Expert: David A. NewMyer - 1/28/2005

Question
Dear Dr NewMyer
I am 36 years old and would like to start a career in aviation. I live in Namibia, so I realize that the industry here is very different to that in the USA. Do you think I am too old to make a living as a pilot? I know that I will not be able to go all the way to a major airline. I would be happy with a regional or corporate job. I guess I just want some reasurance that it can be done. Can it?

Answer
Hi, Greg:

Nice to hear from you.  I will try to assist in providing you with an answer.

I think the most important thing to keep in mind in making a decision to go into flying as a career for someone in your age group is whether or not you believe you will enjoy aviation...I mean, really enjoy it.  There is nothing worse than going to a job each day that you do not enjoy.  I am sure you are quite aware of what I am talking about....and, I am sure you may have some concerns about whether or not you will really KNOW that you will enjoy aviation until you try it.  But, that is the real answer here.  The other way to look at this is:  I would not make a change until you are sure that what you are leaving as a career field is something you really want to leave behind.

I am sure that you know more about Namibia than I do...I am not sure where you want to end up working as a pilot.  If it is in the USA, the terms corporate, regional and major make some sense.  I am not sure how those terms apply to Namibia, however!

In reference to working in the USA, yes, a 36 year old person can make the change to aviation and still have a pretty good career ahead. Remember that there still is an age 60 rule which requires anyone who is flying a transport category aircraft for a major airline to retire on their 60th birthday.....  I would say that, if you are beginning from "ground zero" on flight certification and ratings as well as flight experience, you are about five years from having the flight credentials you need to really excell in aviation.  For example, you will need to earn the equivalent of the FAA Private Pilot Certificate, the FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine Ratings and probably the Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certificate to allow you to build flight time by teaching others to fly.

Once the credentials are earned, you will need to build your flight time.  A key threshold is 500 hours of Pilot in Command (or PIC) flight time:  this is normally the minimum amount of PIC time that any aviation insurance company will require a small aviation charter or fly-for-hire company, or even a small airline, to have as a minimum PIC flight time for beginning pilots.  Bigger regional airlines look at anywhere from 500 to 1500 hours PIC flight time with up to 300 of that in multi engine aircraft.  Corporate flight departments and major airlines will normally require from 2500 to 4000 hours of PIC flight time with 500 to 1000 of that being in turbine aircraft.  So, as you move up in your  flight qualifications (certificates and flight time), you will be able to move up in terms of the status and pay of the flight jobs you will be qualified to apply for.

Again, you have to be in a location where there are flight jobs....we definitely have them in the USA.  Even though the news about the airline industry in the USA has not been good of late, the fact is that many smaller regional airlines are hiring like crazy.  That means that jobs for someone less qualified are good right now.....and, over the next five years the more qualified pilots are larger airlines are expected to retire, making room for experienced pilots to move up.

Therefore, you CAN do it....I do not mean to minimize the hard work and sacrifice that it will take to do it, however.  And, as I said, to make that sacrifice, you will have to decide that you LOVE aviation.  Without that, it might be a tough road to follow.

Best wishes to you and please follow up with another question if you wish.

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu/