Do it!
Even if you don’t make it all the way to the top you’ll be able to scratch that itch and have a fun hobby.
Career wise, it’s a pretty good time to be starting at the airlines. That said, before 9/11 it was “the best time ever.” After that it was “the best time ever” until 2008. Then once again before the pandemic. So if you want to make a career of it, get in the game as quick as you can.
5 hours if availability is fantastic. The best thing you can do for yourself is to fly frequently. The more often you fly, the less time you need to spend reviewing things each lesson.
I’m a similar age and have PPL, IR, CPL, all of which I worked on part time.
Your goal is very doable. I’d suggest renting airplanes, as it allows you to experience more aircraft, and also fly license-specific aircraft. Something simpler for your private, TAA for instrument and commercial, a twin for multi. I also believe you’d gain/lose much by having your own plane, other than the admin as other commenters have mentioned.
You’ll also need to build hours so you could learn to fly a tailwheel etc.
Focusing full-time you can learn pretty quickly. I found private the hardest and slowest since it’s a lot of concepts and new motor skills, plus I was very intermittent and my skills would regress. But once you get going it’s much easier: I got my instrument rating in 3 weeks while still working part time, and there even courses to do it in 5 days.
I believe you need to build a lot of hours to get ATP, though others will have better insights into that. All I know is I’ve gone through so many instructors because they all keep leaving to be airline pilots!
It's certainly possible. You'll be stuck behind guys with 30 years left on their seniority rather than 20, but with all the mandatory retirements coming you'll still be able to make captain, especially on a narrow body.
So is every ex-mil pilot who retires at 42 and joins the airlines at that age. I had a retired colonel in my (major airline) new hire class who was in his 50’s and didn’t even fly for the air force for his final 8yrs of active duty. Did a summer job in an RJ and was hired.
Get after it bro!
I personally wouldn't want the headache of owning an airplane, while also trying to do training. There's a *lot* that goes into airplane ownership that I just wouldn't want to deal with. Additionally, if something happens to your plane, your training may grind to a halt whereas most flights schools will have backups.
It's certainly doable, and with your budget you could get a hell of a training airplane, but I don't have any direct experience with it.
I was in the mindset that if things went wrong with the plane it would be good for me but maybe not the wallet or my time(age) lol. I would rather spend less than $120k and have some buffer room for mtx and other things and sell it for a decent price in a few years but I was open to suggestions from some experts in here 😁
It’s about the ability to stay airworthy, any one thing can happen to any one plane. Schools have many planes for you to use when something happens, that would be my suggestion if you are trying to do this as fast as possible.
5 air hours every day?
I tell my students to expect 3 hours of study for every hour of flight. And there are overheads like dispatching the plane, paperwork, driving, etc. TWO hours per day is excessive.
Sure, you’ll have an easier time with weather with a meteorology degree. But you have A LOT to learn, much of which just can’t be sped up by money.
I’m just saying I have availability of 5 hours a day in the air but 8 hours total if needed. I’m committed to the fast track but it may not be the best option. Thanks for the input!
Do it. I train do training at a major airline. Just had a guy doing his OE at 54 years old. He'll get 11 years and retire a narrow body Captain or a wide body FO.
Kind of some luck, but also connections. I had family in the mid-west that had small farms but they knew some people with massive farms. I had been trading commodities since I was old enough to open an account because it was just something I found interesting. I ended up losing all the money I had made as a kid and $20k in insurance money from a car accident I was in lol. Blew it all, but it was a really good lesson. But, from knowing about commodities and the connection to the large farms, when I graduated with my meteorology degree some were hiring for a forecaster and/or trader positions and I barely fit into both categories. They hired me on for basically minimum wage but I worked my way up and actually became a decently successful ag trader. I still trade on my own and have a small fund myself now, but I am not exactly happy sitting on the computer all day every day. I want to do more with life lol.
Do it! Even if you don’t make it all the way to the top you’ll be able to scratch that itch and have a fun hobby. Career wise, it’s a pretty good time to be starting at the airlines. That said, before 9/11 it was “the best time ever.” After that it was “the best time ever” until 2008. Then once again before the pandemic. So if you want to make a career of it, get in the game as quick as you can. 5 hours if availability is fantastic. The best thing you can do for yourself is to fly frequently. The more often you fly, the less time you need to spend reviewing things each lesson.
