Expert: David A. NewMyer - 8/13/2004

Question
Hello Dr. NewMyer.

When I was in High School I wanted to be a pilot. In fact, I had joined the USAF Auxilary (CAP) in the hopes of one day entering the Air Force Academy. To make a long story short, my parent's talked me out of dropping bombs and such, and convinced me to get a "real career." So off I went to college to pursue a "real career" in the Health Care industry.

I graduated with a B.S. Health Science: Health Care Management degree, and I am currently working as a business analyst for a large health insurance company in California. Here I am, 28 years old, wishing I had at least pursued a career in flying. Besides, the insurance business is just too... Well, that's another story.

So, recently, I decided that I at least wanted my PPL and went to a local flying club to take flying lessons. I'm doing so well at it (my instructor thinks I'll finish in the 40s). I started kicking myself (not literally, of course), wishing I had gone after my dream.

Dr. NewMyer, my question to you is:

1) At 28 and not getting any younger, is it still possible for me to take on a flying career? As of right now, it looks like I'm making as much as I would a pilot, but I'm not too concerned about that; I wouldn't think twice about leaving the health care insurance industry. However, is there a way I could do both at the same time to pay for the training?

2) I've spoken to a few that state it's never too late, but if it's still possible what route, accelerated or self-paced, would be recommended for someone like me?

3) Is it possible for me to intern for a company like UPS? If so, how would I go about it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,
Cliff

Happy Landings!!!

Answer
Hi, Cliff:

Nice to hear from you.  I will try to assist with your questions.

1.  First of all, with regard to your question about your age, etc, I frequently get questions that center around the theme of "is it too late to start my career in aviation?"  I agree with the advice that you have received that "it is never too late" but with the proviso that there are some things to think about in ANY career change....they are:

A.  The time and money it will take to prepare for the career change (meaning, addtional training and education cost money and take time);

B.  The time it will take to "pay your dues" once you change your career (that is, pay your dues at fairly low paying jobs before landing the better paying jobs)...in both #1 and #2, there are family and personal considerations.  For example, if you are married and have kids, it will be a different kind of decision to make a career change than if you are single or married with no kids; and,

C.  Are you doing what you really WANT to do in your life's work?  

It does sound like you have, directly or indirectly, thought about all of the above things.  I believe that the last one is key:  Make sure that you are enjoying what you are doing in your work every day.  If you are not, it is the worst kind of hell, especially when you wake up when you are 60 and realize that you spent a lifetime working at something you did not really like to do.

In any case, you have, I believe, already thought of this aspect of the career change since you have started working on your PPL and that is something that you enjoy.  That is a good first step.

In short, at age 28, it is not too late.....keep in mind that it takes about five to seven years to build the kind of flight time that it will take to begin to be minimally qualified for interviewing for large airline jobs like at UPS or FEDEX or jetBlue or Southwest.  And, that is if you work hard at it and get an absolute minimum of 2500 hours of pilot in command flight time by the time that five to seven years is up....and, contained in that 2500 hours of PIC flight time will have to be a minimum of 500 hours of PIC time in a turbine (or jet powered) aircraft.  The only way to earn the latter is with a corporate flight department, a large charter operation, a fractional ownership company (like Netjets) or with a regional airline.  So, you will be about 35 (+ or - a year or two) before you are ready to move to a large airline job....and, that is if everything goes well for you.  If you make it to UPS or a similar company by that age, you will have a 25 year career with that company.

2.  As far as a "route" to the industry, there are three that I can think of:

A. Earn a second BS or BA degree and go back to school to earn an aviation degree with the flight certification built into it.  There are some advantages in that, as a college degree, some of your flight training might be eligible for loans or grants.  Also, to answer your question #3, this would be the ONLY way for you to intern with a company like UPS airlines....via a college-based aviation program.  Also, UPS only works with a relative handful of universities such as Purdue, Middle Tennessee State, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, and, I think a few others.  this method will take you about two to three years, but, will give you the chance to intern with UPS.  There is a listing of colleges and universities that offer aviation degrees available from the University Aviation Association. The title of the publication is COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE and you can order it by calling UAA at (334) 844-2434 or emailing them at uaa@auburn.edu

B.  Accelerated...by this, I assume you mean to go to one of the big flight schools advertised in Flying Magazine such as Delta Airlines Academy, Flight Safety Academy, Pan Am International Academy, Southeastern Flight Academy, and Sierra Academy.  These schools all generally have a good reputation and can get you through the FAA Certification process very quickly.  They even have placement programs (for those students who do well in training) for placement with regional airlines virtually right out of their academy.  Check all of the details VERY thoroughly before signing on the dotted line with any of these schools....also, keep in mind that you will have to live in residence at these schools and pay those costs, too, unless you live near one.  These schools are generally located in Florida, Arizona, southern Georgia or California.  However, I know of none of them who work within the intern program at UPS.  So, if that is a goal, then, this method will not help you.  On the other hand, if you want to train FAST, within a year you can most likely have your FAA Commercial Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine ratings and, maybe even have your Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certification, which will be good for building flight time by teaching others to fly.

C.  Self paced....by this, I assume you mean at a local FBO?  This alternative has advantages, including being able to work at your current job while flying on the side....but, the disadvanges are the time it would take you to complete the flight training on a part time basis plus the lack of access to intern or job placement that either of the other options would give you.  The local FBO might have placement connections in the aviation industry, but, I do not know what they are.....

I hope that this answer helped.  If I can provide more details to you, please let me know.

Best wishes to you.

Sincerely,

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