Is it advisable to pursuit a career in Flying (CPL license) at the age of 35.?

Question

Is it advisable to pursuit a career in Flying (CPL license) at the age of 35.?

Answer 1

Of course, as long as you can afford it.  Many airline pilots had former non-flying careers and started flying later in life.

Keep in mind that it is very tough, financially, to do this.  If you're married, educate your spouse on the lifestyle that will result at of this (i.e. being gone a lot...not making any money).

Good luck.

Answer 2

You have 30 years left in Part 121 ops... so you could go far. I would say however.. that the industry is not in great shape.. and you may likely have a long period of trying to build up something to live on.  Depending on your goals....I think if you had the money/funds available, and were able to knock out your ratings at a professional school... and build up to alteast 500 hours with a good reference from your school.. you could get hired by a Regional carrier and start building your career.

If it is something you love, then nothing will deter you... if you see it as a quick road to fame and fortune,  buddy are you in for a disappointment.  The days of playing pilot..  and flying a couple times a month, and laying by the pool and playing golf and tennis...   are ... gone.  You are going to fly, and stay busy..  it will be a lot of legs 3,4,5 even 6 days in a row... then if you live IN BASE...  it's not too bad... you can coast for 3 days... but if you are commuting.....   you have 3 days off... which means if you get off in the morning.. you can get home that night. If not.. you get home on Day #1...  and start to relax.  Day #2 you do those things around the house and wife and kids.. and keep looking at your watch... Day 3 you try not to think about it but you know you have to get back to the airport to get back to base in time for your next trip.

If you are single.. hey...  go for it..  plan on moving where you are hired.. and moving again to a better base if there is one within a year. Put everything in storage or sell it better yet...  I paid $30,000 over 30+ years to store my stuff.. that I could have sold and bought new and been SO far ahead... STUPID.....

If you have a wife...  and she won't move...   ouch..  if you have kids.. and they won't move...  you are on borrowed time before you even get started... that's going to be rough.

Low end Regional carrier... $17--19k first year before taxes

Name brand carrier Eagle, AirLink, Commair, etc  if you get on a jet around $20k first year...  money is usually based on seats... so an ATR-72  (64 seats) can pay better than a RJ Jet with 50 seats... funny.. but that's how it works sometimes.

If you get desperate and fly freight... its rough work, rougher planes, long hard dirty work, schedules,  loading and unloading the freight can be back breaking work, or a snap if the fork lift is handy, working, and the guy driving it is sober, and there...  brush up on your Spanish because no ablo english in Nueva Laredo.

Answer 3

What else can I say?

LLudwig3 said it all and had the best answer in my opinion).

If you can dream it,you can make it happen...

                                                         Hans Christian  Anderson