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I was sold on the myth that you could not have an aviation career in your 30’s,boy where are they wrong! I did it and so can you. Now I help people of all ages transition to a career in aviation whether they are in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and more.

Are you wondering if you can transition careers in your 30’s? Already started along a path in your career and have had some success but not feeling fulfilled. This video is for you? If you are older than 30 this also will apply to you since these tools will help anyone wishing to transition to a new career.

This question is from the comments in our video “Can you do a video on your career transition in your 30s?”

For over 20 years we have helped many people realize their dream and create a career that is both personally and financially fulfilling. I was one of those people who changed my career in my 30’s so I know first hand what you are going through. I was sold on the myth that you could not have an aviation career in your 30’s,boy where are they wrong!

Define the why.
What do you dislike about your career?
What is your favorite thing about your career?
Look at this as more of a career progression
You are at a great time in your life having the energy and built many skills.
Are you eligible?
Medical
Background – work and residence.
Create a plan.
Challenges of changing careers in your 30’s
Your growing quickly in your career
Family are sceptical and want to know why
You just spent all this money on your current career.
You have already started building a family
Start your career now.
Things you can do right now and get paid in aviation.
Consider a career coach.
Join groups – be careful with the online negativity.
One on one coach.
Start today by taking one step to help you chart a path towards your career goal.

Mentorship:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use the coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One-On-One Coaching:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching
Special: One month of free access when you sign up for one-on-one coaching.

Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com

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During our coaching sessions we discuss a financial plan towards reaching your goal as a pilot. But now that you have achieved success in your career what is next? How do we have a more fulfilling life as an airline pilot but also how do we build wealth to help our family and others. This series was built to help you.

To increase your wealth, save and Invest to let your wealth grow.

Sounds simple but it is not easy.

You need tools and one is our book of the month https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/recommended-reading/

and our website https://wealthypilot.com

Increase your knowledge.
Listen to podcasts like this one.
Read books.
Recommended reading list under wealthy pilot:
Book of the month.
Millionaire Mission – A 9-Step System to Level-Up Your Finances and Build Wealth
Brian Preston From https://moneyguy.com (not a sponsor)
Find a career coach.
Find a business or financial coach.
I had a board of advisors when running my first large business.
Be slow to find a financial advisor that has your best interests in mind.
Consistently review your progress.
Make adjustments when necessary.
Implement new strategies cautiously
Building wealth is boring, simple, but not easy.
Takes Time and Discipline similar to becoming a pilot.
Being a pilot is a rewarding career and can lead to a wonderful retirement as long as you continually try to increase your knowledge and skills in both your flying and financial advice.
Here are some simple tools to increase your income.
https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/acp391-how-to-make-a-million-a-year-as-an-airline-pilot/
Upgrade to Captain.
Learn the system.
Know your contract union or employment.
Work on your days off.
Business
Second job.
Fly more.
Let us help you build a path toward your aviation goal.

Links:

https://wealthypilot.com

Mentorship:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use the coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One-On-One Coaching:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching
Special: One month of free access when you sign up for one-on-one coaching.

Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com

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Social media and our friends can be full of negativity and bad advice so how do we navigate our way through this gauntlet of adversity? In this episode we will discuss how to prevent people you don’t even know or care about from stealing your aviation dream.

Mentorship:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use the coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One-On-One Coaching:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching
Special: One month of free access when you sign up for one-on-one coaching.

Recommended Reading:

https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/recommended-reading/

Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com

Advice to keep positive in the field of negativity.

-Your friends many times only parrot what they hear in the media and online.
– share your dream with a small group of people.
– this is why I started the group coaching and mentorship.
– one size never fits everyone so stay away from the comments that no one and everyone.
– Sometimes we need to only discuss our dreams and ambitions with one person who understands the situation.
– You can’t choose your family and work associates but you can choose who to share your dreams with.
– you can also moderate which friends you share your dream with.
– some friends are social and some are true friends you can share dreams and ambitions with.

Generally it is best to stay off most social media. But that is easier said than done. So let’s talk about how to moderate your social media intake.

Social media advice:

-Facebook
– although there are some productive groups the discussions can devolve into negative vitriol and misinformation.
– good groups have consistent moderation and defined rules of conduct.
–
YouTube:
There is some great information but again you should view many videos and follow various people before you trust their dialog.
The comments can devolve quickly but are mostly moderated better.
LinkedIn:
A great resource because the commentators know they are being viewed by potential employers and what they post can negatively affect their career.
This is where the recruiters and employers converse.
Great resource for potential jobs, networking, and events.
Most people who are serious about their careers are part of LinkedIn.
Watch my video in our mentorship group about LinkedIn:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/take/group-career-coaching/texts/67392531-august-13-2025-8-pm-eastern-improve-your-linkedin-profile-and-industry-update
You can sign up and get one month free with coupon “CoachItForward”
Instagram:
Fun to follow and normally very positive.
You can find information about current events and career fairs.
Tick Tok:
Mostly targeted towards those just getting started in their life and careers.
Traditionally marketing toward a younger audience which may be beneficial to you.
X:
Primarily news.
Can be very political.

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Hi Carl,

We truly enjoy your excellent podcasts and have learned a great deal about the aviation industry through them. As parents, we greatly value your expert insights, which have helped us better understand the pilot career path.

Do you feel that airline recruiters value an aviation management degree from a UND, Embry-Riddle type aviation college, compared to a traditional bachelor’s in business degree with pilot training from an independent flight school?

