Introduction

[MarkB-FL-509]

Good afternoon my name is Mark. Thanks in advance for your time and help.

I currently live in southwest Florida happily married with 2 children. I am 42 years old currently involved in the construction industry.

Aviation has always been a passion for me. I soloed while still in high school and received my private pilots license right after graduation. While attending university, I received my commercial, instrument, multi-engine and CFI-single engine certificates.

Upon graduation from university(1989) with a B.S. in business admin., the openings for pilot positions were few. Other opportunities arose, so as time went by my flights became less and less. My passion for flying and aviation has never diminished.

What is your feeling on the feasability of someone my age who has not flown in about 15 years to consider reentering the industry

Thanks again

[SkyWest JJ]

Hi Mark! Welcome to the forums!

You are in a similar position that I was in less than 4 years ago--except I would say you are better off because you have more ratings. In my case, I had earned my private and instrument about 7 years earlier, but had only flown after that on rare occasions. I thought about making a career switch and realized I would have to earn some ratings and build some hours. I started ATP in July 2005, finished up that fall--instructed for about a year in order to log the 1000 hours minimum requirement of SkyWest and starting class in August of 2006.

So--depending on how many hours you have you may be really close to being able to apply to the airlines--or you may have to come up with a plan to build up your time. The airlines will want to see some recency of experience--so either way you will have to log some sort of time to show that you are current.

So--I think it is very feasible. Of course with the downturn in the economy right now, very few airlines are hiring. However I think this might make it a perfect time to make yourself ready to be hired for when the hiring begins. Everything seems to run hot and cold in this industry. If you can make it into the first or second hiring class at an airline when they begin hiring, that will be great for you. Chances are more classes will follow and having more pilots coming in behind you will give you a better choice of bases, schedules, vacation, etc.

My questions for you, are: how many hours do you have? How much multi-engine time? Did you renew your CFI or let it lapse? Does your wife work, or do you have savings built up to provide for your family while you get current again and live on first year pay at the airlines?

Welcome again to the forums!

[MarkB-FL-509]

Thanks so much for your reply and your encouraging feedback!

My total flight time is 682 hours of which 122 are multi-engine time. Unfortunately, my CFI has lapsed.

My wife and I are pretty good at budgeting and saving. We are looking at the financial end very closely at this time. Fortunately she has secure job.

Thanks again for all your help.

[SkyWest JJ]

Well, it seems like you are on track. Your times would have met the minimums at many airlines when they were in hiring mode recently.

Have you given much thought on how to get current? One idea I have is to take the ATP Instructor Course. It's a 14 day program that will include a lot of class time reviewing all sorts of things you'll be asked on an interview. And you will also get flight time and you could re-instate your CFI with the FAA at the end of the course. I'm not sure if you need to be current to attend the course--I would think that you would have to, but you should give ATP a call if this sounds interesting to you and they may be able to work something out.

I instructed in Las Vegas and we helped a few people through the CFI program who were trying to reinstate their CFI and get back up to speed.

Otherwise you could begin a lot of self-study and find an instructor to do a BFR, IPC, etc.

Let me know if I can help!