Question???
07-27-2015, 08:29 PM
#1
New Hire
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Joined APC: Jul 2015
Posts: 3
Question???
I'm 47 years old living in suburban Chicago and looking to get back into aviation as a career. I have 1600 hours, 260 multi with a commercial multi engine rating. I haven't flown in 15 years but was wondering if it's still possible to get hired with the regionals?
If the above is possible how would you go about doing it? Suggestions really appreciated.
If the above is possible how would you go about doing it? Suggestions really appreciated.
07-27-2015, 08:30 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: ERJ 170
Posts: 729
I'm 47 years old living in suburban Chicago and looking to get back into aviation as a career. I have 1600 hours, 260 multi with a commercial multi engine rating. I haven't flown in 15 years but was wondering if it's still possible to get hired with the regionals?
If the above is possible how would you go about doing it? Suggestions really appreciated.
If the above is possible how would you go about doing it? Suggestions really appreciated.
07-27-2015, 09:29 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2015
Posts: 504
Being out of it for that long, I would go to a career fair and meet with the reputable regionals and state your case. The calls you will get from the "can you fog a mirror" regionals are the ones you don't want to work for. Forget Mesa, Republic and PSA. Shoot for Skywest, Expressjet or Horizon. Not in that order.
07-28-2015, 02:43 AM
#5
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Joined APC: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,150
FWIW all the young guys are breezing initial training and I had 2 guys in my class 50+ washout... VERY poor performance. Both were returning from several years off. Also, why would you do this to yourself? Now, I don't know anything but I would imagine at 47 if you're 50+ the majors aren't going to be exactly interested in you.
To the OP: it's all very do-able. Get current. Go to a job fair as suggested. But think very hard about why you want to do this. Nothing about the regional industry has changed in the past 12 years for the better! I've been in the regionals 16 yrs and the older I get the worse the commuting and time away from home gets.
With 18 yrs left, you're very marketable (majors have hired many guys from 52-61 that I know of personally), so if you decide you want in, there is a career progression track...dependent upon your timing and luck of course.
07-28-2015, 03:10 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: 7th green
Posts: 4,378
Sure the majors pay well, but they're certainly not the be all and end all to aviation.
07-28-2015, 03:27 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Prone
Posts: 399
Guess what, Ace? There are plenty of decent jobs in commercial aviation besides the majors. I'd venture to guess that there a PLENTY of pilots who are more than happy not to have to deal with airport terminals, the TSA and being nothing but one of 15,000 butts in the seat.
Sure the majors pay well, but they're certainly not the be all and end all to aviation.
Sure the majors pay well, but they're certainly not the be all and end all to aviation.
07-28-2015, 08:54 AM
#9
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,020
FWIW all the young guys are breezing initial training and I had 2 guys in my class 50+ washout... VERY poor performance. Both were returning from several years off. Also, why would you do this to yourself? Now, I don't know anything but I would imagine at 47 if you're 50+ the majors aren't going to be exactly interested in you.
But anyone who has taken years off from flying would need to get VERY current and recent before trying 121 training. I would suggest 20-40 hours of fast-paced instrument flying (ie approaches). You could supplement some of that with simulator time, even PC-based sim if you do it right. But you need to get your IFR skills up to par.
Majors seem to have largely given up on age discrimination (not worth the legal hassles), although the ROI for starting an airline career in your late forties is questionable...depends on your personal finances and schedule flexibility.
07-28-2015, 11:28 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 473
Age is a factor, it is frankly harder to learn new stuff after 40. But not impossible at all, especially for someone who has remained mentally engaged in a profession (or even hobbies) which require constant learning and mental agility.
But anyone who has taken years off from flying would need to get VERY current and recent before trying 121 training. I would suggest 20-40 hours of fast-paced instrument flying (ie approaches). You could supplement some of that with simulator time, even PC-based sim if you do it right. But you need to get your IFR skills up to par.
Majors seem to have largely given up on age discrimination (not worth the legal hassles), although the ROI for starting an airline career in your late forties is questionable...depends on your personal finances and schedule flexibility.
But anyone who has taken years off from flying would need to get VERY current and recent before trying 121 training. I would suggest 20-40 hours of fast-paced instrument flying (ie approaches). You could supplement some of that with simulator time, even PC-based sim if you do it right. But you need to get your IFR skills up to par.
Majors seem to have largely given up on age discrimination (not worth the legal hassles), although the ROI for starting an airline career in your late forties is questionable...depends on your personal finances and schedule flexibility.
Additionally, I am in my 40s, hired last year in a major, and I was about average age in my class, with 3 guys being 50+
And last thing, nothing wrong with a captain job in a regional, if the OP wants to fly for living. Worst case there are always the GA jobs, but it sounds like he knows he wants 121.
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