Also, in your view, does earning an aviation degree from a top aviation university provide meaningful advantages for aspiring pilots, not only in securing their first airline position, but also in building a long-term career through the strength of alumni connections and professional networks?

Questions e-mail me us: feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com

Pros:

Large alumni network.
The more graduates the bigger the network.
Greater depth of knowledge.
Greater Opportunities to move into management.
Pilot recruiting events on campus.
Flight Team. https://www.nifa.aero/
Some cadet programs are only available to Universities.
Even with high costs is one of the most productive degrees.
A degree is preferred.
Diverse training environment.
Labs smaller schools cannot afford: altitude chambers, meteorology department, aviation maintenance department.
Quickly Pay off student loans over a ten year period due to high airline pilot salaries. Over 300k for a major airline captain.

Cons:

Cost and large student loans.
Infinite return on your investment if you don’t get a degree and get hired with a major.
An aviation degree is not a requirement for the airlines.
There are many colleges not in the top 10 with large networks.
Paying off student loans is a challenge due to the low starting salaries.
– Scholarships are available for many colleges and for training in our guide. Get one for free from our sponsor Stratus Financial.
– https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/scholarships/

Should I Send My Child To A Top Aviation University If They Want To Become a Pilot?

What do you think?
feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com
It really depends on your eventual goal. The majority of people flying at the airlines come from various backgrounds and have a variety of degrees and some without degrees.

Our clients get hired https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/mentorship/

Links:

Monthly Group Coaching:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One On One Coaching:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching

Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com or comment below.

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With pilot demand still surging and college alternatives gaining traction, professional flight training has quietly become one of the highest-upside career paths in America as people are rethinking what a “good career” looks like. Joining me today to discuss this is Patrick Arnzen, CEO of Thrust Flight Academy. Patrick is a former airline pilot, and designated pilot examiner (DPE) since 2012. Patrick has built and run several aviation businesses over the course of his career and wants to share his passion and knowledge of aviation with you.

Talking Points:

How Patrick developed his passion for aviation.
What does a “good career” look like?
A direct line to a respected, high-paying career

No four-year degree required

A clear sense of purpose, structure, and progression

As traditional college becomes more expensive and less reliable, more young adults and career changers are seeking careers that offer structure, fulfillment, and real upward mobility.

How aviation became one of the most respected, blue-collar-meets-white-collar (grey collar) jobs that doesn’t require a college degree.

What draws people in: from 19-year-olds fresh out of high school, to HVAC techs in their 50s, and how aviation gives them a sense of identity and momentum

Why success in flight training has less to do with raw talent, and more to do with mindset, consistency, and grit.

Closing thoughts and contact information.

Links:

https://www.thrustflight.com

Mentorship:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One On One Coaching:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coachingSpecial : One month free access when you sign up for 1 on 1 coaching.

Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com

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Are pilots truly facing a shortage, or is the aviation industry actually on a hiring spree in 2025? Forget what you think you know about flying careers. We’re cutting through the noise to reveal the surprising truth about pilot jobs and what it means for your future in the cockpit.

Question from our Group Coaching Mentorship.
https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/mentorship/
Get one month free using the coupon “CoachItForward”

Talking Points:

There are cycles of hiring and furloughs and we are in a positive hiring update.
There will be another shortage of pilots where we will have difficulty finding qualified pilots again and are heading in that direction.
Some symptoms are Street captains with forced upgrades.
Feeling Good After Q2 results.
Airlines are concentrating on core strengths.
Removing unprofitable flying.
Adding profitable routes.
Market share alone does not grow an airline – profitable market share grows an airline.
Low cost airlines are changing direction offering premium products.
Low cost airlines are removing much of the unprofitable flying, increasing profits of more established and legacy airlines.
Now that airlines are hiring again, how do I make myself more competitive?

Mentorship:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One On One Coaching:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching
Special : One month free access when you sign up for 1 on 1 coaching.

Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com

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As a career pilot, we try to protect our job through prudent planning, budgeting, and training. I often get asked questions about what to do when pulled over by the police to protect our pilot certificate and career. Should I take the sobriety test or not?

To help me answer this question Chris Pezalla is an attorney with the sponsor of this episode, the Law Offices of Robert M. Strumor, LLC. In addition to being an attorney, Chris is an airline pilot flying the Boeing 777 around the world.

Talking Points:

If I am pulled over and asked to take a sobriety test, what should I do?

Be professional and truthful. Anything you say can end up in a police report.

Always take the breathalyzer and blood tests. This advice is specific to pilots.

Failing to get a BAC alcohol level recorded will cost you your medical certificate.

Even if pleading guilty to the DUI, get a blood alcohol test.

14 C.F.R. § 61.15(e), which mandates that all Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors certified under FAR Part 61 to report any Motor Vehicle Action (MVA) related to drugs or alcohol to the FAA in writing within 60 calendar days.

The 60-day period begins when your driver’s license is suspended.

What is a roadside suspension?

Can I wait until after my court case to file the 60-day report? (No)

Considerations for Light Sport, BasicMed, and Class III medical.

Reporting on your next and all future medical applications.
This is not the end of your career.

Links:
www.strumorlaw.com
https://www.strumorlaw.com/Resources.asp

Book of the Month:

https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/recommended-reading/

Ego Is The Enemy (referral link helps support the podcast)

https://amzn.to/46vEjkq

Monthly Group Coaching:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One On One Coaching:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching
Special : One month free access when you sign up for 1 on 1 coaching.

Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com