Want to become at pilot...at 34

bRandom

bRandom

Member
I have been fascinated with aeronautics since I can remember, and have finally decided to chase my dream after getting a bachelors in Kinesiology (which does not particularly interest me career-wise) and pursuing a host of nothing jobs to try and make ends meet. So sparing the details, I live in St. Louis and have done little actual flying (although I have over 5,000 hours between DCS A-10 and Microsoft FlightSim haha)... So I am trying to find the best route to quickly and cheaply (and by cheaply I mean loans/financial aid) attain everything I need to fly at least charter/private and possibly commercially...

- I was looking into Parks college through St Louis University as a possibility (assuming I gain admission)
- I also spoke with a family friend who is manager of flightsafety international in orlando and he mentioned coming there along with embry-riddle... (flightsafety also has a st louis branch)
-I have a friend who is a member of this forum who recommended not necessarily going through college, but going to a local airport flight training program (due to cost effectiveness and not really needing college experience to get hired... just hours in the appropriate aircraft) and these two schools are available.

- http://stlflight.com/index.html (this program has a satellite community college program)... http://www.swic.edu/aviation-pilot-training/

- http://www.atpflightschool.com/flight_schools/missouri/st-louis-sus.html

-then the local college (Parks associated with St. Louis University) http://parks.slu.edu/departments/aviation-science/

Another option is to learn in Ohio area near my family at OSU...

Anyways, my friend recommended I give a shout out to this forum. I really appreciate any feedback and I hope this type of message does not overstep the boundaries of this forum. I am motivated and feel like I'm finally doing something I have always wanted to do more than anything else.

I'm honestly not sure if I have a preference to fly privately, commercially, or charter flights (well ok actually I guess I would prefer the A-10)... I just want to be a pilot! So, I have quite a few decisions to make, but just wondered of anyone had any good career recommendations.
Thanks,
Brandon Walker
 
However you choose to get there just be aware that the end goal before a major will be flying for some regional airline that would rather park airplanes and cancel routes, than simply pay a living wage as to attract the talent required to fill the seats... so there's that. A lot of guys that are regional pilots are either very young with very small cash requirements, live off their wife's job, have a second income ie a military retirement or a side gig flying in the guard, and some are just rich kids, or people that already made money in the market or other careers, so keep that in mind.There are other jobs, corporate mostly as well as freight etc etc to get into but also be aware thousands of the more fun jobs, survey, search and rescue etc will be done by drones in the very near future, so corporate or airlines will soon be your only option in the way of actual flying as far as a 20+ year career is concerned. It also sounds like you'll be going into some debt to make this happen, please think long and hard before you do that to yourself as well. The career can be rewarding, but those rewards can sure seem far and few between (I mean I can go to Europe or wherever for like 100 bucks any time I'm not working, even though I only make like 27 grand a year, which is cool I guess). Timing is EVERYTHING as well.
 
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You state you already have the degree. That is probably one of the hardest hurdles to get over. Go to your local airport (if you're near KSUS I can even help set you up with someone, pm if wanted) and fly. See how you are in a plane before you spend a fortune on training. If the flying goes well, I suggest doing it pt61(local airport) as opposed to pt141(pilot mill) to save cash. Good luck!
 
bRandom said:
attain everything I need to fly at least charter/private and possibly commercially...
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Not sure if I'm misunderstanding you. But you need a commercial pilots license to fly charter. That would be considered commercially.

But at any rate. I would recommend getting a private pilots license before commiting to the career and commiting to a huge training contract with ATP or another "big" school. Also, since you already have a degree I would steer clear of aviation "colleges". They aren't bad...just tend to be more expensive then just flying. But maybe it's an easier way to get loans?? Everyone's situation is different.

And as @Soku39 already said, you live poor in the beginning of this career and possibly for quite a substantial amount of time. So keep that in mind.
 
Stomp16 said:
You state you already have the degree. That is probably one of the hardest hurdles to get over. Go to your local airport (if you're near KSUS I can even help set you up with someone, pm if wanted) and fly. See how you are in a plane before you spend a fortune on training. If the flying goes well, I suggest doing it pt61(local airport) as opposed to pt141(pilot mill) to save cash. Good luck!
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I would tend to agree, if it wasn't for all the new ATP written rules and the R-ATP thing, he would have to get it done in a hurry to beat those. The FAA has more or less put the kibosh to part 61 training for those that want to fly professionally, which I hate, but alas more creation of an artificial shortage of people willing to fly for current wages at necessary levels of investment... until age 67 comes out :D.
 
If you already have a degree I'd stick with the local flight school but you mention needing loans. Flight Safety probably could hook you up. They have some internship programs that are interesting and potentially helpful for a low time pilot.
 
Yes, I do have a bachelors degree, but it is in exercise physiology and has no known useful purpose. Haha
I was also getting this impression, that flightsafety would be able to provide financial assistance. I will check my eligibility for that today.
Thanks!
 
Ok so if i go pt61 that will take place in a small local airport versus the actual flightsafety academy (pt141)?
Thanks
 
Although from my reading around forums, it seems people say pt141 pilots have a much better chance of being hired as a newb to commercial positions?
 
You have the degree, it doesn't matter what in. Pt61 training will be at a local airport and it doesn't matter pt61 or 141, if you've got the ratings, you can be hired. There isn't once preference over the other usually.
 
What are your goals? How much money do you want to make (minimum)? Where do you want to live? Realize that at the commuter airline level you're looking at at least a 3-4 year time frame to get qualified most likely. At the major airline level you aren't even looking at a time line, it's quite possible that it might not even happen. Are you OK with that?

