Expert: David A. NewMyer - 5/5/2009

Question
Dear sir,

My employment background has been in the construction field for my entire career until recently due to an injury to my shoulder which will retire me from that type of work. I have a love for flying all my life and have just started obtaining my pilots lisence, I am 48 years old and am wondering if I am too old to begin a new career as a pilot for charter flights and or transporting guides and outdoor and fishing/hunting expeditions?

Answer
Hi, Tony:

Thanks for your question, I will try to assist!

First of all, let me say that I am sorry about your injury.  

Second, I wanted to let you know that, no, it is not too late for you to start a career on the general aviation (charter flying) side of aviation, as long as your health is good and as long as you have some time (and money) to spend on getting the required flight certificates and experience needed to do the job.  The health issue is key because you must pass a Federal Aviation Administration-approved medical examination given by an Airman Medical Examiner or AME.  Many times, AME's are listed in the local phone book, or, you can go on the FAA website at www.faa.gov and look them up in your local area.  With regard to the certificates required, you will have to earn your FAA Private Pilot Certificate first, which will cost you something like $5000 to $8000, depending on what part of the country you happen to live in.  Beyond that, plan to spend at least another $18,000 to $25,000 or more for your FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating....and, if you get a multi-engine rating, you will need to add $4500 to $5500 to that total. So, it is not cheap to get the certificates and ratings that you need.  And, then, once you have all of those, you will have to build your flight experience up to where you can actually get into the charter business as you describe it.  Normally, to fly for an existing charter company, you will have to have 500 hours of Pilot in Command time just to get an entry-level job as a charter pilot (assuming that there are such jobs out there right now ---the economy has made such jobs very tight).

As far as a place to get your flight training, just go to the following website for a way to find a local flight school:

http://www.aopa.org/letsgoflying/ready/choose/search.cfm

Third, in order to start your own business in the charter arena, flying your own customers, you will have to have considerable experience yourself or you will have to hire in some experience among your employees.  With that experience base, you will then attract customers.....

I hope that this answer is of assistance to you.  If you need anything else, please email back with a follow up question.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer