“No young people will read your story on older pilots,” exclaimed one young instructor. “That’s ok,” I said, “The key thing is that older pilots, those in the most ignored, forgotten and unloved minority group in aviation, do.”
There are multiple programs and scholarships for young pilots, female pilots, indigenous pilots, and disadvantaged groups. But rarely do we see senior or older pilot opportunities.
Confirmation of how large and unloved the older pilot group is came when posting on an Australian Pilot Facebook page, asking for older pilots who had a story to tell, or advice to give, to make contact. I was inundated with offers. It simply wasn’t possible to speak with everyone who replied.
There are many older pilots who either did not start flying until after 40 or went on to professional ratings later in life. Many have overcome obstacles to their success, sometimes CASA medical related.
There was debate about the definition of old. For example, James Moline wrote, “I am offended. I am 79 and about to start a circumnavigation of OZ to celebrate 100 years since the first in April-May 1924. I am part of a group setting out to so do. I will be flying my Searey Amphib.”
Tim Shaw wrote, “Aged 75, I experienced engine failure with my instructor who was in his late 80’s off the Coffs coast. He saved the day!”
Many interviewees started lessons in their youth, but had an interruption, usually
