Who Would Hire Me?

VWGhiaBob

VWGhiaBob

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VWGhiaBob
My childhood dream was to become an airline pilot. Although it didn't work out, I never lost my passion. Now, at 63, I'm wondering if I can try again...or if it's too late...not for the airlines, but charter / Surf Air, tours, whatever. I own my own Cirrus SR22, have 750 hours, and recently passed IFR...92 on written and first time on oral / practical...with great comments from the DPE.

Should have commercial / multi / complex shortly.

So, does anyone hire a 63 year old proven pilot, or do I just keep collecting tickets for my own satisfaction? Would be super satisfying to do something official, other than be a CFI (which I guess is an option).

But any other options out there for an oldie but goodie like me?
 
You can always become a CFI, don't even need to get "hired" just put yourself out there and charge by the hour.
 
If you have the right personality sure.
 
There are flying jobs out there ,in the charter section.
 
There is an outfit in the NYC area that just does charter work in a couple of Cirrus(es) Cirri? Well you get the picture. Maybe something like that.
 
Hmmm.... Cirrus SR22...... I know there are some single pilot 135 operations flying those. Hire yourself.
 
If you got the hours and a Class 1 go for it, people are pretty hard up these days.
 
I’m sure you can get hired, but in the meantime why not start your own business? Photography, tours, package/document delivery, .... Might be easier to get hired if you can say you’re “chief pilot for Acme Photo-Flights” or similar.
 
You can probably find a right seat jet job if you network. There’s no mandatory retirement for 135.
 
Angel Flight network is always looking for pilots and you can have your fuel reimbursed. Search "Angel Flight" and contact your nearest organization.
 
If it is something you really want to do, the opportunities will be there. More and more corporate pilots who 5 years ago swore they’d ‘never go to the airlines’ are going to the airlines and that is starting to create its own pilot shortage in the non-121 world.

The downside is that you’ll be competing with kids who will take any cheap job to build time to get to the airlines, but once you establish yourself as a known quantity to some employers, you’ll have an advantage.

You might want to check out bizjetjobs.com for opportunities while you try to network in your local area.
 
Half Fast said:
I’m sure you can get hired, but in the meantime why not start your own business? Photography, tours, package/document delivery, .... Might be easier to get hired if you can say you’re “chief pilot for Acme Photo-Flights” or similar.
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Those were great ideas 10-15 years ago, but now, not so much.

Unless you already have a higher end established business, it’s hard to compete with the drones for photo jobs. Every real estate broker these days has a drone to take aerial photos. The only way to do that anymore is to find a niche like air to air.

Tours: be prepared for a whole lot of azz pain administering your FAA approved drug program and after your first FAA audit, you’ll probably want to quit anyway, even if they don’t fine you into submission.

Document delivery? You’ll need a 135 and that could take 2 years getting the approval from the FSDO.
 
I’d go with the recommendation for Imagine Air also. With SR22 time, you’d have a good shot at getting picked up. Obviously a move might be in order or a heck of a commute to one of their SE hubs. Coworker flys with them and he was very impressed with their training program. I think he said out of 5 in his class, only he and another guy made it through training. He flys part time and essentially picks his flights. Pay isn’t going to be great but it seems like a good outfit for someone looking for a first 135 gig.
 
Clip4 said:
If you got the hours and a Class 1 go for it, people are pretty hard up these days.
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Why on earth would he increase his risk margins going for a class 1 that he won't likely use.

Go for a class 2 to start with.

Lots of nice 91/135/91k jobs out there
 
James331 said:
Why on earth would he increase his risk margins going for a class 1 that he won't likely use.

Go for a class 2 to start with.

Lots of nice 91/135/91k jobs out there
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EXACTLY! If you aren't going for the airlines, there is no need to pay the extra money and have the potential risk of a Class 1 unless you are applying for a real good job with an operator that specifically requires it.
 
One thing people seem to have overlooked are the hours that you currently have. With only 750 hours the 135 jobs are off the table unless they’re VFR jobs or you’re sitting right seat.

The good news is that it seems like there are quite a few operators that are looking for 750ish hour guys to act as FO and the company will then put you in the other seat when you meet IFR 135 minimums.
 
mondtster said:
One thing people seem to have overlooked are the hours that you currently have. With only 750 hours the 135 jobs are off the table unless they’re VFR jobs or you’re sitting right seat.
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Of course. No one is going to go from recreational pilot straight into the left seat at a 135 even if they had the hours.
 
Fearless Tower said:
Of course. No one is going to go from recreational pilot straight into the left seat at a 135 even if they had the hours.
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I just wanted to make that clear. The way I read most of the posts in this thread, it appears implied that he'd be hireable for the left seat immeadiately.
 
mondtster said:
I just wanted to make that clear. The way I read most of the posts in this thread, it appears implied that he'd be hireable for the left seat immeadiately.
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Left seat of a caravan or Cirrus is possible!
 
