Advise for older low time pilot...

[Aerobat007]

Im mid 30s now with only 1300/200 im ready to apply to the regionals. My questions are directed to those of you that have "been there done that'. What should i shoot for for my quickest shot at the majors, a regional that has the quickest upgrade times?? Im mostly concerned with retirement, if i get hired around 40 will i have enough time in the airlines to build a solid nest egg ?: Would love to find out a good source in determining how the airlines retirement system works, and welcome any advise (positive- if able) or info on my best course of action, thanks and look forward to hearing from the seasoned vets out there.

Regards

 

[apdsm]

Quick upgrade is great, however, I would be careful in who you work for. What if the majors do not start hiring in any great numbers for several years? What if you never get to the majors? I would go somewhere that is also a decent place for a career, unless of course, you can afford not to!

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Im mid 30s now with only 1300/200 im ready to apply to the regionals. My questions are directed to those of you that have "been there done that'. What should i shoot for for my quickest shot at the majors, a regional that has the quickest upgrade times?? Im mostly concerned with retirement, if i get hired around 40 will i have enough time in the airlines to build a solid nest egg ?: Would love to find out a good source in determining how the airlines retirement system works, and welcome any advise (positive- if able) or info on my best course of action, thanks and look forward to hearing from the seasoned vets out there.

Regards

As stated above, Go with a company that you will be happy with if you do not move on. You must realize, that is a very real possibility in the current market. There are gobs of furloughees and other high time types out there now.

I am mid 30's also and furloughed from a major, I have gobs of turbine and jet PIC and even more SIC heavy jet time and I don't really expect to be back at a Major before I turn 40. Too many of us out there for me to count on that. Heck, it took most pilots 1 to 3 years to make it to a Major after they made Captain at a regional and that was when ALL of them were hiring.

Bottom line, go to a regional that you can retire at if you have to.

 

[Timebuilder]

Im mid 30s now with only 1300/200 im ready to apply to the regionals. My questions are directed to those of you that have "been there done that'. What should i shoot for for my quickest shot at the majors, a regional that has the quickest upgrade times?? Im mostly concerned with retirement, if i get hired around 40 will i have enough time in the airlines to build a solid nest egg ?: Would love to find out a good source in determining how the airlines retirement system works, and welcome any advise (positive- if able) or info on my best course of action, thanks and look forward to hearing from the seasoned vets out there.

Regards

The first advice I give to anyone these days is to ask yourself this question: Do I LOVE to FLY? CAN I LIVE WITHOUT FLYING?

If the answers are yes and no respectively, then by all means find a regional that you will be happy with as your final employer. There is absolutely no guarantee that you will make it to a major. There is a far better chance for today's high school senior (as in he will be a senior this fall) will have such a career since almost all of the displaced pilots will be gone by the time he is 40. There are more than enough pilots to fill all of the positions left behind by baby boom retirees. There is no pilot shortage.

Void where prohibited by law. Your mileage may vary.

 

[100LL... Again!]

Not to be negative, but two things need to happen:

1) The majors need to each call back 500-1500 furloughed pilots.

2) They need to hire lots of pilot with thousands more hours than you have.

3) You must acquire the necessary flight time.

By the time this happens, you will have already upgraded, most likely.

Go where the pay and schedule is good. The majors would be gravy in your position. You may make it, but NEVER bank on it.

Many great pilots with excellent credentials never make it.

That's aviation!

 

[WhiteCloud]

Not to be negative, but two things need to happen:

1) The majors need to each call back 500-1500 furloughed pilots.

2) They need to hire lots of pilot with thousands more hours than you have.

3) You must acquire the necessary flight time.

By the time this happens, you will have already upgraded, most likely.

Go where the pay and schedule is good. The majors would be gravy in your position. You may make it, but NEVER bank on it.

Many great pilots with excellent credentials never make it.

That's aviation!

I agree with all that has been said so far. Many of the same things could be said about other fields as well. At age 44 I don't see a future at a major airline for myself. By the time hiring resumes, if it resumes, and I get enough experience to get an interview I'll be looking at less than 10 years of being very junior on a very long seniority list. Look at what happened to USAirways pension and what is about to happen to UAL's retirement plan. I don't think you can count on any airline to be here when retirement rolls around. All that being said, I agree that you can have a nice flying career and ultimately make pretty good money at a regional. You can expect a few job changes through no fault of your own and should plan on providing for your own retirement needs. Good luck.

 

[pa56pa]

Let's be real....

The airlines AINT ALL THAT unlike it used to be... There is more to aviation than just to get a job with the airlines. Corporate aviation does not have the 60 yr. old limit placed upon a pilot... In fact, many furloughed airline pilots are now working for either fractionals, corporate or charter companies. Like the airlines, there are many unfavorable companies out there wanting to take advantage of you because they know you need to pay the bills. However, there are excellent corporate flight departments out there as well... It's just a matter of luck and tons of research, friends in the right places, as well as networking... and you don't have to work for $18K a year (practically for free...) either. Good luck.