Expert: D. Norkus - 6/18/2007

Question
Hello.  I am 25, have a degree, and my private.  I recently put off getting the rest of my ratings to avoid taking out a loan at an inflated interest rate.  I will be able to go back to flight school in approximately ten months without the needs of taking out any loans.  The benefits of entering the career debt free outweighted the urgency to complete my training.  My question is how putting off the training could affect a career path?  Will age become a concern when looking to move beyond the regionals?  I have heard the major carriers look for 30 years before mandatory retirement from potential hirees to offset the cost of training you.  Are there any obvious disadvantages I may face that you know of that a novice would be unaware of?
Thanks,
Zach

Answer
Zach

Putting off training for only a year really won't hurt you at all. If you can do so, and pay in full for your training & time building to 250 hours when you can get your first job), more power to you! Some may say that a year latter is a year lost on the seniority list, hence a year on the pay scale. However I think that going into this career change without debt is far more important! The money you save on loan interest will far outweigh the year lost. The disadvantages from being a poorly paid pilot (as all regional new hires are at $20K) with a lot of debt are just too great by comparison. I know if I had major debt it would have been impossible to meet my bills every month on my paltry paychecks.

I got my first flying job at age 30 and was hired at a regional ate age 32. (I even had a friend who did it at age 42!) A few years ago, Air Inc (airline pilot career counseling http://www.jet-jobs ) reported that the average age of major airline new hires was 36. So, don't sweat the age factor at all. There are more mid-life career changers in this field than there have ever been and they are far older then you.

If you will have the money to pay in full, are you considering an academy style program with a regional affiliation? Or the local school/club/FBO? If you will have the $45K or so to spend maybe the former will be better suited to getting into the industry ASAP. I know 3 people who did so and were airline pilots at 400 hours.

If you aren't aware of it already, check out this site- http://www.jetcareers.com

Their message boards have lots of valuable advice too. Plus they have a career changers forum. I suggest a visit.

Good luck
Dottie