Regional jobs for a 40-something

[hangar7guy]

Looking for advice & thoughts...

From those of you who have been interviewing with (or working for) companies like ExpressJet, Eagle, Mesaba, Pinnacle, etc., what kind of possibilities would there be for someone in his mid-forties? IOW, am I over the hill or might they actually look at someone with 5000+ hours, some 135 experience, a BA degree and an ATP?

I've been away from charter and corporate for almost 10 years. Family obligations and not being in the right place at the right time helped throttle my airline ambitions. And then there was that 9/11 problem...

I am current, thanks to an instructing job, but I'll need to revive my instrument and multiengine skills. And my multi time is only around 500+. I'm really torn as to whether to take another stab at this or move on to something else. When I last interviewed with these companies (in the 1990s) I always seemed to be the oldest one in the group, and the interviewers themselves were usually younger than me.

I'd appreciate any honest, flame-free opinions. If you think I don't have a prayer, please say so.

Sorry for the long post, but this is gnawing away at me. I know that there are many hassles with regionals (commuting, schedules, pay, benefits). Even if I'm too old to ever look forward to a job with a major, it's hard to give up on this 20-year airline dream...I keep thinking that years from now I'll regret it if I don't "finish" what I set out to do.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dizel8]

I think you answered your own question. Go for it!

As far as getting hired, I think it can be done, after all, you would look like a stable guy to a airline. I think Bobbysamd can and will tell you, that it is not all roses, but persietence pays off.

So, get your apps in and see what happens.

 

[belchfire]

Hanger7guy

We should get together, start a 12
step program for people that think
flying is a great way to make lots
of money and get rich ourselves!
(hahaha! That's a joke)

I feel your frustration bro, being
in a simular boat...not the same,
but simular, especially wrt age.

I understand through the grape
vine that Pinnical is getting thin
on people with enough total time
to upgrade and may be going for
street CA's soon...I would like
to hear from some of the PCL
guys and see if that is true. If
so, and if you meet the
requirements that might be a good
move.

 

[MW44]

Well Mesa is supposed to hire 600 pilots this year and I think I heard 700 at pinnacle over the next two years. In fact just about every regional out there seems to be hiring or is planning on hiring very soon. There is absolutely no question that one of these carriers will hire you.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Make sure to study hard; if you're not familiar with the FMS, and flying by PFD, it won't be much like the flying you're used to. We've had some older-generation pilots who are not computer or jet savvy and they figure that out almost immediately. Computer stuff is harder than jet stuff, although neither are that difficult. Just don't get overwhelmed, and be prepared!!

 

[WhiteCloud]

what kind of possibilities would there be for someone in his mid-forties? IOW, am I over the hill or might they actually look at someone with 5000+ hours, some 135 experience, a BA degree and an ATP?

I've been away from charter and corporate for almost 10 years. Family obligations and not being in the right place at the right time helped throttle my airline ambitions. And then there was that 9/11 problem...

Your bio is a lot like mine. I could be a poster child for bad timing. Give it a shot. As an older candidate you bring much more to the job than the ability to point the airplane in the right direction. You probably would not want to move on to a "major" once you get a good schedule and the money meets your needs. Get on where you want to work and, and, as the younger guys above you move on, enjoy upwardly mobile seniority and schedules. Do it!

 

[Kaman]

Hello,
I took a look at pilotjobs.com today, and saw an ad from Piedmont Airlines. They are accepting resumes from folks with the following requirments; 1000/100, 900/150 or 800/200.
I've read alot of things about the siutation there and it doesn't seem particularly rosey given that they are a W/O and mainline USAirways is in deep financial trouble and still have a crippling cost structure. Question is what will happen if mainline goes under to the W/O oufits? There is a lot of speculation about that question here and other places, but it's hard to resist the temptation to go and get some 121 time for a year or so and then go onto a Jet Blue, AirTran, etc...
I was just hired by a 135 freight carrier and I like the company and I'll have a good schedule, but it is tempting. I'm also a 40'something, but still have what my old boss calls, "Big-Ironitis" and aspire to be an airline captain. Best of luck to all of you job seekers.

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[MW44]

" it's hard to resist the temptation to go and get some 121 time for a year or so and then go onto a Jet Blue, AirTran, etc..."

