Quote Originally Posted by A Life Aloft View Post
You are never to old to fly privately. (unless you are just really jacked up medically, but that's a whole other subject) What I mean, is that you can always get a re-cert, take some lessons, rent a plane, go on some fly alongs, or join a flying club where the members would be more than happy to take you along and let you fly and still enjoy the experience. Flying clubs are the best for that reason. They are full of very friendly, social people with many activities and the opportunities to fly in all sorts of GA's. Pilots on that level are always looking for someone to fly with. This is a great much less expensive alternative and might be worth checking out. You know this already, I am sure. Flying is flying and it's just as wonderful fly a Stearman or Champ as it is to fly a 747. You might look at areas near you that have fly in meet ups and events. That's another great place to hook up with ac owners, get some rides/hand flying at cruise and at least have a great day watching them land and getting up close to a boat load of planes. You deserve to have those views from aloft again in your life. You had them once, you can have them in some way again. I always encourage anyone who once had the passion, the love and the joy of flight to rekindle that still smoldering ember and do whatever they can to fly again. That desire never really leaves you. Don't tell me you don't look up everytime you hear any aircraft overhead. When I finally retire from commercial, I intend to continue flying, til they drag me from the cockpit kicking and screaming. Maybe I'll be that old guy at some little FBO spinning tales of those days gone by and reciting from Fate Is The Hunter. lol Maybe you could still teach again??? I know plenty of CFI's who are no spring chickens, believe me. The wealth of knowledge and experience that they have is much more vaulable than some puppy with a few hundred hours under his belt.
I could teach ground school. I am on O2 24/7 and am not sure what the current medical requirements are. I never carried an ATR (or ATP) but some of my students went on to drive for the airlines. The other option open to me is ultra-light as aircraft or pilot need not be licensed in some areas.