Expert: D. Norkus - 12/31/2006

Question
Hi Dottie,
first of all I'm 45, I have 740tt mostly hi performance time and I have been instrument rated for about 450hrs. Am i to old to start a flying career? I also have no multi time.I'd be happy flying sight seeing tours. I just dont know where to start can you help? thanks jimi

Answer
Jimi

Too old to start a flying career? A loaded question! Well, that totally depends on the kind of career you want and what you expect out of it. Obviously, I can only comment on the airline perspective as far as a career goes but there are other options as well.

To fly sight seeing tours (which is Part 135 of the F.A.R.s) you will need to have 1200 flight hours unless they are a VFR only operaror (and that is a rarity!). Small freight, pipeline patrol, aerial survey or air ambulance are other options- although the latter is usually multi-engine.

In any type of job starting out as a new pilot, you'd make very little money, so I hope you have a good nest egg tucked away. For pretty much any mid-life career change to pilot, you'd need a nice nest egg to get you through the lean times- and at 45, you'd have probably less than 10 years left to get back into a comfortable earnings bracket. At age 30 I made a career change to regional pilot and several years later I am still hovering near the 30K mark in pay. Thank goodness I had prepared for the pay cut! Another friend of mine started over at age 44 and was hired by a regional by age 46. By age 50 they had left the aviation idustry as they couldn't stand the low pay and schedules any longer- even though they thought they were "living the dream" when they were first hired. I cannot underestimate the sacrifices you and your family will have to make financially and personally if you decide to go for a career as an aviator. Your age aside, other personal factors  may make a job change difficult. However, if you are willing to do what it takes, you can make it happen. Only you can answer that....and only you can know if such a lifestyle can make you happy. When you are a pilot, it is much more than flying. It is truly a lifestyle and some parts of it are not all it's cracked up to be. Of course, if you are in love with aviation, then that may not bother you all that much.

I suggest gathering further info at the message forums found at these links-

http://www.flightinfo.com

http://www.jetcareers.com

You can get a whole lot more perspective on non-airline careers there. As for the airlines, check out my site for the basics-

http://www.geocities.com/av8trxx99/FAQ.html

Hope this helps
Dottie