Becoming a pilot at 40 reddit. Nobody is interested.
Becoming a pilot at 40 reddit. Starting at 40 allows plenty of time to build experience and enter professional roles. She said, “this is stupid…go fly!”. Flying Requirements • You must have logged a minimum of 45 hours of flight training from a certified flight instructor. Im not going to get into it but some We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Took me almost two more years to decide it was the right thing to do at almost 40 years old. I wouldn't pursue this for the money but I am really looking forward to a carreer change and this has been a dream for a long time. I have had experience flying - got my private license in college, but haven't flown since then. Plenty of time to get the seniority for it. In regards to being mid 30s and hoping to make $350k, you still have 30ish years of working for an airline to make that happen. Is there somebody that tried this path? Did you succeed or not? What were the major difficulties? Is it something that you would discourage? Thanks It's not that being an airline pilot can't be fun, it's that the lifestyle is often best for the young and unattached at first and they have enough years left in their careers to generate the 10,000+ hours required to get the really really cushy jobs. I spent over $500 (a lot for someone without a job) on simming peripherals. How long does training take if I start at 40? Earning a private pilot license can take 3–6 months full-time. The first thing you need to figure out is what you will do when you turn 65. Edit: what I mean by succeed is being upgraded to captain or landing a job that pays bank. Reaching airline minimums generally requires three to five years. I'm talking office jobs, down to jobs at Target. Corporate Starting my flight career at 30… Any thoughts, issues, or concerns I should have. Ok? - Well almost 40, I'm still hanging on to 39 as long as I can! Here's the deal with me. If you decide to stay at a regional airline, you may be able to become a senior or check captain at that airline. At first I thought he was just there to get a private pilot license. I did a short video interview below. Is it really worth it? (Skip to the questions if you don’t want to read) For some backstory, I used to be really into aviation and was 100% sure that I wanted to be a pilot. Becoming a Professional Pilot Do I need a college degree to become a pilot? If so, what should I major in ? What school should I go to ? What about ATP flight school? How do I apply to the Air National Guard & Air Force Reserves? Can I take my US airline career to Europe? What are relationships like for working pilots? Airline vs. I know you're probably thinking that's a long way away, but it's not if you're just thinking about becoming a professional pilot at age 40. I have recently been contemplating a career change of some sort. If your area has nice scenery being a pilot for scenery tour is always an option. And scary. at what age did you start training to become a pilot and how is it going now? The goal isn’t necessarily to become an international career airline pilot. question for the pilots who got into flying later in life. Didn’t become a rated pilot until I was 38 and married for nearly a decade. Aug 5, 2025 · 3. 4. Is this just my subjective perception or is it really because of the difference in the aviation industry and that it’s much more difficult to get a (decent) job in europe once you are a bit older? Curious to hear your FAQ is gonna answer a lot of your questions. Ground School Requirements • You must complete 40 hours of private pilot ground school instruction. But he says he plans to go all the way to become a commercial pilot and work for the airlines. Jan 1, 2024 · However, I didn't fly for a long time and my age is 40. I am still not where I want to be as a pilot, but damn it is fun. Now if you’re only interested in being a pilot for the money, then you’re gonna have a rude awakening. I am coming up on my junior year of high school (16yr) and I’m considering becoming a pilot full time. . What’s the day-to-day like? Do you feel accomplished? Jun 24, 2017 · I recently met a student pilot in his 50s at the Sling Pilot Academy. Progressing through commercial and instructor ratings may take one to two years. I highly recommend finding a local flight school and taking a discovery People who changed careers to become a pilot, how has your experience been so far? No one mentioned the 40 years in between it takes to get to that point but I’m 20 years into flying, 10 with 121 airlines and I haven’t looked back! Reply reply Thoughts on starting pilot career at age 30? Trying to figure out if this is a viable option for meI'm currently 30 years old, working in an unmotivating yet well paying corporate job in Los Angeles (100k salary) and hold a Bachelor's as well. flight instructor (this will require 3-6 months and an additional Hello, I'm trying to get some insight in the feasability of starting a career in aviation as a pilot at 40+ years. I'll take being a pilot Reply reply N546RV • My experience in becoming and working as an airline pilot and why despite missing flying everyday, I have no regrets for my choice to leave. In Canada (my home country): 6 months to a year for ppl 2 years for cpl/me/IFR (can be done in 18 months if weather, maintenance, work ethic and finances permit) Once all licenses and ratings are achieved, you now have to decide how you will get all your hours to actually make it to the airlines. Jul 1, 2013 · Career Questions - Beginning a piloting career at age 40. It's not a good career to take up later in life. In fact… at this stage I see it more as a side hustle to help me pay for my training and build hours. I'm 39, jobless and can't get anything going (career wise) for the life of me. My whole family has been involved in aviation - my Dec 23, 2021 · Between Age 40 and 45 At this age, you will be able to become a First Officer at a major airline, but you will likely not become a captain that flies long-haul international routes. Having a PPL is recommended, with a commercial pilot’s license being preferred by guard/reserve units. This seems to be somehow much less often the case in europe. My dream is to get my 1,000 (part 141) and get hired by an airline quickly after. I’m obviously late to the game to start but I’ve always had dreams of becoming an airline pilot that have been crushed due to initial costs to get all my ratings. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. I'm sorry to say that in my 10 years as a professional pilot, I have rarely, maybe once that I can think of, seen someone over the age of 35 succeed in becoming a professional pilot. So, once you get a student pilot certificate, congratulations! You're a pilot (sort of)! Depending on the aircraft that you're looking to fly in, you will either be working towards a Sport Pilot certificate, a recreational pilot certificate, or a Private Pilot certificate. Banner towing and parachute planes come to my mind. My initial reaction was Greetings to all aviators of Reddit, I’ve got a question for you guys: How hard is it to become airline pilot? I have to wear glasses due to eye sight issues but I already know that it shouldn’t be a big problem. If you complete this course and you are hungry for more, PM me and I’ll suggest your next steps. To pass the written test exam for the Private pilot license, you must achieve a minimum score of 60%. I’m a commercial single engine pilot, getting my multi and CFI-II this year. Depending on things like your pace of training, job opportunities, luck, and timing it will probably be close to 10 years before you could possibly land at a major airline. One hangup I have is that I'm 42 and I have two young kids (7&11). That Doing 40+ hours a week in a cubicle in corporate America seems like hell. AviationHistory) submitted 17 hours ago by JDB1413 6 comments share save hide report all 6 comments sorted by: best top new controversial old q&a Jan 23, 2024 · However besides Airline you can do other jobs with Commercial Pilot License. Nobody is interested. I have read many times on reddit that people in the US often had other jobs before becoming an airline pilot. I live in San Jose. Hi all. The private pilot course is the base of all the areas of knowledge you’ll need to master in order to become a professional pilot. 36 is not old at all, go for it. She was right. Did you ever see anyone who succeeded in starting a pilot job in his/her 40s or who overcame a long time of absence from a pilot career? Apr 22, 2025 · 3 4 What are the pros and cons of becoming a working pilot at the age of 46? (self. Wife was sick of me talking about flying. But it would be great to know how far I could take it given my late start. One of the options I am considering is going to flight school to become a commercial pilot in some capacity. A commercial license isn’t a must, however it will make you more competitive, especially since at your age you won’t have time to re-apply. isgkjcxp4al6xbzhiidln1fkbgrcfjrxl60dsqrbakkryngikmxo