reports from treating physicians or counselors at future medical examinations.

Answer 6

My dad retired recently after spending 24 years in a government job.  Before that, he had been a lawyer.  He has since gone to cooking school and gotten a culinary degree, and liked that so much that he went back and got a baking degree.  He's working on getting his private pilot's license now, and plans to work towards getting a commercial license after he's got his private license.  He's 59.  The commercial license will probably just be for fun, since at his age he most likely won't be hired--and anyway, he's happily retired.  Or, I should say, "retired."

Basically, you've got time to do whatever you want to do.  Don't hold yourself back--31 is still young!  The only regret my father has had thus far is not trying to fly earlier.  He wanted to join the Air Force in his twenties and didn't for fear that he would be rejected due to his poor vision, which, as it turns out, hasn't been a problem.  

Good luck--follow your dreams.  Can you imagine yourself 10 years from now, sitting at a desk practicing law, or would you rather see yourself in the cockpit of a Boeing?  You've got one life--live it!  Honestly, what have you got to lose?  A couple of dollar signs?  Being happy is worth it.  Live the life you love and love the life you live.

Answer 7

i was planning to go into it before i became a diabetic, it doesnt take too long, but you gotta have a lotta flight time logged. makes good money too