You’ve been working for decades and have finally reached retirement – congratulations! If you’re looking for a unique hobby for this new phase in your life, aviation may be the perfect option. Finding the time and money for flight school while working and raising a family is hard work, but once you’re retired with the kids out of the house, it’s time you pursue your passion and take to the skies.
There’s nothing as exhilarating as piloting your own aircraft, jetting off to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world — and it’s never too late to learn! If you’re searching for something new to do during retirement, here’s why aviation is the perfect way to occupy your time.
Flying Yourself Makes Travel Easy
Most people have dreams of traveling when they reach retirement. If you’re in the same boat, there’s no better way to get from place to place, exploring new destinations, than by flying yourself. Do you dream of seeing a tropical sunset in the Caribbean? Or perhaps a fly fishing trip in Montana is more your style. Whatever your travel plans, piloting your own plane gives you the freedom to come and go as you please. With the abundance of time and freedom that retirement offers, you’ll have the ability to go on vacation whenever you please! Another bonus is that you’ll be able to bring your significant other, friends or family along for adventures.
Take off on an extended trip and plot out a few places you’ve wanted to cross off your bucket list. Or, if you’re the spontaneous type, you also have the freedom to fly wherever you feel like it on any given day.
There’s No Upper Age Limit
While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limits the flying age of commercial pilots to 65, there is no regulation on the upper age limits for private pilots. Those past the age of 40 must pass certain medical exams and flight tests every two years, however, According to the FAA’s Active Civil Airmen Statistics, in 2017 there were about 41,600 pilots over 70 with an active pilot certificate in the United States. So, as long as you’re in good health physically and mentally, you’ll be in good company among the many retirees who fly.
Becoming a Pilot Presents a New Challenge
Retirement is the perfect time to tackle a unique challenge and develop new skills. Learning to fly will give you just that. As the FAA notes, a pilot’s license is a device to learn and advance as an aviator. Throughout your training, you’ll be challenged in new, exciting ways, as you work through specific milestones towards obtaining certification and ratings.
The process of becoming a pilot takes hard work, and you if you have the desire to learn, the FAA rating system provides students with many opportunities to develop your skills and prove your worth as an aviator.
Gain a Youthful Sense of Exuberance
When you learn to fly, you get to see the world from an entirely new perspective, one that may even make you feel young again. Additionally, learning to fly requires mental sharpness and good decision-making skills that keep the mind and body more active, compared to other hobbies. If you’ve ever visited a general aviation airport, you’ll see a lot of older pilots that still seem to be in the peak of their aviation career.
Who says you have to slow down in retirement? If you’re looking for a more fast-paced, energetic hobby to fill your golden years, piloting may be right for you.
There’s More to do Than Just Flying
While many people learn to pilot a plane in retirement, some people prefer to keep their feet on the ground and get into other aspects of the aviation industry. There are plenty of ways to get involved in aviation beyond flying, such as plane photography, flight simulator development, plane restoration and more. If you’ve had your pilots license for a while, or have been a career pilot, you could also explore being a part-time flight school instructor to help inspire a love of flying in younger generations.
What are the Next Steps?
It doesn’t matter if you’re approaching or in retirement, there’s never a bad time to start flight school. The first step is to take a discovery flight. A discovery flight is an introductory flying session, in which you’re paired with an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and allowed to pilot your own plane under their supervision. Throughout the session, you will be seated on the left, also known as the pilot-in-command seat as you take flight.
With the chance to fly the plane yourself, you’re in for an exhilarating experience that will leave you with the impression of what it’s like to be a pilot. There’s almost no greater feeling than piloting your own aircraft — and there’s never a better time to start than today.
Are you ready to pursue your passion? Get in touch with the team of certified flight instructors at Inflight Pilot Training today!
Inflight is a leading pilot training company serving the Twin Cities area. With a reputable training program and deep roster of highly skilled flight instructors, it’s our goal to help those who’ve dreamed of flying realize their potential of becoming a pilot. We can help you pursue your passion for taking flight – get in touch with our team of flight instructors to find out more.
For additional information on Inflight training programs, contact us today or call (952) 698-3000.