Expert: David A. NewMyer - 8/3/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello.  I am a 45 year old private pilot working on an instrument rating.  I am in
the middle of a career change and debating at getting into flying for a living.  Is
it at all possible for someone my age with my hours to give it a go and to try and
make a career out of flying?  Or am I way to "far gone"?

ANSWER: Hi, Ronald:

This is a good time to try to make the transition to aviation as a pilot since the regional airlines (which is where you would start in the airline industry, if that is where you want to fly), are hiring like crazy.  They are hiring at the lowest minimum flight times in years, as little as 350 to 500 hours total time and 50 hours of multi engine time.

Remember that aviation is a cyclical business, and another down cycle is expected in the next five or six years.  So, your career needs to be a bit solidified by then to weather any downturn in the industry.  But, until then, I expect the industry to do very well and to grow, as well as to hire a lot of pilots.

As far as your age is concerned, there is significant discussion about moving the maximum age for an airline pilot up to age 65, assuming that all pilots at that age can hold an FAA medical. So, that would add five years to your career.  So, from that perspective, if you are healthy, then, you could have a nice career of something like 15 years with a larger airline...assuming four to five years to get all your training, and getting hired by a regional, building your time and getting hired by the larger airline....

I hope that this helps.

Best wishes,

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


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

QUESTION: Dr. NewMyer:
Thank you for such a quick response.  Do you think it would also be possible to be involved within the corporate side of aviation?  I think the introduction of VLJ's will also create a multitude of new opportunities.  Do you agree or can you add any insight?

Answer
Hi, again:

The VLJ area will offer some opportunities, but, the insurance companies will likely dictate the parameters of the experience levels of those who fly VLJs.  The question is:  Will they allow the VLJ to be flown single pilot and under what circumstances?  If flown with two pilots, the owner pilot will fly with a more experienced pilot until reaching a certain level of experience and then the owner pilot can fly solo....the question is:  Who will take the role of senior pilot to give the owner pilot experience?  This is where you might come in....BUT, you must have the experience under your belt that makes you attractive as a pilot to assist in this effort.  

In the corporate aviation world in general, hours of experience sort of rule the hiring situation.  That is, the more flight hours you have, the more likely it is that you will get a job offer in the work world of corporate aviation....it is more of a senior pilot work world.  Much like flying for a larger airline....at least to fly for the larger corporate flight departments.

If you are interested in Corporate aviation, check out the website of the National Business Aviation Association at www.nbaa.org  and, also, subscribe to BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL AVIATION magazine....excellent coverage of this field.

I hope that this helps....

David A. NewMyer