Is 50 too old to start a pilot career?

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amiga500

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#1987350 2-Apr-2018 22:42

In my opinion flying is like a sport. Before one knows if you'll like it you need to try it out. Maybe set a goal of getting to your first solo which will probably be between say 7 to 15 hours of flight training with an instructor. Once getting to that milestone evaluate it all and go from there. Wellington Aero Club has a good web page where all the options are explained, not sure where you are of course!

kryptonjohn

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#1987417 3-Apr-2018 08:46

TeaLeaf:

Something Ive always dreamed of is being a Pilot, but got sucked into IT for the money like many, along with a technology interest.

I feel like in a few years I need a career change. Its hard to know if jobs are limited by being agist.

Too old for airline work. By the time you've got enough hours doing instructing, glider towing, meat bombing (parachute plane) etc you'll be too old.

But you could certainly be flying for a low paid job that won't cover your training debt.

If you want to fly, get a PPL (or even a CPL) and just fly for fun. It's not that expensive and LSA aircraft are now less expensive than luxury cars.

frankv

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#1987444 3-Apr-2018 09:50

kryptonjohn:

If you want to fly, get a PPL (or even a CPL) and just fly for fun. It's not that expensive and LSA aircraft are now less expensive than luxury cars.

Or, better yet, rather than have the potential medical hassles of a PPL/CPL, get a microlight certificate. There's very little difference between a modern microlight and a light GA aircraft nowadays (only 2 seats, less than 600kg, stall below 45 knots) and many (most?) training organisations use aircraft that can be registered as microlights. Additionally, microlights typically cost less than half the price of a GA aircraft per hour, due to less paperwork and bureaucracy.

If you do decide to go GA, up to 10 hours of microlight time can be credited to your PPL. There's also an RPL which has an easier medical than a PPL.

kryptonjohn

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#1987456 3-Apr-2018 10:05

frankv:

kryptonjohn:

If you want to fly, get a PPL (or even a CPL) and just fly for fun. It's not that expensive and LSA aircraft are now less expensive than luxury cars.

Or, better yet, rather than have the potential medical hassles of a PPL/CPL, get a microlight certificate. There's very little difference between a modern microlight and a light GA aircraft nowadays (only 2 seats, less than 600kg, stall below 45 knots) and many (most?) training organisations use aircraft that can be registered as microlights. Additionally, microlights typically cost less than half the price of a GA aircraft per hour, due to less paperwork and bureaucracy.

If you do decide to go GA, up to 10 hours of microlight time can be credited to your PPL. There's also an RPL which has an easier medical than a PPL.

Totally agree - LSA gives best of both worlds. Why buy a mouldy 30 year old C172 when you can have a faster, lighter more economical option and less regs and less expensive parts and maintenance!

Nice summary from these vendors: http://www.skyfreedom.co.nz/light-sport-aircraft.html

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

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#1987467 3-Apr-2018 10:22

Dingbatt: After re-reading the beginning of this thread, I think what you are after is a life with an aviation component, rather than a career as a pilot. It seems like you are well able to dip your toe in, to see if you like it, without forsaking everything. There are plenty of people that have decided to take up recreational aviation later in life because they can afford it and it 'scratches an itch'. The plan you seem to be formulating allows you to take things as far as you wish, whether that ends up just being private flying for your own enjoyment, or beyond.
I hope the schooling you have received includes what NZCAA expects with regard to owner operator businesses. You seem to have the business credentials, which is obviously helpful. Good pilots don't always make good businessmen.

Thanks mate. Yep thats the plan.

Oh not just pilots, how many people think their dream is to run a resteraunt but dont have a clue how to.

I watch that show Dragons Den and have the time I wonder if the people have even written up a business plan with the basic questions asked they dont answer, I know its reality TV but those moments I believe are real.

