Thinking about a pilot career

[JoeS-OH-6096]

Hi Kevin,

My name is Joe and I'm beginning my research as a professional career pilot. I have a few reasons that this career path interest me, (1) It has been a dream since I was a youngster, (2) I love to travel and (3) fotunately/unfortunately I'm a bit of a control person.

Currently I have had no training

My goals are to get started with the training, complete initial training and pursue opportunities either in corporate or carrier environments.

A bit about myself:
I've had a 10 year Law Enforcement career starting at a very young age. I then left my chosen field to open a business. I'm happy to say the business is still up and running after 10 years. About 6 years ago I made a change into Banking. Although I love what I do I miss that sense of adrenaline and not completely fulfilled.

I'm married and have a 6 yr old daughter. My wife is from Cairo Egypt and is also in Banking. Like you, I've had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in Egypt (Cairo) and the Red Sea (Sharm El Sheik) literally paradise.

We hope to someday have our own vacation home on the Sea.

[JoeS-OH-6096]

I'll be 39 this year. Is this too old to pursue a career path as a pilot. What is HR looking at when they are screening new pilots from this perspective?

[American Eagle Kevin]

Hey Jose,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for participating. I hope I can help you along your way.

You're not the first person at your age to want to make a second career out of flying. There are a lot of people your age that make the decision to become a pilot and it should definitely not be a deterrent in any way. Since the FAA just raised the mandatory retirement age for the airlines to 65, that would give you a good 25 years of flying left in you. If you decide to fly corporate, all you have to do is maintain a 1st class medical in order to keep flying. So no, 39 is definitely not too old.

More than likely HR is looking for someone much like yourself when they apply. You have a lot of work experience and life experience that is very valuable in a cockpit environment. Basically, this won't be your first job so you understand what it's like in the real world. HR people like that sort of thing.

Egypt is amazing. I love it over there. I have never eaten so much in my life. The Red Sea was paradise. I have since broken up with my Egyptian girlfriend but I hope to go back there someday. What do you say you let me stay at your vacation home if I get you a job with the airlines???

Let me know what I can do to help you out. Ask as many questions as you like, just do me a favor and post each question as a new topic. Thanks!

Kevin

[JoeS-OH-6096]

Kevin,
Thanks for the response. This is encouraging information. I'm beginning my research on schools now. I will actually take you up on the vacation destination part Those Egyptian women...got to love em?

Question: Going the accelerated route with ATP to accomplish my overall objective, flying for an airline or corporate. What is a realistic timeframe for one to be adequately employable?

Joe

[American Eagle Kevin]

Hey Joe,

It will take 150 days to complete your training if you choose to go through ATP for everything. Your time spent flight instructing after your training will depend on how much the airlines are hiring at the time. If the airlines are hiring a lot of pilots then you may only have to flight instruct for a few months before you are elgible for the airlines. I was hired by Eagle with approximately 650 hours and it took me 7 months to build up that much time. There are some rare cases of students getting hired with as low as 250hours but I would not rely on that happening given the fact the airlines have recently slowed way down on their hiring.

To answer your question, it is tough to say just how long it will take for you to be elgible for the airlines. It all depends on what the economy is doing and the rate at which the airlines are hiring. I'd like to tell you that based on the history of ATP that it would take you less than a year after you complete your training to get hired on with an airline. I am guesstimating of course because it is hard to predict what the future will bring.

If you want to go corporate then you need to make as many connections as you can with people in company flight departments. It is much easier to get hired with the airlines than the corporate market unless you have a lot of connections. Some corporate flight departments may just hire you because they know who you are, they have seen your face around and they know you're a stand up guy.

Gotta love Egyptian girls. Although, I am dating a Brazilian girl right now and she definitely puts up a strong fight against the Egyptians.

I hope this all helps out. Let me know what you think.

Kevin