I'm thinking of becoming a commercial pilot. I'm 31 & well settled in a different career. Should I?

Question

I am physically fit and have always dreamed of becoming a pilot. Does it make sense for me to give up my current career and try to get a commercial pilot's licence? How favourably will I be considered once I get my CPL? Will I be competing against other people who are in their early twenties? What will my career path be like? How easy is it to get a job as a Commercial Pilot in India or elsewhere?

Answer 1

If you have enough money from your current occupation that could last you a couple of years, then you can pursue your pilot dream. However, if you don't have much saved, and you don't find a good piloting job, then that would be bad.

Answer 2

Since you said, "How favourably...." I assume you are NOT in the UNITED STATES.

To answer your question accurately, we need to know WHERE you are and the COUNTRY you intend to fly in. It makes a BIG differance.

If it were the USA, you are certainly NOT too old to have a second career as a pilot. However the sacrifices both financially and personally you would have to make cannot be underestimated. It will easily cost you 3-6 times what you will earn in your first year to get trained. For info about airline pilot careers in the USA, see these informative links:

http://www.jetcareers
http://www.geocities.com/av8trxx99/FAQ.html
http://www.alpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=123

For info from a EUROPEAN or other NON-US perspective, go to the pilot message forums at http://www.pprune.org and look at their career changer topics.