Abby,
Too old? No. Too young. No. However, I remember a year or so ago the phrase by Adam: “the clock is ticking,” and so it be true. If you do the math, and hypothetical data to get information (because we only know finite details and we recommend you not share personal information that is too personal). Let’s say you start training at age 47 through ATP’s ACPP. The program is designed around a 9-month timeline at which you would come out with multiple certificates and rated as a CFI-I and MEI at which you could use the common method of building flight time (as a CFI) and yes, there are other methods of building time, which many pursue that route as well (below I will include a screenshot and copied thread I recently posted with detail time building routes):
Continuing on with the hypothetical timeline, if you fly an average of 70 flight hours a month (which is what ATP tries for their CFIs at minimum), you could build towards your 1,500 in a matter of 18 months. And of course, that timeline can shorten depending on multiple factors that include your work ethic (motivation), student loan, and other external factors.
To make math easier, lets say the whole process from Zero Time to ATP is around 24 months (2 years - yes it’s doable), you would enter training around the age 49 (again still hypothetical numbers). You would have an almost 16 year career in the airlines; could be senior CA at a regional or ULCC or FO with good seniority at a legacy carrier.
Simply put, depending on your work ethic, motivation and character, you could make a good career out of 16 years. The airlines aren’t the only ones that need pilots as well and depending on what you’re looking for, you may find yourself at a private or corporate company flying business jets. Runways lead to blue skies which can provide you thousands of nautical miles of airspace, what you do with that is up to you.
Brady