Are you kidding. I sure wouldn't hold your breath on that one. Maybe if you changed the phrase to read "get some 121 time for 6-10 years or so" it might be a little more accurate. Of course there are always the lucky few, but they are very few.

 

[j328ernest]

Hanger7guy

We should get together, start a 12
step program for people that think
flying is a great way to make lots
of money and get rich ourselves!
(hahaha! That's a joke)

I feel your frustration bro, being
in a simular boat...not the same,
but simular, especially wrt age.

I understand through the grape
vine that Pinnical is getting thin
on people with enough total time
to upgrade and may be going for
street CA's soon...I would like
to hear from some of the PCL
guys and see if that is true. If
so, and if you meet the
requirements that might be a good
move.

I, and 11 others, interviewed at Pinnacle on Apr 20th and I never got that impression at all. NWA wants to allocate an additional 1000/mo flying hours for the summer which I deduce will definitely put a strain on their line pilots.

They were a class act while I was there for that day.

 

[rvsm410]

I second the 12 step program!

Add me to the list of 40 something's, except I am done flying, I changed careers in 2001 to dispatch, did a gig and then Bam! 9-11 hits....

 

[CarjCapt]

[QUOTE[/B][/QUOTE]

Here is some encouragement.

After almost 17 years at CMR I'm turning 60 and leaving room for you and other in your same position.

Prior to CMR I was in the aviation industry mostly corporate and sales until age 43 when I accepted a FO position in a Metroliner.

You will have a easier time now even though it is not easy getting low pay, staying in crash pads, being on reserve etc.

I did learn two very important things. 1. timing is everything.
2. Seniority is eveything.

Do your homework about the prospective airline and chose one with growth potential and people who are somewhat happy about their situation with that airline.

Get more than one opinion, remember we all have one.

Good luck,

 

[prodigal]

GO FOR IT!

From another old cud, I also say go for it. I'm also 40-something and got hired at Comair last year and have loved every minute of it. I don't regret it for a minute. CMR is great place to be, even on reserve. I had to study a little harder during ground school than I might have at 20-something but it wasn't all that hard. CMR seems to value maturity.

 

[reno]

I was hired at SkyWest last year at 39 years of age. I also wanted to do this years ago but thought I was too old. Not so. SkyWest hires all over the board, and I imagine most other airlines do too.

Good lucK!

 

[Kingairrick]

My last FO started flying the line at Trans States this month. He is 39, almost 3000 Total time, 500-600 Multi, mostly King Air, 135, BS degree.
He says Trans States is hiring like crazy.

Good luck!

 

[x-Army-av8r]

I have to agree with everyone. I got back into flying in my mid 40's and didn't have any problem getting on with a regional. Now that I'm in my late 40's and looking for a job again, I haven't found age to be a barrier. That's not to say that I don't feel old when I'm interviewing with someone half my age, but I really think most companies value maturity.

I was also in the Pinnacle interview the other day (20th) and I was really surprised that the majority of other interviewees appeared to be on the "mature" side. I think there was one 22 year old "kid" but I wasn't the only one with grey hair. The good thing about Pinnacle is that seniority is based on age, so take advantage of it.

Good luck to you and all of us "old folks".

 

[chuychanga]

My class at XJT recently had several 40-somethings and a 50-something. At 31, I was closer to the bottom than the top.

Get with it.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Trans States Airlines would definitely hire you.

If they count the instruction job, Air WI or Comair would hire you.

ExpressJet, SkyWest, Skyway, Eagle, Chicago Express could also work.

USA Jet Airlines would definitely be interested. The starting FO pay is $33k. We presently have 10 days off in a 28 day bid cycle (the same as lunar months-13/yr.). You'd start in a Falcon 20 and could move up to the DC-9 later.
www.activeaero.com

Cliff
GRB

 

[AviatorTx]

I guess my question would be WHY would you "want" be a new hire at a "regional" in the post 9/11 era.

I was hired at 39, before 9/11. It was cool then, but it sucks @$$ now. Low pay for life? Since I am well into my 40's now I am kind of stuck here. The "majors" (L.C. Pukes do not count) will not be hiring for years. I can't go back to my previous office job because I have no recency of experience.

Yes, my attitude has been severely tainted. I would not recommend this profession to anyone now.

