Steve,
I started flying when I was 29. My aviation career started four years
ago as an aircraft mechanic. I "landed" my first flying job last month
at age 42. The pay decrease for my current job from when I was in the
computer industry, 75% I couldn't be happier!
Michelle

S. wrote:

I would be interested in anyone's thoughts / opinions in this ng; long and
considered, or short and pithy.

I'm 47, in the UK, and was made redundant from an ICT Manager's position 20
months ago. My dilemma is this. I'm thinking of starting up my own
home-visit computer repair / training / advice consultancy, but close
relatives have said "Why don't you do what you've always wanted to do?".
I've always had natural flying ability (solo glider pilot at 19, and I was
allowed to do t/offs & landings in a Cessna 152 myself after 6 hours while
the instructor just watched), but had to stop lessons in 1979. I went for a
trial flight last year, and the instructor was astonished as to how much I
remembered.

Now that I have the means (financially), is it worth a trip to Florida to
achieve a life's ambition ? I've found a school that will take you from
scratch to an instructors certficate for USD 35,500 ; it would cost at least
double that here in the UK.

Anyone know if there is a stigma against hiring newly qualified pilots at,
say, 48 ????

Thanks,

Steve.