Working for a corporate gig can be REALLY good, but 95% aren't really that great.
 
wheelsup said:
What are your goals? How much money do you want to make (minimum)? Where do you want to live? Realize that at the commuter airline level you're looking at at least a 3-4 year time frame to get qualified most likely. At the major airline level you aren't even looking at a time line, it's quite possible that it might not even happen. Are you OK with that?

Working for a corporate gig can be REALLY good, but 95% aren't really that great.
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To add to that, are you married/engaged? Have kids? That changes the equation dramatically.
 
Not married, No kids, the parents and immediate family want me to move near them in Columbus, Ohio... Im currently in St. Louis. I would like to make over $75,000/yr. I guess I could go where the job is... even another country... I just dont want to paint houses anymore
 
I called flightsafety for financial aid options and that was a no go... Looks like at this point, just going to a major university is my only option... Or win the lottery, but im too broke to play.
 
I started in my mid 30's like you, and it is no an easy task, I assure you. But if you have the financial resources then I'd say go for it. I'd also recommend finding a local school rather than forking out 60k to an accelerated program (unless you just have 60k sitting around ;-).
Networking was an integral part of my progression, because I was able to fly with several guys in order to build time working towards my 250 hours for the Commercial. It saved me a bunch of money by doing that and I ended up finding contract work on a Citation as a result. It's tough trying to make that jump in your 30's, but it's definitely been rewarding on my end. I'm sure that aviation will give me a few slaps in the face down the road, but so far it's been fun, and I'm still glad I spent all that money to get my ratings!
 
bRandom said:
I called flightsafety for financial aid options and that was a no go... Looks like at this point, just going to a major university is my only option... Or win the lottery, but im too broke to play.
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My 2 cents,

Keep your current job and do your private license at an fbo like landmark or atlantic at an airport where there is a lot of charter flights. There is one at SUS called tac air i think? That way you can network with people there already which will give you a head start. Pay for your lessons one at a time with money you save.

Absolutely do not spend a fortune at a university to get another useless degree.
 
I started at 34 as well, trained at local clubs and have a nice part 91 career now. Jump in and Enjoy the ride!
 
It's good that you already have a degree. Airlines don't really care what it's in just so long as it's from an accredited University and don't let anyone tell you any different. It's simply a tool the HR dept uses to weed out potential applicants when they have to many resumes on file....and, they always have too many applicants. There is no correlation between degree type and flying ability. I've also never seen a correlation between flying ability of folks with and without degrees.

From someone who is coming to the end of the road you're about to get started on......

Do yourself a favor before spending any money on flying. Go get a First Class physical and make sure everything is ok and there aren't any issues that'll prevent you from moving forward with your dreams. Next, take a few flying lessons and see if your if cut out for this profession. Don't quit your day job as the road you're getting ready to embark on is initially very expensive and debt adds up quick. If you can continue to paint houses while working on your ratings at a local airport that would be the way to go. Don't get yourself buried in mounting debt. Remember, there are no guarantees in aviation (I can't say that enough).

Stay away from any University programs if possible. They are overpriced and will promise the world while usually delivering very little in the end, at least no more or less than your local airport FBO. I'm a product of a local mom and pop FBO and have done pretty well in aviation considering my general lack of ability and aptitude. :))

You may have a few misconceptions (understandably) on the different ratings required and what they mean. First, a commercial pilot is simply a pilot who holds a commercial rating. All airline pilots have a commercial rating but not all commercial pilots are airline pilots. The commercial rating is really nothing more than a glorified private pilot's license. It allows you to be paid as a pilot. However, without additional ratings (ie. instrument rating..which allows you to fly in clouds), you are severely restricted in what you can do with it. Also, without enough additional flying hours (experience), you aren't very marketable to potential employers. The old catch 22...

There's also about a 200hr gap of required time between obtaining your private pilot's license and your commercial license. That's 200 hrs of outta pocket expense to rent an airplane while working toward your commercial rating which is another expense on it's own. Then you have the multiengine rating which is another added expense to become more marketable. Most new/low time pilots work on getting their CFI after their commercial license and try and find a teaching job to help pay expenses and build flight time quickly. These are all expensive outta pocket expenses you have to consider. You'll need 1500 hrs to obtain and ATP license if that's your career goal and to get on with the airlines.

I'll let someone a little more current on general aviation and all the new licensing rules and regs explain it better than I can but go in with as much info as possible and keep your eyes wide open.

Also, keep in mind and at the risk of sounding like a Debbie Downer......There are NO GUARANTEES even after all the hard work and expense. Aviation is a very fickle and inherently unforgiving lady.

Good luck!

This article is something I've kept on my computer. It's a little out dated but still holds many truths:

http://www.abc.se/~m9963/200mdol.html
 
bRandom said:
Not married, No kids, the parents and immediate family want me to move near them in Columbus, Ohio... Im currently in St. Louis. I would like to make over $75,000/yr. I guess I could go where the job is... even another country... I just dont want to paint houses anymore
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$75,000 is certainly doable in this industry. However, speaking for myself only, it took me 12 years from the day I started flying lessons to the day I had a job making that kind of money (which isn't really a lot, anyway). Some people timed everything right and got into that position much more quickly, but in many of our cases, things weren't so easy.

Make no mistake: This industry is seniority-based; no matter your need, your aptitude, or your motivation, if your company parks jets and you're on the bottom of the list, you'll be in the unemployment line. If things grind to a halt and stagnate, you might be stuck in the right seat of an RJ for years on end making much less (If I were still at XJT, I'd be almost an 8th year ERJ FO). Just be prepared to not make anywhere near $75,000 for a few years.

Best of luck.
 
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