The Aging Pilot: How Do You Know When It's Time To Stop Flying?

Comments · 177

• BO

  @Boyer68 · 3 days ago

  When you're fortunate enough to realize that the airplane is getting ahead of you. Or you're fortunate enough to have someone who will tell you so.

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• DA

  @davidcowling5218 · 5 days ago

  I’ve been flying since 15 yrs old. I am now 78 and it just feels like the time to stop is now.  Sold the airplane today and will train the new pilot for 3 hours.  Yes, I’m going to miss it a lot. But I don’t want to be the guy that gets others killed.  Great video!

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• LA

  @larryevans2806 · 5 days ago

  Great video. I went through all the steps you discussed when I hit my 70&apos;s and decided to hang it up when I turned 75. I am 81 now and miss flying every day but every day I am gratefull I made that horrendously tough decision to stop while I was ahead. it&apos;s a very tough decision to make but one day I went to the airport to fly and began pushing the airplane out of the tie down area and noticed that all of a sudden it was more difficult than usual. I have always been pretty strong, even into old age, so that was a real shock.<br><br>I retied down the bird and went home. Over the next three months I spent agonizing hours trying to decide what to do. But one day I realized I was much safer making this decision on the ground in the comfort of my home than in an airplane after losing control of it.<br><br>The final &quot;thought&quot; straw was one day it hit me that I had a very successful career and thousands of hours in the air and I just did not want it to end by becoming another statistic.<br><br>I don&apos;t regret that decision. I still miss flying but it has become more tolerable and less agonizing. I&apos;m just grateful that my mind was working well enough that I cound make that decision and not someone else.

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• JO

  @johnwatson9518 · 3 days ago

  It&apos;s always good to go out at the top of your game, whenever that is. Went out at 60. Now 77. I was born to fly. Lived to ride my Harleys. Today I am writing my novel, &quot;Addicted to Revenge.&quot; It&apos;s been a great life.

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• GE

  @gerardbowden9298 · 3 days ago

  As a retired airline pilot with +26k hrs in a 49yrs career, I decided in my early 60’s to stop all flying by 70 because I’ve seen many accidents where the pilot was over 70. There is life after flying

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• RE

  @redsky8763 · 2 hours ago

  I admire pilots. I can drive a car, ride a bicycle but I could never fly or land a plane. They have my respect.

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• CL

  @cliffordsolarsh6709 · 5 days ago

  I’m turning 68 next months. Thanks for answering all my silent questions.

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• BO

  @bobblount9819 · 5 days ago

  My dad flew till he was 94: &nbsp;whenever I visited him, he would borrow a buddies old 172 and take me out for touch and goes. &nbsp;The next year, he told me he had to quit. &nbsp; That&apos;s why he had a long life in aviation.

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• DA

  @dan.gomesacosta · 4 days ago

  See you on the next adventure! A hello from Brazil! 🇧🇷

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• JO

  @joesreceipts · 4 days ago

  When you ask yourself, it’s time. It might take you a while to make the decision, but you should make that last good piloting decision and stop before circumstances decide for you.

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• LE

  @lesnyd · 1 day ago

  I got my license late in life at 54, but had logged just under 2000 hours when I sold my plane and hung up my headset last year at the age of 74. Some illnesses had slowed me down and even though I was recovering, the combination of my reduction in flight hours, a couple of instances where I truly felt I was behind the situation in some complex airspace, and the frightening increase in the cost of aviation all worked to convince me it was time to quit. I miss it but I know I’m safer.

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• TI

  @timmcteague1827 · 4 days ago

  After 28 years of flying, 60 was a good number for me. I ate 5/8 of the pie, and left 3/8 , to turn the page and discover the next chapter. We all know complacency and letting the plane get ahead of you can end all that. It was only prudent for me to recognize it. Great discussion.

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