Hello S,

I don't know about getting a job with the airlines I suppose
anything is possible if you try but it's possible to work in the industry or
around airplanes. One thing for sure you'll spend the next 47 years
wondering if you could have. The other thing you have going for you is you
don't live in the USA where you would have to retire at 60.

You could do what Jay does and open a Hotel on the airfield. Call
it "Fawley Tower". You could start your own FBO or sub-contract freight
for Fed-ex. Anything beats being 49 and thinking "Hmm I wonder if I could
have." At the very least you'll have your PPL and be able to go just about
anywhere you want whenever you want weather permitting.

Paul Davis


"S." wrote in message
...
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.