Many people dream of having an aviation career. From pilots and cabin crew to air traffic controllers and ground staff, it truly is an industry for everyone. Many people might think that such careers are only possible for those who get their foot in the door early, and work their way up from the bottom straight out of school or college. This is certainly one way of doing it, but it isn’t the only way to realize your career dreams.

Being a mid-career professional who is established in another line of work doesn’t have to mean that you can’t retrain and carve out a new path in the aviation sector. The US Aviation Academy is an example of an institution that aims to enable this, with flexible, accelerated training programs featuring online tuition and after-hours classes to suit people from all walks of life. Let’s look at why older professionals are retraining into aviation.

Anyone Can Retrain As An Aviation Professional

Credit: US Aviation Academy

There are various famous examples of notable individuals retraining in aviation. Simple Flying has covered a handful of these case studies over the years, including rugby players (Tony Underwood and Stuart McInally) and footballers (Richard Kell) who became pilots after hanging up their boots. The hand-eye coordination benefits of being sportspeople certainly didn’t hurt their chances, but this is not the only industry that you can switch from.

Of course, the exact training requirements that you will have to reckon with will depend on your chosen role. Still, the bottom line is that you won’t always need to dedicate years of your life and lots of money to changing jobs. In any case, there has never been a better time for mid-career professionals to retrain into aviation, which explains why more and more people are making the switch. Older applicants also benefit from greater maturity and life experience.

On the other hand, that doesn’t mean that you need to wait a long time before making such a switch. After all, according to Leopard Aviation, these are characteristics and life experiences that most people have even by the age of 30. This gives them a distinct advantage, even over applicants who are less than a decade younger. With mandatory retirement for pilots at 65 years old, this still puts three decades of flying ahead of you.

You Should Keep Certain Factors In Mind

Credit: US Aviation Academy

It is clear that retraining in aviation is a realistic goal for most people in the middle of their careers. This, though, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t think carefully about making such a switch. After all, the industry has its own challenges that people from other sectors might not be used to. Shift work is a key example of this. For office workers used to a steady 9-5, the early starts and late finishes demanded by aviation can be a challenge.

This applies not just to new applicants but also to their families. Flying Magazine notes that, for mid-career professionals who are “used to being home for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays, first steps and Little League games, being new and junior in a 24/7/365 business like aviation is likely to come as a shock.” This means that those looking to make the switch who have a partner and children should consider the impact on their family.

Flying Magazine notes that “this is the price of having far more time off work than most high-paying career fields,” adding that “with some seniority, the lifestyle gets much better.” In other words, the change in professional lifestyle won’t be a problem forever, but it is a challenge that you should consider when making the switch. Of course, shift work dictates some roles more than others, so you may find one that suits you anyway.

There is also a financial aspect to consider. Pilot training famously costs tens of thousands of dollars, but these aren’t the only jobs that require you to pay to learn through a specialized program. For instance, the US Aviation Academy’s accelerated flight dispatcher course costs $5,000 in tuition fees. That said, the academy has partnered with a range of financing companies. These firms can provide loans to ease the financial burden on students.

The US Aviation Academy Offers Compelling Accelerated & Flexible Training Programs

Credit: US Aviation Academy

Let’s stay on the subject of learning to become a flight dispatcher at the US Aviation Academy. The institution’s program for this role is designed to be accessible to people who are short of time due to their existing professional commitments. While it is still an accelerated program, the ten-week version of the course is built around evening learning. The first eight weeks of training run Monday to Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

These classes can also be taken online through “live virtual classroom instruction,” making it an easier option for people who can’t dedicate full working days to the cause. The final two weeks of the course are held in person, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Still, taking these two weeks off is likely a more realistic option for mid-career professionals than the five-week version, which runs exclusively during the working day.

The accelerated nature of the academy’s courses is also a compelling factor for mid-career professionals. The idea of long-term training between jobs and being without a steady income during this period can be daunting, so completing the course quickly helps put these concerns to rest. This is especially important for adults with young families, as many mid-career professionals are, as multiple people are financially dependent on you.

The industry’s relatively low mandatory retirement age of 65 means that more than 15,000 pilots are leaving the industry each year. This makes it the perfect time to make the switch to the cockpit, with the average age of those making mid-career changes to the cockpit at 39. Still, whatever your age, the US Aviation Academy will likely have the right course for you.

What Can You Learn At The US Aviation Academy?

Credit: US Aviation Academy

Prospective applicants who are interested in studying at the US Aviation Academy have plenty of courses to choose from. Pilots are a key group, with the academy quoting Marc B, who said, “my reason to become a pilot was my father, he always had me around aviation since I was a kid.” The academy also trains aircraft mechanics through a Certified A&P Mechanic Program that offers night training for mid-career professionals.

This area offers a dedicated pathway for military veterans. The military is one of the more common sources of retraining into aviation, and the US Aviation Academy supports this with an eight-month VA-approved accelerated training program in Denton, Texas. A similar offering also exists for military veterans looking to train as pilots. Still, whoever you are, the US Aviation Academy has a course for you – it’s never too late to change!