Expert: David A. NewMyer - 2/19/2008

Question
QUESTION: Dear David,
I am 35,and heading an HR department for one of the MNC's in the gulf.
I am quite keen on exploring the prospects of pursuing my carrer as a pilot.Having an MBA-HR,would it help to move to a career in aviation? If so would my age and qualification be suitable to become a pilot ?

ANSWER: Hi,

I think that most airlines and other aviation employers, when hiring a pilot, will look primarily for pilot qualifications and certifications.  They will be relatively unconcerned about any prior work experience that is unrelated to flying.  Remember that there are two basic qualifications needed to become a pilot:

Commercial Pilot Licensure or Certification, with Instrument and Multi Engine Ratinngs

AND

Experience (usualy measured in flight time accumulated).  The basic problem for most pilots who are initially certified is to gain the experience that they need to get that first flying job for a small airline or aviation operator.

Your age should not be a problem since most larger airlines in the world now employ pilots until age 65, as long as the pilots can maintain their medical certification.  The key thing is that the certification training does cost time and money....you need to plan for that.  The cost will depend on where you do the training.  At some of the private flight school companies in the USA, the cost can be $65,000 to $80,000.

I wish you the best,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi David,
I thank for the response.What are the benefits/carrer path post,Private Pilots License (PPL)? Does this get any employment and if so,how do we approach ?

Answer
HI,

The Private Pilot Certificate is merely a stepping stone to the CPL....the PPL is what you take first in your flight training.  It normally consists of about 50 to 65 hours of initial flight training with your first solo flight included at around 10 to 15 hours of flying.  So, it is a very basic license and not one that will help you very much with flight-related employment.  Besides, you will need the Commercial Pilot License to "fly for hire"....the PPL does not allow you to fly for hire (or for money).

I hope that this helps,

David A. NewMyer, Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale