Are You TOO Old for Flight Training : Career Change to Aviation 

i'm 46 and going for it. I may be crazy, but i don't want to live with regrets of things i didn't do.

I'm 33 and have been a police officer for 7 yrs...I'm currently an investigator at my local dept. and currently burned all the way out...LE has taken a toll on me. I've always loved aviation and told my wife tonight that I can't do it anymore. I think I'm gonna make this leap of faith.

Went to medical school at 55, it was my dream and I made it. You are never too old to go after your dreams.

I’m 49 & jumping in full steam after 25 yrs in IT. Thx Kelsey!

Retireing at 65 is really only for the airlines. I've met tons of pilots over the age of 65 flying for fractionals such as NetJets and Wheels up. There are plenty of jobs for pilots over the age of 65, so consider that as well.

I DID IT AT 56...GOT MY COMM/INSTRUMENT/CFI..ITS THE WAY TO GO,FOR OLD TIMERS..(I LOVE TO SLEEP IN MY OWN BED AT NIGHT).I FORGOT TO MENTION..I RETIRED FROM THE USPS WITH 33 YEARS...WHEN YOU LOVE TO FLY,EVEN A CESSNA 150 DO IT FOR YOU...548 HOURS.

I don't want to go into detail because it would be too long but if anyone needs a bit of inspiration. I drove 18 wheelers for 15yrs from 25-40yrs old and saved a heap of money. I used that money to fulfill my dream of becoming a pilot and got my PPL when I was 40... Bought a 1979 Rockwell Commander 114 with a 260hp Lycoming and flew the dogshit out of it for over 700hrs within the next 3yrs all while equally advancing in my flight training ... Fast forward 3yrs to 43 and I had my Instr, comm, multi, turbine.. I'm 45 and a corporate Lear 35 pilot. If I can do it, so can you!

I'm 38, just left my job of 14 years in oil and gas (which I hated) to pursue my dream. I solo next week in a Piper Warrior. The smile I walk around with after landing that thing tells me this was absolutely the right decision. No regrets for me in 20 years.

My flight instructor got hired by Horizon Air and he was 60.

Hey Kelsey, I have just spent the last 2 years training and last week I started working as a flight instructor. I’m 45 and have 20 years in law enforcement behind me. I have 20 years of flying ahead, and feel like I have been given a second chance to do what I dreamed of as a child. I have NO regrets. Money isn’t everything.

I’m 50 years old and I have 55 hours now working towards my PPL. I’m about to retire from a 25 year career as a first responder here in Florida. I’m looking to do a second career in aviation. I might not have a ton of time left but it has definitely been a dream of mine.

So I saw this video a few years ago and I must say it was a deciding factor. I've done all the planning, burrowing and saving and TODAY I signed a training contract at the age of 31! 🙂 Wish me luck my friends!

Great video Kelsey! I'm 39, work in IT and jumping ship to aviation. Got my PPL about 12 years ago, my IFR about 2.5 years ago, commercial earlier this year and my CFI last month. Leaving my job in another month to instruct full time and build another 1000 to get me in the air for good :)

I know that I'm too old. 4 years isn't worth the investment. I am, however, an enthusiast and I can be that for the rest of my life.

I'm 61 and I....aww hell, I'm off to the bar lolz! I'm an old pilot not a bold pilot...blue skies to all that want to go for it.

I am 62, but have about 1000 hours of flight time. I have a wonderful airline career waiting... As a baggage handler.

I'm 13 I cought the aviation bug about a year ago my family took me to the airforce museum I fell in love with planes. I love ur videos keep them coming👍

Am now 50 y/o started my PPL when I was 49 y/o...just solo'd and have about 30+ hrs so far in since I did ground school last year. Weather forgiving should have my PPL by this summer! :) Always my dream since I was a kid. Oh yeah am a military flight surgeon with 1500+ hrs of flying on the job so figured it was time! May not make it to commercial flying but that wasn't the plan anyway! Thanks for the video

Love your videos man! I'm 22 and just graduated with a Health sciences pre med degree ,but almost spent the rest of my life going to med school and becoming a doctor, until I realized that it was my parent's dream and not my own. Starting flight school this January hopefully!

I recently turned 35 and have been driving a tow truck since I was 22, but I'm over it and it's time for a big change. One of my concerns/challenges are my obligations (mortgage, truck payment, other bills, etc). It's scary, but I'm excited. This is the first aviation channel I've subscribed to. Lots of great info so far.

I thought of flying when I was 22, but was afraid to spend the money. I thoght I would forget it. 40 years later, I know it never goes away. SOME PEOPLE MUST FLY ! If it's in you, do it!

Wow this channel is awesome! I'm danish and 41 years old. Wanted to be a pilot as a kid but it was impossible to pay for in Denmark..still is, so I gave up that dream early on. Moved to Brazil 3 years ago and as I was sitting in Rio airport Santos Dumont one day I saw a pilot exiting a gate, and then it hit me!! Why am I not a pilot?? Imagine my surprise when I found out it is much cheaper here than Denmark! I am finishing up my PPL these days and have already started on the theoretic part of the CPL, all in Portuguese obviously....but I am on my way!

I got my PPL license in '93, so 25 years ago. But life took another direction. End of last year I decided it was time to come back to aviation. So here I am in 2018, 47yo and about to get my CPL with IFR and Multi ratings. I have never let ppl tell me I was too old for aviation. If it works (and it will) I will be extremely happy, if it doesn't, I know at least I tried, instead of regreting I have not.

Just what I needed to hear! Flying has always been a long time dream of mine and when I had the resources to accomplish it, I made it happen! I'm now 46 and flying on and off for a few years. I just have a couple more years left with the FDNY and I'm also starting my flight instructor so I can hopefully soon make that transition. You made me feel a lot better about my career change decision! Thank you!

"Did I do the teasing ? Maybe!" 🤣🤣

Im 31 and starting flight school full time in January

Thanks Kelsey, love you brother! Starting at 28 thinking I was old but you and these commenters got my back! Love when you call us crew and your saying at the end!

I’m 39 and I was feeling like I was probably too old to even CONSIDER this. This video was very encouraging. Kelsey, just recently found your channel. Great work!

Thanks for the info mate. Turning 38 with an unused CPL and looking to make the jump to an aviation career. Cheers from Australia and have a great 2019

I started at flight school at 34. I was lucky and am now a 777 skipper for a major. It worked for me but it could have easily gone the other way.

@74 Gear - binge watching your vids and loving them. I'm 39 and having this exact thought - this video has helped me a lot.

98% of your decision to be an airline pilot can answered in one simple question. “Can I pass a FAA Class One Physical” without restrictions and every six months? I am a commercial, single/multi engine instrument pilot with almost 760 hours total flight time. However, at almost age 57 it is harder each year to meet the guidelines for a class two. I nearly squeak by a class 3 so all I do at this point is enjoy being an over qualified private pilot. Forget about ever meeting a class 1 physical minimum standard. Generally if you take certain meds or add meds from the previous physical and it reaches that grey area in the medical examiner’s book, you virtually have to be approved by the FAA flight surgeon and that can take months. By the way, if approved, it become retroactive to your physical date, not restarted on the approval date. Therefore, by the time you get approved you may need another physical soon. So if you had a class 2 in January 2019 and takes 8 months ( August 2019) to be cleared by the FAA, it will only be good for four months then you need to get another class 2 by the end of the month of January 2020. That can get expensive! This also hurts many CFI’s as they can only teach ground school at this time while waiting for FAA clearance of their medical. They are officially “grounded.” By the way, most CFI’s don’t earn enough to support themselves or a family without another job.

35 year old here and I have my ATP admissions flight in a couple weeks. I’m doing the career pilot program, so it’ll be a wild couple months coming up in 2023. Thanks for the extra encouragement!

Brilliant Kelsey, You have literally helped me know that im making the correct decision, im 34 in a few days and decided well time is going by and I don't want to come to the retirement age and regret never doing it, im in a lucky position that my partner is 110% behind me, we both work full time, so i will be doing my career the modular way to keep working and pay for it as i progress. But thankyou for this video, its just what i needed to see.

Okay you’re just the best pilot on RU-vid i swear I’m glad that i discovered your channel thank you so much for your time and effort making this videos 🙏

I'm 35 first time on a plane last week. Now I'm hooked. And your vids help me out alot. That's keep up the great work.

Meanwhile in 2020... Me: "Oh wow this is really inspiring, I should give this a shot." Coronavirus: "I'm about to end this man's whole career."

Hey Kelsey, I'm a young 51 years old, and have decided to pursue an aviation career......as soon as I can figure out how to finance it. I'm not too worried about mandatory retirement at age 65, since I will still be able to fly for a part 135 carrier afterwards.

Not a pilot but find this channel very interesting! Keep it up man! This channel is going to blow up fast!

Kelsey, I'm 55, been watching you for about a month and three days ago spotted an ad for ground school at the Air & Space museum in San Diego. Sometimes were pointed in the right direction. Thanks Kelsey!

Great vid, I like all the new channels sprouting up with this kind of insight. I'm 20 and started my PPL a few months ago while going to college full time. I hope to make it to the airlines in the next couple of years, as well as getting my Bachelors degree so I can be even more desirable to the regionals.

“There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What if you fly?” ― Erin Hanson

I love your answers. Also your practical approach to questions most don't wven try to answer. Thanks.

Good video kelsey! I will be liquidating my land asset pretty soon and this video you made has given me the idea to pursue aviation career even when I'm in my early 40s already.

I wish you all the best and God bless you all , don’t look back Go for it!! It’s going to be worth it!!

Hi Kelsey! Thank you for this video. I am 49, 50 in Nov 2020 and thinking of going to flight school after a marriage split. I am an electrical engineer, but my heart is with aviation. I have been double guessing myself if I am doing the right thing changing careers. I lost my e/engineering job due to C-19, so thought after my marriage split and C-19 that this may be a good time to do that I am REALLY interested in. Awesome and thought provoking video, thank you again! - Steve, Auckland, New Zealand!

I'm 37 and going for it as well. Your videos are very helpful and very inspiring. Thank you for your videos. I have learned a lot just from your channel.

Kelsey - I'm turning 39 next year and want to just change it all around. I'm not committed to anything so I have nothing to loose - apart from not attempting it. I'm glad to hear your inspiration to us 'oldies' who want to start a career in the aviation industry.

Dude. Love these videos.

30 and going through the process. Just finished the physical. If it all works out the airline will be paying for my flight school and flight hours. In 2 years I'll be fully licensed. With a year of conscription in the country.

47 this totally motivated me I'm a retired Marine of 23 years

You’re videos are awesome! Keep making more!! I’m currently getting my PPL. I’m an Army officer but I am definitely set on making a career transition to being a professional pilot! Again thanks for making these vids!

"Now, did he get teased a little bit in class?" "Yeah." "Did I do the teasing?" "Yeah."

Re: Mark Twain quote: I got into Naval Aviation training in the 70s. Things got tough as Vietnam was winding down. I took the option to go to sea. I started an import-export business while in Taiwan. I had a chance to go back to Flight School, but opted to get out of the Navy and pursue my business. The business tanked with the post-Vietnam economy slump, I took an 8-5 job & bounced around for a long time. I used the GI Bill to get a commercial-instrument-helicopter rating. Used the helo rating for a bit, but things were still slow, so I went back to "a job." I was able to retire OK, but... Yes, many regrets for not going back to complete flight training.

I found your channel today and have watched many of your videos, they are great. I'm 38 and have wanted to become a pilot as long as I can remember. I came close a couple times to pulling thye trigger and a couple days ago my wife and I decided now was the time to make it happen. Finally saved enough to pay for it so I can make it happen. This video fit perfectly into my scenario and solidified my decision. Thanks for what you do, keep it up, your doing awesome and providing great content for us aspiring pilots!

Keep up the great work! These videos are incredibly informative.

I’am 51 and just finished the VFR instruction, so I hope to finish my ATPL before I get 52! But I gone do it!

Dear Pilot, I would like to see a video on determining the safest seats on an aircraft, and why, and what kind of circumstances can cause deaths on certain seats (near engine window) etc. and what are the chances for those to occur. Thank you in advance.

Thank you. You answered all the questions of wanting a career change into aviation.

Very reassuring. Amazing video as always, Kelsy. I'm 31 and currently prepping for the entrance exam for cadet program by Indigo and CAE. Changing your career does require some soul searching but after watching this video, I'm really optimistic. Thanks again! 😊

You do answer some big boy questions on this channel ! Like it! Am 39, 215hrs in , bachelors in physics.moved to the USA, for that single reason. To be an airline pilot.My parents in Africa could not afford flight school, I knew I was academically gifted though, came to the US 10yrs ago got a nursing degree to pay for flight school. Now am making 6 figures, put my wife through school, raising my kids, when I hit those low paying regionals, will have no Mortgage, paid off house , no debt whatsoever and can live on the meager regional pay. The older you get , the more financial planning you need, if you do it well, like you said it.. you might not have missed much. Maybe it turns out you might enjoy flying not because you have to...but you want to. And in case you don’t like the lifestyle and crazy schedules you may walk away with no regrets and sleep soundly in financial peace.

Forget career change ... fly for fun. Then buy a small airplane and register as a [self-powered] glider. Quite a few modern airplanes that get registered as [self-powered] glider are actually fully functional airplanes that the pilots often never fly as a glider, but instead fly as a regular old airplane ... talking about 180mph here, not 30mph. And guess what, to be a glider pilot you don't ever need to get physicals (like all other pilots do). Yet, you can fly 180mph and fly 2500 miles non-stop from California to Hawaii if you want to. Yup, it is a loophole, but what's wrong with that? Screw being an airline pilot. Fly small airplanes for fun... until you're so old you go blind or so frail you can't drag your butt into the pilot seat any more.

Amazing job with the videos. Keep up the great work, and congratulations on 3,000 subscribers.

I’m a 58 yo mechanical engineer and 16 hours into my PPL training - for fun, not a career change. Thanks for the great videos!

62-19=43 YIPPIEEE 🤩 Taking my first flight lesson this week!! Hopefully in 6-9 months I’ll have my private then I’ll be applying to ATP Flight School!! 👍🏼

I’m 52 and just scheduled my discovery flight yesterday. More of a bucket list item than a career move, just something I’ve always dreamed of and now have the resources to do it.

Started my bachelors in aviation this last spring working toward my professional pilot and I’m 40. Excited for this journey!

I am willing to fly for the crappiest airline on the crappiest routes for the crappiest salary just as long as I get to fly. All I want to do is fly but I don’t have money for training. If they have a shortage of pilots then they need to invest in training guys like me who will work hard for them!

First 👌🙌🏽

Im about to go 24 and thinking that i was getting to old for this, you gave me a lot of hope, your channel is really a savior for me, thanks!!

Thank you for this inspiring video man! I'm 34 and on my PPL stage and going for it!

I’m 45 and I just passed my First Class medical. I’ve decided that now is the best and last chance to make my flying career come to fruition. I know time is kind of a factor so I have been making plans to attend an accelerated part 141. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on ATP or the like, and if you know of any alternatives to ATP. The timeline and locations sound perfect but I’m just wondering if there is a better deal to be had.

I'm 30 and goin for it. I have been working in aviation but not as a pilot. Think I still have plenty of time left to get the majors and have a decently fruitful career.

Thanks Kelsey. At 40, I've just started CPL, I gave up on a childhood dream of getting into aviation in my early 20s due to 'life getting in the way'. Some days I doubt myself in pushing forward with the work I need to do to earn CPL, and question if I really should be letting myself follow a dream. But reading the quote you cited from Mark Twain really hit home for me, and hearing your arguments for critically thinking the decision through pretty much mimicked my line of thinking in making my decision, so it's given me added confidence to keep pushing myself forward. Thanks again, and love your channel btw, keep up the great work!

Thanks. Makes me feel better. Going for it.

Great videos. 10 years ago when I looked into getting into commercial it seem most airlines required a 4yr degree. Is this still the case?

40 isn't old. It was when I was 40. But now I'm 58 -- now that's old 😂

Thanks for another great video and the motivation to keep at my dreams of flying commercially!

Love this! I'm 40, been a full time DJ and kids entertainer for 20 years (and in July I started flying) - and went Solo on Monday - Kelsey, you have answered a load of questions thank you :))

I did my flight training in the early 80s and flew for many years as a Command Pilot with CAP flying SARs. That being said, I used your formula to decide what to do. It does not appear to work for me. 62-72=-10 What am I not understanding or doing wrong? ;)

I have a doubt on one thing while landing an airplane the nose pitch is higher than rest of the body and back wheel touch before the front Right? So I guess in that position plane should go above rather than coming down, but how plane descend and land on that position?

Thank you so much for your inspiring videos! I am going on 38, and will begin my flight training in two weeks!

you guys are so encouraging

I was wondering if Ex-military pilots or glider pilots make better commercial pilots even if we discount their experience before becoming a commercial pilot. thinking of the hudson river issue

I am just over 40, I have CPL and ~500 hours, but my time is from ~10 years ago. I had cfi/cfii too but they obviously expired. I didn't enjoy instructing at all and at the time there was nothing else available, so I went back to IT (my current job). Do you think this background could create a non-instructor opportunity leading to an airline job somewhere?

Thank you, this video really helped with my decision to change careers.

Thank you I needed to see this.

Key statement at an older age..."RETURN ON INVESTMENT"!

I’m 25 and I feel like I’m too old

I'm glad I found this video. thank you Captain!

32, I have been itching to try this out. Going to get some lessons and go from there

So 76 is right out, then.

30 and 40 is old ??!!! Smh... it’s never too late to do anything,, I know an ex FBI agent he went to medical school at age 52 and he made it and he’s now a professional ER doc and he never regretted it and a successful doctor,,, and a pilot is way easier than being a doctor lol

I did my first PPL lesson at a part 61 school in Nov ‘17 at aged 45 and now have my CFI checkride next month. Unfortunately too far down the road in my primary career to turn back and pursue an airline career but very excited that I will hopefully soon be teaching future airline pilots on the weekends.

I really like the Mark Twain quote, thanks for sharing.

If someone is 40 they have to have a fire in the belly about this.

Love your videos, thank you for giving some great content.

You're never too old. Not for a career change, but I got my helicopter rating at age 70, and I'm having a ball.

That's cool bro. Very encouraging post / video.

I'm a 59 yr old private pilot, work for one of the major aircraft manufactures, and I might just give this a shot for the fun of it. Was going to wait a few years to retire, but flying even for the regionals would be a blast and there is at least some talk of extending the age to 67.