I could tell you about the state of debt NZ is in from the GFC and how so many people bought into real estate because we didnt go backwards like we should have, and not borrowed money, so now we have a double mortgage bubble. Just wait for China to dip a bit more and see how smug Aucklanders are. By the way a lot of back are not secured so Id be looking to move my money if it were me. Just another example of people not understanding the basics of economics and living in a bubble.

BUT that doesnt mean you cant own a resteraunt or buy property in a dodgy economic period, just needs education and a mentor.

Just like an aviation career.

And no I dont think I will be too old for an Aviation career based on the quality advice Empacher has given me. But the reality is I dont want to fly commercial airline. I want to run my own 10 seater charter and sight seeing on the side. I might start at a 4 seater. I dont know.

But based on our economics, I see it as viable. from the 90k it would cost to get to commercial, I can cut a LOT of costs and Empacher has been very kind in showing me how. But even if it wa $90-100k, I dont see it impacting us.

So I buy a 10 seater, and a recoup some of the training costs then some of the plane costs. Im not doing it to become a millionaire. I forget the saying about no pilot learns to fly to be a millionaire.

The ultimate dream is to do something I enjoy part time (seasonal), use what i bloody well have already spent $100k on at university, and to be able to have our own plane to fly wherever we want when we want is like owning a yacht, just in the sky (Ive owned many yachts and the freedom to sail to Fiji is exhilarating). Part using my business skills and pilot skills and part work/life balance.

I hear what the negative posts are saying, but if every dream in life was impossible, nobody would achieve any dreams. I dont think mine is that outrageous and Im not naive enough to know Im at the beginning and my ideas are all just smoke in the win which my need a 40oz of reality.

But I refuse to sit at a desk all my life just to die 2 years later in my retirement, to me thats just tempting fate, not to mention how unhealthy sitting at a desk all day is, over a 40 year period, ouch I just had a stroke from all the cholesterol clogging my arteries from eating and not moving for 40 years.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

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#1987468 3-Apr-2018 10:24

kryptonjohn:

Totally agree - LSA gives best of both worlds. Why buy a mouldy 30 year old C172 when you can have a faster, lighter more economical option and less regs and less expensive parts and maintenance!

Nice summary from these vendors: http://www.skyfreedom.co.nz/light-sport-aircraft.html

Yep have looked at them and in all honesty, if my dreams dont pan out, thats probably what I would by for fun and freedom.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

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#1987475 3-Apr-2018 10:34

With LSA you can still do PPL and CPL training in it so at the end of a couple of hundred hours both pathways are still open.

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rayonline

1734 posts

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#1988507 5-Apr-2018 08:11

I heard student loans for aviation college has been stopped by the govt due to a lack of jobs so you need to self fund it. Unless this has changed ...

Even if you graduate with your CPL and your multi engine and instrument rating etc ... airlines won't hire you because they want x thousands of flight time. Part of this might be required by the CAA - at least in the USA it is. So some of them become flight instructors and take up part time work as bar tenders ...

Yes, medical. I done some flying. Only PPL, I got a heart block. Basically I had to pay for a private cardiologist since it is not a public interest (to do the CAA report). Then they slapped on a condition on my medical - I cannot fly with passengers unless I have a fully qualified co pilot. So flight instructing is out of the question, single pilot charter flights are out of the question - to get experience. Unless you fly for yourself out of fun. I was told if you are already a airline pilot and employed by the airline and this happens it might be OK because there is always a co pilot.

Av8R

18 posts

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#1989741 6-Apr-2018 20:48

I haven't read all of this to determine if you are intending on staying in NZ. If you don't mind going to Australia, companies like I have linked to below can offer seasonal work (NZ winter) on good pay (compared to a brand new CPL in NZ) and a quick way to build experience.

http://www.kimberleyairtours.com.au
https://www.aviair.com.au

If you don't have an ultimate ambition to fly big jets, jobs like this can be a quick way to get from a fresh commercial license to having the requirements for smaller NZ airlines like Soundsair etc.

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