How to Start Flying Again After 30 Years

Page 1 of 4

CessnaTom Pre-Flight

Joined:

May iii, 2018

Letters:

87

Brandish proper noun:
Thomas_McCray

I'm 34 years old and take had a passion for flying for about five years now. Non looking to fly Boeings or anything. Looking to kickoff a career flight smaller aircraft. Is is besides late for me to start at my historic period?
I started flying for a living at 38.
Not at all. There are several success stories on here of folks who started older than you.
CessnaTom Pre-Flying

Joined:

May 3, 2018

Messages:

87

Display name:
Thomas_McCray

I though about volunteering at the local Airport and meeting pilots and getting to know the ropes before i start. Information technology will likely have me iii-4 years before i take the plunge. I hear it'southward more than about the people you know than anything.
No. It's more about you, your mental attitude, work ethic, dedication, etc.
CessnaTom Pre-Flying

Joined:

May iii, 2018

Messages:

87

Display name:
Thomas_McCray

What steps did you accept to start? What was it similar financially?
Go take a Discovery flight, or three. See what yous think. Any medical bug, DUIs, ADd, etc?
Financially I sold everything I had from a previous concern and then I was cash rich at the time. (flight school took care of that pile of money...)
I went to an accelerated flight schoolhouse, that is footing school was viii to 5 every day except weekends, until that role is finished, then wing twice a day, weather and maintenance permitting. Information technology wasn't a push through school, every student had to wing within standards before moving on the next lesson.

I went upward to multi commercial, and so changed schools for CFI and CFII. Money made that decision for me. The 2d school was non as fancy like the first school was, simply they got the job done.

First pace is health. Discover an AME and do a consultation to make sure in that location won't be any bug health wise.
Yes, you are as well sometime. You need to lessen your expectations to a thankless task you don't like that pays you just plenty to stay at dwelling house, eat bad food and sentinel drivel on TV and anesthetize yourself to it all with copious quantities of alcohol.
Steingar, the guy who started flight when he was way older than you, you stinking ****** kid.
Matthew Thou Line Upwardly and Expect

Joined:

Sep 14, 2016

Messages:

768

Location:

Georgia

Display name:
Bankrupt Engineer

This explains why your location is listed as "Country of Savages"
RyanB Super Ambassador Direction Council Member PoA Supporter
paflyer Last Arroyo

Joined:

Jul 26, 2010

Messages:

7,152

Location:

PA

Display name:
PAFlyer

I have socks older than yous.

RJM62 and CessnaTom similar this.
CessnaTom Pre-Flight

Joined:

May three, 2018

Messages:

87

Display name:
Thomas_McCray

Drugs, alcohol, Add, not an issue. Don't do drugs. Okay you got me on booze, had Bookers last dark with a friend. Maybe one-two a month. I have flown before and taken a flight lesson for my birthday ii years ago. Almost died. The spiral on the trim wheel shimmed out and got stuck in the nose down position. A mile more and we would not had made the runway. Immediately went in and talked about lessons. Had other things in my life at the time to worry well-nigh and didn't showtime.
You are much too young. Look 20 or xxx years before starting. That way you'll exist risking less of your life, and you'll probably be in a better financial position also.
Seriously, you can outset at any age. The older yous get, the more hours information technology volition probable have for you to acquire the concrete skills and coordination, only it'due south inappreciably insurmountable.

Beware - this is a big delivery in time and money, and once licensed y'all will need to wing regularly to maintain your skills. Many people start lessons; few finish. Get in with your eyes open up and be fully prepared to devote your life, your fortune, and your wife's sacred honor.
AggieMike88 Touchdown! Greaser!

Joined:

Jan 13, 2010

Letters:

20,188

Location:

Denton, TX

Display name:
The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.

CessnaTom and Zeldman like this.
CessnaTom Pre-Flight

Joined:

May 3, 2018

Messages:

87

Display proper noun:
Thomas_McCray

Looks similar they inquire nigh "Have you ever had whatever intestinal problem?" I used to have ulseritive colitis. Had my large intestines removed. But everything is fine now and have no issues. have been for years. Only thing is i accept to use the bath more than the boilerplate person. would this disqualify me from flying?
Become that answered before you do the medical for score. Accept a "consultation" with an AME starting time. If y'all are told that it volition be hard or very expensive to get the medical, you tin can still go a Sport Pilot certificate using merely a driver'southward license as your medical qualification. If , however, your FAA medical is denied, Sport Airplane pilot is no longer an choice. Sympathise YOUR Situation AND OPTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING.
The best medical resource to answer your questions is Dr. Bruce Chien, aeromedicaldoc@comcast.net . He hangs out on the medical forum quite a bit.
CessnaTom Pre-Flight

Joined:

May three, 2018

Messages:

87

Brandish name:
Thomas_McCray

Okay. Thank you everyone for the informative and sarcastic responses! Looks like i know where to start!
Yes, and believe information technology or not my friends telephone call me Doctor Brutal.
I doubt you'll take a problem merely y'all volition likely need to go a special issuance. Talk over with the AME before hand what documentation he or she will need to come across. More info here.
bobmrg En-Route Gone West PoA Supporter

Joined:

Aug 13, 2007

Messages:

3,183

Display proper name:
Bob Gardner

I soloed at 32, ended up with an ATP certificate and a Lear blazon rating.
Bob
RyanB Super Administrator Direction Council Member PoA Supporter

Sarcasm? There's none of that here.
Sarcasm is required for communication with air traffic control. Think of this as the first step in your training.
AggieMike88 Touchdown! Greaser!