 

[tubelo]

Re: GO FOR IT!

From another old cud, I also say go for it. I'm also 40-something and got hired at Comair last year and have loved every minute of it. I don't regret it for a minute. CMR is great place to be, even on reserve. I had to study a little harder during ground school than I might have at 20-something but it wasn't all that hard. CMR seems to value maturity.

I can vouge for you being an old crud...but, it was nice having somebody in class to tell us 30 something youngsters about the days of "those crazy flying contraptions"...

Seriously, I think most airlines want a diverse group, age included.

 

[norskman2]

SWA and JetBlue are hiring guys in their 50s. Don't count on getting to a major, but don't count it out either!

 

[climbhappy]

i agree with many opinions here. no doubt you can getr hired. it you love to fly and can handle the pay. do it. you only live once.

 

[LJDRVR]

Go for it.

I'm 37 and just finished the first week of groundschool at a large regional. I'm the oldest one in my class, but it really doesn't matter. The Younger folks are smarter and have better reflexes, but I've got more jet time, so it all balances out overall. Besides, the "young-old" thing really doesn't matter. There's only 13 years difference between me and the most junior. This being Aviation, we have a whole lot more in common than any differences. As a matter of fact, we don't have a single "dud" in our class. (Except maybe me!) I've been pleasantly surprised what a good bunch of toops we've got in our group.

Take the chance, you'll have fun.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

I guess my question would be WHY would you "want" be a new hire at a "regional" in the post 9/11 era.

I was hired at 39, before 9/11. It was cool then, but it sucks @$$ now. Low pay for life? Since I am well into my 40's now I am kind of stuck here. The "majors" (L.C. Pukes do not count) will not be hiring for years. I can't go back to my previous office job because I have no recency of experience.

Yes, my attitude has been severely tainted. I would not recommend this profession to anyone now.

I can only imagine it was your attitude that got you turned down by the "L.C. Pukes".

 

[AviatorTx]

I can only imagine it was your attitude that got you turned down by the "L.C. Pukes".

Actually, I've never applied. I never will. They are the scourge of the industry. I would go back to flying corporate before I ever applied at scabtran or jetblue.

 

[Av8trxx]

I'll also agree that age is not an issue in getting hired. As long as you have the flight time, they will call. What you should consider more is this sentiment

I guess my question would be WHY would you "want" be a new hire at a "regional" in the post 9/11 era.

I was hired at 39, before 9/11. It was cool then, but it sucks @$$ now. Low pay for life? Since I am well into my 40's now I am kind of stuck here. The "majors" (L.C. Pukes do not count) will not be hiring for years. I can't go back to my previous office job because I have no recency of experience.

Yes, my attitude has been severely tainted. I would not recommend this profession to anyone now.

Your age will have a great bearing on your years left to make a nest egg for retirement, esp if you don't have much of one as a mid-life career changer already. My friend got hired at age 46 and declared they were "Living the dream, baby!". Three years later they are leaving commercial flying because they just can't make a good living at the low pay and have what they want to retire at age 60. The flying was good, but the lifestyle was not all they had anticipated it to be after the first 2-3 years....at least as an F/O at a regional and they were not willing to ride it out until it got better. Meeting living expenses was also a constant drain on their savings from the sale of their home when they left to go fly.

QOL may be an issue at low regional wages, esp if you have a family. You could be at the end of a huge hiring spree of 600 pilots, and then there you'll be...at the bottom on reserve, waiting for the next hiring wave to move up.

 

[Snakum]

Fellow old fart here ... turned 40 this year, a PPL and 200 hours in the logbook, always had to stop training for one reason or another. There was always a family crisis, family $$$ responsibilities, and then 9/11 which actually left me homeless for two seperate periods (sleeping in my car and showering at the gym ).

Now I've decided that I may not live my childhood dream (airline flying) because of my age and background (two misdemeanors twelve years ago), but I think I could be happy flying an ATR at MAC, a King Air on charter, or even a Seneca at Ram Air. Since I've built two careers already and lost my @ss each time (divorce the first time then 9/11) I've decided that I'll do what I love to do and if I'm eating dogfood on Social Security at 70 years old ... so be it.

Life's too short to sit around thinking about what you might have done.

Minh