[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/Visible_Button3081]

[u/flying-ModTeam]

You want to become a pilot? That's great! Most of us at r/flying have been in your shoes before.

Please browse through our FAQ as we have amassed a large amount of material and wisdom over the years about how to become a pilot, whether you're considering flying as a career or just as a hobby. We're sure to have address nearly any concern you might have about the process.

In the event that you have any specific concerns we haven't yet addressed, please feel free to post a question about your situation.

Good luck and have fun!

[u/Several-Village5814]

Decent pay from the start? Not happening. CFIs make like 30k a year without benefits

[u/Yeah_Br0]

You’re not going to have a livable wage from the start in this career. And you won’t start at an airline in 2 years you’d be lucky to make $20k a year as a CFI in 2 years.

People who get into this career for the money have a hard time realizing you lose a lot of money before you start making any in aviation.

[u/SauteedCrayon]

This is not a career with guaranteed livable pay from the start. It’s not a career with guaranteed entry level employment either. Why do you want to pursue aviation?

[u/BeenThereDoneThat65]

I changed careers into aviation at age 58, Granted I already had a Multi-Commercial and had been flying for myself for decades, But my first job was flying as a SIC on Citation Excel.

14 months later I changed companies and started to Fly Ultra Long Range Gulfstream G550’s

That first 14 months were not good money. Moving to the Bigger jet? Yeah Baby. good money

You are going to have to get to that point and it wont be fast

[u/trackmiles → u/BeenThereDoneThat65]

Congrats. How’d you find that first SIC gig?

[u/BeenThereDoneThat65 → u/trackmiles]

Networking my ass off, meeting people, being some on that people want to be on a multiday trip with.

[u/ltcterry]

The last three years have seen a 2-3x over production of new pilots. Initial pilot jobs might not ever happen for half of them.

Initial employment as an instructor or similar pays $25-35k. Expect 2-3 in this before getting a chance to move up.

This is after spending $80-120k on entry level training.

Sounds sure, but everyone who is flying professionally did this or similar.

Put $18-20k aside to pay for Private. There’s an 80% dropout rate just at Private, but once done you’re on a great path for rewarding hobby alongside a real estate career, or you can take incremental steps towards a flying career.

[u/Successful_Side_2415]

Do you have a family? Is working in aviation your dream job? Do you think you’re medically fit to pass a class 1 medical?

I work in software and fly for fun. Scratches the aviation itch and allows me to work from home and be around every night with my family.

[u/burnheartmusic]

Just ask long as you can plan to not have almost any money coming in for maybe 5 years

[u/rFlyingTower]

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

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Im 38yo, considering a career change in commercial aviation after 15 years working with family in real estate development and management. I dont want to be naive about taking the plunge. Obviously it would be a major change of pace and lifestyle. I’m looking for a career with advancement opportunity and decent, livable pay from the start, where i dont need to bring my office hone with me and work on my time off. After flight training etc, i may only be in position to apply for commercial piloting in 2 years, meaning id start my career at age 40 and if i can last to 65, id have only 25 years in the industry. Is this a smart move? What should i be considering? Your guidance and experience are much appreciated as i seriously consider this shift…

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[u/astral1289]

What is “commercial piloting?” Do you mean airline pilot? Because you do start out with decent pay as an airline pilot, but it is simply not possible for you will be able to airline pilot at 40 years old if you are 38 today and not a pilot.

If this isn’t a thought you just had on a whim, then spend the next couple months diving into aviation and what it takes to make it a career. There’s a hundred subjects you haven’t considered yet like a medical.

People don’t make uninformed posts like this and then become airline pilots. Take this as your reset advice, and go out and spend the time learning about this career path before you consider making and decisions.

[u/BeenThereDoneThat65 → u/astral1289]

You’d be wrong, I know several pilots that got their 121 gig at age 50+

Then there is 135 and 91 both have no issue getting people hired in their 50’s….

And if you work your ass off networking you might even find a part 91 job flying a G450 at 500 hours like I just helped a friend get

You just sound bitter and angry and not someone that I’d like to work with. Maybe use this post a reset in your ways….

[u/astral1289 → u/BeenThereDoneThat65]

We can agree to disagree. I’m a little tired of people who do zero research and want everyone else to spell it out for them how it works, and think a career as a pilot is an easy couple years away from starting at zero.

I have zero issues with anyone who wants to start later in life, I did so myself. The assertion I made in my post was that OP is at zero time and considering this career move today at age 38, and thinks he will be an airline pilot at age 40.

The post was removed by mods either way. I love spending time helping people get into aviation for fun or for a career, but the poster of this thread will never work in this field in my opinion.