Almost forgot, though you wouldn't personally be leaving terra firma, there are some sweet drone jobs popping up nowadays.
 
Flying jumpers, especially for a turbine DZ might be a little taxing if you're not ready to spend 7hrs straight in the seat flying on both sides of the envelope and doing max climbs and decents all day.

In many ways it's much more work that sitting in the flight levels watching the AP.

A small quaint DZ would be a different story ofcourse
 
20160509134956-christy-mcdermott-walmart-greeter.jpeg


Just kidding....

This is actually my dream job...:lol::lol:
 
Aerial mapping. They'd rather get someone who is not just a kid trying to get to 1500 then the regionals.
 
VWGhiaBob said:
My childhood dream was to become an airline pilot. Although it didn't work out, I never lost my passion. Now, at 63, I'm wondering if I can try again...or if it's too late...not for the airlines, but charter / Surf Air, tours, whatever. I own my own Cirrus SR22, have 750 hours, and recently passed IFR...92 on written and first time on oral / practical...with great comments from the DPE.

Should have commercial / multi / complex shortly.

So, does anyone hire a 63 year old proven pilot, or do I just keep collecting tickets for my own satisfaction? Would be super satisfying to do something official, other than be a CFI (which I guess is an option).

But any other options out there for an oldie but goodie like me?
Click to expand...

I've seen a couple of regionals hire at 62 and saw one hire a 63 year old knowing they only had 2 years to train and fly before they had to retire. Of course you have to have ATP minimums for that, but the jobs are out there.
 
BrianNC said:
I've seen a couple of regionals hire at 62 and saw one hire a 63 year old knowing they only had 2 years to train and fly before they had to retire. Of course you have to have ATP minimums for that, but the jobs are out there.
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And if they like flying for a living, they’ll be picking up the better corporate and cargo things in a few years, so that’ll mess with the 250-1500 hour group as well.

The airlines paid so badly for so long and got themselves so desperate that they’ll now hire at that age, the pilot will get the experience to go into non-airline flying, and the airline will still be hiring.

It’s very cool for the right candidates but at least for those few numbers, it has some unintended consequences for the charter and other stuff looking “backward” into those jobs once they’re forced to “retire”.

So which bizjet do you want to fly in your second retirement @LDJones ? ;)
 
VWGhiaBob said:
My childhood dream was to become an airline pilot. Although it didn't work out, I never lost my passion. Now, at 63, I'm wondering if I can try again...or if it's too late...not for the airlines, but charter / Surf Air, tours, whatever. I own my own Cirrus SR22, have 750 hours, and recently passed IFR...92 on written and first time on oral / practical...with great comments from the DPE.

Should have commercial / multi / complex shortly.

So, does anyone hire a 63 year old proven pilot, or do I just keep collecting tickets for my own satisfaction? Would be super satisfying to do something official, other than be a CFI (which I guess is an option).

But any other options out there for an oldie but goodie like me?
Click to expand...

If you’re doing the commercial definitely get the CFI. The written is almost the same. If you can pass the one you can pass the other. Then the FOI is pretty easy.

As soon as I passed my commercial I switched seats and worked on the same maneuvers from the right seat teaching them. It only took a few weeks to prep for that checkride.
 
For anyone who may have suggested Imagine Air, it appears they have gone Tango Uniform.
 
Kritchlow said:
For anyone who may have suggested Imagine Air, it appears they have gone Tango Uniform.
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Yep. Belly up. Here's a thread about it on Airlinepilotsforum.com

Dear ImagineAir customers-
It is with great regret that the Board of ImagineAir and the company’s leadership announce the suspension of operations effective 11pm ET, May 24, 2018.
While the potential of ImagineAir never dimmed, the company’s leadership and advisors were unable to secure the necessary short-term funding to continue operations, nor the long-term funding to scale the company to profitable scale.
The customers of ImagineAir have always been our highest priority as we sought to build a large-scale, technology-enabled personal air travel enterprise.
ImagineAir’s leaders and investors aren’t jumping ship—they merely cannot find a means to fund ongoing losses, despite vigorous efforts which continued until early this morning. We will work to settle the affairs of the business as expeditiously as possible and will work to best protect the interests of our employees, customers, investors and vendors.
Thank you for your business, loyalty and belief in what ImagineAir could have become.
Best regards,
ImagineAir’s Board and leadership

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/part-135/113982-imagineair-folding.html
 
Yeah my friend got a text from them a week ago saying they’re closing shop and good luck in the future. Seems a bit cold to get laid off in a text but I guess it’s as good as any other form of communication. Looked like they had a really thriving business going too.
 
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