2012 - quite a year...here's to 2013

[matspart3]

Slightly different perspective on this....

For Gloucester, the 2012 numbers were as follows...

Movements: - 73 695 (Up 9.9%)
Transits: - 6 315 (Down 6.8%)
Instrument Apps: - 3 547 (Up 8%)
Passengers: - 16 267 (Up 3.1%)

Total different visiting aircraft (by registration) 1850 (Up 5.2%), 420 'first timers'.
We issued 232 new Loyalty Cards, bringing the total to 769. Resident aircraft now 172, up 11.

[AndyR]

Millions of thoughts/dreams about whether or not at my age (30) it is too late to throw some money at the CPL/IR and try to get paid for flying. Many thanks for Andy's inspirational tale - if I ever acquire the balls to make the financial decision then that'll be my route rather than buying a type rating

I had my first trial lesson aged 33. My first proper flying lesson aged 35. After some financial struggle I finally obtained my PPL early 2004 aged 38.

After 600 hours decided to take the plunge to commercial and sold my (very) small business in May 2008.

ATPL theory completed Dec 2009.
CPL Feb 2009.
CRI Oct 2009.
ME June 2010.
IR Oct 2010.
FI Jan 2012.

1,250 hours in, now 47 and the addiction gets worse. I've been very fortunate to have flown some really cool aeroplanes and experienced lots of different types of aviating....still a lot to discover and enjoy.

Too old? At times over the last few years I'd have said yes. The market has also changed; if anyone is set on flying big shiny jets I would absolutely recommend integrated. Modular is not the route to pursue any longer for that particular segment - IMHO.

Too old to give commercial aviation a go? You need to want it. Badly. You need to sacrifice a lot.....or be well off. I'm in the former group. I so did the right thing though. I doubt I'll ever now own a home again, but I will be happy. And no I dont have rose tinted specs on, most jobs in aviation are nowhere near as glamorous as they used to be or are made out to be.

Happy aviating, whichever route you choose.

[MichaelP]

Back in the 80's I had a friend do his CPL at the age of 42 and he ended up flying F27s and enjoying it. I believe he flew 146s later.

I baulked at the idea of borrowing 30,000 Pounds to do the British CPL at the time and I am a fool for doing this as in retrospect my compatriots who did borrow the big money ended up with good jobs in Britain; paid so well they bought houses. Then house prices crashed and they were in negative equity! But they all came out of the other side.

It was funny that I'd buy aeroplanes (Condors and T67As), invest in them and see them pay for themselves, but I would not invest in myself.
Investing in yourself is far more important than investing in equipment, you are your own primary business tool!

It takes risk, nothing without risk.

If you decide the CPL is for you, do not take the North American route.
If I had this life again I would never ever do a Canadian CPL, it has not been worth it.
Canadian Commercial Pilots are paid badly and treated even worse.

So do the CPL in Britain (Spain and Greece as required), get the EASA licences and don't sell yourself cheap as Canadian pilots have done.

[defcribed]

Thanks for the detail Andy (and others), really interesting to read.

Andy - I think you've hit the nail on the head about wanting it badly enough. I don't. I think it'd be really cool to fly aeroplanes for a living (be they shiny jets or anything else), but it isn't the be all and end all for me. I don't want it enough to put it above my house/family/career aspirations, unfortunately.

I'll be keeping it as a hobby. The best hobby there is.

[MichaelP]

If you're enthusiastic and love to fly then perhaps the Instructor Rating will be the way to go.
I never made it to the airlines, but I have never regretted teaching people to fly (except for the low periods when I feel poor).
If you have a means of making a proper income elsewhere and can instruct for the pleasure of passing it on, then perhaps you can find a happy path through life.