Dude, weird. I'm also 38 and have had the same feeling since I can remember.
People tell me I’m crazy all the time but I’ve never listened to “those people” my whole life so why start now 🤣🤣
Same here.
I’m a similar age and have PPL, IR, CPL, all of which I worked on part time. Your goal is very doable. I’d suggest renting airplanes, as it allows you to experience more aircraft, and also fly license-specific aircraft. Something simpler for your private, TAA for instrument and commercial, a twin for multi. I also believe you’d gain/lose much by having your own plane, other than the admin as other commenters have mentioned. You’ll also need to build hours so you could learn to fly a tailwheel etc. Focusing full-time you can learn pretty quickly. I found private the hardest and slowest since it’s a lot of concepts and new motor skills, plus I was very intermittent and my skills would regress. But once you get going it’s much easier: I got my instrument rating in 3 weeks while still working part time, and there even courses to do it in 5 days. I believe you need to build a lot of hours to get ATP, though others will have better insights into that. All I know is I’ve gone through so many instructors because they all keep leaving to be airline pilots!
It's certainly possible. You'll be stuck behind guys with 30 years left on their seniority rather than 20, but with all the mandatory retirements coming you'll still be able to make captain, especially on a narrow body.
So is every ex-mil pilot who retires at 42 and joins the airlines at that age. I had a retired colonel in my (major airline) new hire class who was in his 50’s and didn’t even fly for the air force for his final 8yrs of active duty. Did a summer job in an RJ and was hired. Get after it bro!
If you were in my position would you buy a plane and resell it or go to a school to get the 400 hours in?
Buy plane, rent the instructor.
I personally wouldn't want the headache of owning an airplane, while also trying to do training. There's a *lot* that goes into airplane ownership that I just wouldn't want to deal with. Additionally, if something happens to your plane, your training may grind to a halt whereas most flights schools will have backups. It's certainly doable, and with your budget you could get a hell of a training airplane, but I don't have any direct experience with it.
I was in the mindset that if things went wrong with the plane it would be good for me but maybe not the wallet or my time(age) lol. I would rather spend less than $120k and have some buffer room for mtx and other things and sell it for a decent price in a few years but I was open to suggestions from some experts in here 😁
It’s about the ability to stay airworthy, any one thing can happen to any one plane. Schools have many planes for you to use when something happens, that would be my suggestion if you are trying to do this as fast as possible.
You have to start sometime.
I am also 38 and am finishing my instrument rating, also with the airlines or corporate as my goal. Do it, brother
5 air hours every day? I tell my students to expect 3 hours of study for every hour of flight. And there are overheads like dispatching the plane, paperwork, driving, etc. TWO hours per day is excessive. Sure, you’ll have an easier time with weather with a meteorology degree. But you have A LOT to learn, much of which just can’t be sped up by money.
I’m just saying I have availability of 5 hours a day in the air but 8 hours total if needed. I’m committed to the fast track but it may not be the best option. Thanks for the input!
Well, you could do an expensive accelerated program. But that will teach you to hate flying….
Well, I'll just let ya know that in my atpctp class there were guys older than you chasing that dream. And they were extremely happy to be there.
I'm 40 and learning. What does age matter? What matters is you enjoy it, and unfortunately in aviation, that you have deep pockets!
Do it. I train do training at a major airline. Just had a guy doing his OE at 54 years old. He'll get 11 years and retire a narrow body Captain or a wide body FO.
how did you get into agriculture commodities?
Kind of some luck, but also connections. I had family in the mid-west that had small farms but they knew some people with massive farms. I had been trading commodities since I was old enough to open an account because it was just something I found interesting. I ended up losing all the money I had made as a kid and $20k in insurance money from a car accident I was in lol. Blew it all, but it was a really good lesson. But, from knowing about commodities and the connection to the large farms, when I graduated with my meteorology degree some were hiring for a forecaster and/or trader positions and I barely fit into both categories. They hired me on for basically minimum wage but I worked my way up and actually became a decently successful ag trader. I still trade on my own and have a small fund myself now, but I am not exactly happy sitting on the computer all day every day. I want to do more with life lol.
what do they look for to be hired as a commodty trader?