Am I Too Old?

[ThomasK-FL-609]

I'm a few months away from 41 (but very good health and unaided eyesight)and always wanted to be a pilot. Am I too old to consider this career change? How long does the training take to qualify as a commercial pilot? Is there a mandatory retirement age? Should I even be considering this? Any adivce?

[Compass Mitch]

Originally Posted by ThomasK-FL-609

I'm a few months away from 41 (but very good health and unaided eyesight)and always wanted to be a pilot. Am I too old to consider this career change? How long does the training take to qualify as a commercial pilot? Is there a mandatory retirement age? Should I even be considering this? Any adivce?

Hi Thomas... welcome to the forums. How is the weather down in Florida?

You are NOT too old. The mandatory retirement age at the airlines is 65, and some corporate flying will allow you to fly beyond that, if you wanted.

Training times vary. It can all be done in less than a year if you focus and study hard, but you can extend it out if you are training part time while still working another job.

Lots of good info is available here and on www.jetcareers.com . Also, check out ATP's website to look at the types of training options available there. We are here to coach you along but not lead you to just ATP, we want you to find the training option that fits you best.

Again, you are not too old.... go for it! Many of the pilots I fly with every week are your age, that recently changed careers.

[DanielO-FL-609]

Definetly not. The retirement age for a commerial airplane pilot is 63 years so you have a nice 22 years to still become an airplane pilot. my uncle became a commercial airplane pilot at 52!

[Compass Mitch]

Originally Posted by DanielO-FL-609

Definetly not. The retirement age for a commerial airplane pilot is 63 years so you have a nice 22 years to still become an airplane pilot. my uncle became a commercial airplane pilot at 52!

The retirement age is now 65.