Joined:

Jan thirteen, 2010

Letters:

20,188

Location:

Denton, TX

Brandish name:
The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.

I don't think this would disqualify yous. Notwithstanding, since this was a significant healthcare issue, the FAA will want to be assured that the situation has been adequately addressed and that there are no ongoing problems or complications that would become a safety of flight problem.
During the consultation, the AME tin advise y'all on what items you need to obtain and send in to the FAA for your UC and removal of the large intestine. And if the consulting AME is really proficient, he or she can advise you on how to continue the md letters simple and on point, making the reviewer'southward job piece of cake. If the doctors want to show off how much of a medical thesaurus they swallowed, that's when the reviewers job gets hard. Moral: all doctor's messages should be in apparently linguistic communication easily understood by lay people and 5 year olds.

If yous are currently on medications for the bowel removal, and declared those, simply didn't declare the operation that removed the bowl, that is one way to get yourself wrapped around the axle. As your file is reviewed, the reviewer is crosschecking the meds y'all declared against atmospheric condition these meds are prescribed for. So if yous said you were taking Medication Thirty but didn't say why, and so your application won't pass the reviewer's sniff exam and you created your ain deferral hell.

This is why many of us here abet the consulting with the AME whenever you lot are uncertain almost when and how to declare something on your medical.

If you want some more direct communication, I would say to 1) pull together your complete medical history as you might declare on the 8500-8 form, then ii) provide that history to Dr. Bruce Chien via his webpage, http://www.aeromedicaldoc.com/how-to-start.html , with the direct question being, "These conditions are in my history. For each one, what items practice I need to bring to the AME for my initial medical?"

My experience is that, while there are several items that volition result in an immediate denial (or at minimum, a long deferral while boosted positive history is developed), most medical conditions are permitted as long as the correct documentation is obtained and submitted.

Consulting with good AME'south like Dr. Chien can really help to educate you about the process. And greatly increase your chances of success once y'all are ready to formally submit your data.
Geez, I fly an airplane older than you!
@CessnaTom this is bully advice. Recently had two students consult Dr Chien. Ane waited too long and did things on his own vs taking my advice to contact Dr Chien first. The other immediately consulted Dr Chien and at present is the proud possessor of a medical certificate.
Thanks again to @bbchien for his generous assist.
Humph, how 'bout that. That's what they taught u.s. in ATC school besides.
Yous hateful controllers go to schoolhouse? Who woulda thunk....
Are y'all catching all this, CessnaTom? Lots of great training here....
1 of my classmates at my airline didn't start til in his 40s. Originally didn't intend to get airline, but ended up there. Y'all never know where life will have you!
As for just learning to fly, never say never. My first student 38 years ago was 60 and 1 my recent students is 65.
Q: "Is it also late to start flying?"
A: "Are you lot dead?"
frfly172 Touchdown! Greaser!

Joined:

October 22, 2008

Letters:

fourteen,703

Location:

mass fla

Display name:
ron keating

I was in my xl's when I got serious near flying .had a good career going for myself ,simply did exercise some lease work ,now I wing for fun.
paflyer Final Arroyo

Joined:

Jul 26, 2010

Letters:

vii,152

Location:

PA

Brandish name:
PAFlyer

Once.
Ghery Touchdown! Greaser!

I passed my private ride ii days afterwards turning 49 and my musical instrument ride when I was 59. Y'all're never too quondam to showtime flying.
AggieMike88 Touchdown! Greaser!

Joined:

Jan 13, 2010

Messages:

20,188

Location:

Denton, TX

Display name:
The original "I don't know information technology all" of aviation.

Simply.... information technology is a very nice airplane.
CessnaTom Pre-Flight

Joined:

May 3, 2018

Messages:

87

Display proper noun:
Thomas_McCray

Okay, Clearly I'thou at home hither! I merely made it in to work and, what a peachy way to start the morning with a damn good laugh with great people. I didn't expect to find great advice with a bunch of sarcastic responses. I recollect i'thousand going to exist a part of this forum for a LONG time. @angiemike88 Thank you for the direction. I emailed Dr. Bruce Chien last night. Very helpful and put my mind to ease slightly more than than it was. I'll have to go to a AME and sort things out before I get started. I would honestly dear to hear some stories well-nigh you guys and your groundwork in flight. Good stories i'm sure.
CessnaTom Pre-Flying

Joined:

May 3, 2018

Messages:

87

Brandish name:
Thomas_McCray

I'll tell you mine while i'm here. All started when I went on a sky diving trip in Cap May. Commencement time i had ever been in a plane. Jumped out! Second time...a few years later, jumped out of that i too. 3rd fourth dimension I flew with a friend who'due south a maintenance manager at N27. Neat time. Outset fourth dimension I took controls. Had a blast and he got me into a flight sim where i learned VFR, IFR, VOR and ILS,
radios and other things. Yep I know what y'all are thinking "Flight sims are video games and are nil similar the real thing. You desire the existent thing (In a aggressive deep voice ) GET AFTER IT!" But it taught me how to read maps and go most familiar with the C172. I accept fun. Being around him fueled the flame until i became more interested and decided i wanted to peruse the goal. HE gave me his written report books and materials and other great resources. All and all I think I have a lot of bully support and assistance.. Merely need to get past the nuptials and the house. this yr and I'll exist set.
Aye, better to be a pilot where you are seldom dwelling, swallow bad nutrient, watch drivel on TV and anesthetize yourself to it all with copious quantities of booze.