Biglewi1

Thanks BC!

Well said. My wife know's this is my dream! I've never quit at anything, my mind is powerful and my body will follow.

I will have all of my degrees before I retire.

I'm following you though...thanks for the input!

dosbo

You have to ask yourself at this point. Do I want to make a living or have a hobby.

It's hard to pay bills with a hobby.

I've been flying military and civilian for 25 years and am still trying to make a living. PM when you can.

YMMV

love2av8

Don't know anything about ATP, did all my training at a small flight school many many years ago This can be difficult depending on the type of instructors they have. Recently a friend of mine has been working on his private and he is on his 4th instructor! The last one left without any notice - be wary of this type of school. I was lucky, I had a different instructor for each rating but thru the whole rating. Provided a nice diverse training background.
I can tell you a lot of the pilots that interviewed the day I did were from ATP and they seemed like a sharp bunch. I managed to go from 0 hrs to a CFI in less than 2 years and i was working full time and pursuing 2 different degrees simultaneously. If you have a real love and longing for it, you just know. My point is you can get thru the ratings quick if it's something you truly want! 39 is not too old to start, but don't be deluded into thinking you will a 767 captain for Delta when you retire, that is just not enough time (I am 39 as well), but strange things have happened in this industry!

Biglewi1

My goal isn't to make a wide body Capt. by my 2nd retirement. But I'm not going to stop at regionals if I don't have two. Any closed door I face will recieve a knock from me, now if it opens or not...that's totally up to who's on the other side.

Just from what reading I've done, the industry is going to come alive soon. Travel is going to be here for some time to come. Until OPEC and the oil-mungers get their hands out of the politicains pockets so they can find alternate fuel source (non-patrolium based)...GA will suffer and commerical Airlines will profit.

Dosbo,
I'm trying not to have bills prior to this second round at life. [mod edit: delete religion] thanks for your input.

globalexpress

www.thetruthabouttheprofession.com

Read that.

Biglewi1

Will-Co GE.

Biglewi1

BC,

What process did you go through, if you don't mind sharing?

My wife has given me the green light to go through with it.

I'll be honest with you, I'm a multi-talented dude. I have a photography business on the side, I've been doing that for 16yrs, as well as AF full time. Heck, I can throw that into the mix of aviation as well. I just haven't seen the market for aerial photography.

My heart and head has been in the clouds since my first plane ride at 8 yrs old.

Lew

bcpilot

I did exactly as I suggested you to do.....

I am returning to flying after a 12 yr gap. So, I Followed my heart, made a decision that I am returning back to flying & then, I talked to my wife...... The spousal support is the most important for a Pilot, then is finances or the HOW TO part.......

I can tell, U did exactly the same what I did, got the wife's green light before hand, so half the battle is already won.......

Now, You have to decide, How U want to do flying ...........
Self sponsered Paying cash or With a Bank/ Student Loan.
Both sides have their own merits, pros & cons...
Self sponsored, you will have to shell out the money, CASH, but U can save a lot of money if you are smart & Total tab will be less...
Bank Loan means, Total tab will be more & U have a loan payment for the next 25 yrs or so...... If the loan pmt & debt on your head doesn't bother you, and you have a good credit that will get U a loan, then go ahead & find a good reputable training academy, & sign up for an accelerated Fast Track course that takes you all the way to CFI & CFII, a program that will roll everything in the loan.
Make sure U make it clear, U join them only when they get your loan approved.......

TonyWilliams

This is a certainly a bit off base.

The oil companies don't have to do much to inhibit the replacement of oil. Still today, there is no CHEAPER replacement for jet-A. Your comments of "oil-mungers" might have some bite if oil were more expensive than the alternatives.

They are coming, just not up to speed yet, and probably not for another decade or more.

GA is suffering from many things, including the price of fuel. Commercial airlines are VERY sensitive to increases in the price of fuel.

TonyWilliams

Hopefully, you'll recognize that this familiar comment is the reason why people, like you, will work for sub $20k/year salaries to fly around up to 88 people around, 5 or 6 times per day.

People don't enter the profession because there is a need for pilots (hence, the price would be way up). They enter because they "love" it.

Any reason why you wouldn't want to fly for fun?

Good luck.