Later-life flight: Part two

My editorial on learning to fly after the kids are grown (Flight Begins at 40, or Maybe 50, March 2012 IFR) struck a chord and earned several responses. The story was consistent: Im 50 (or 60 or 70) and just learned to fly. Youre right, we need older people acting as advocates to get more people with the means and the long-dormant wanting to make the leap.

Editorial Staff

Monday, August 04, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Older new pilots, despite having the means, struggle to obtain adequate liability insurance with low flight hours, creating a financial deterrent to continued flying.
Bureaucratic hurdles and general "tiresomeness" can erode pilots' motivation and enthusiasm, even for experienced aviators, leading them to stop flying.
The core challenge for general aviation is to retain enthusiasm among pilots to help them power through discouraging factors and stay engaged.

See a mistake? Contact us.

My editorial on learning to fly after the kids are grown (“Flight Begins at 40, or Maybe 50,” March 2012 IFR) struck a chord and earned several responses. The story was consistent: “I’m 50 (or 60 or 70) and just learned to fly. You’re right, we need older people acting as advocates to get more people with the means and the long-dormant wanting to make the leap.”

But one letter brought up a point I don’t see much press on. This gentleman soloed at 61 and was newly instrument-rated by the age of 63. With 220 hours under his belt, he’d like to keep flying but he’s tempted to throw in the towel over the risk; Not the risk of crashing, but the risk to his estate.