202. Would You Start Over at a Fractional in Your 40s?

202. Would You Start Over at a Fractional in Your 40s?

From 21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast by 21Five Podcast

March 17, 2026 · 1h 24m · Episode 202

About this episode

Dylan and Max discuss the Challenger 650 accident, pressures in corporate flying, and whether starting over in a fractional is better than returning to the bottom of an airline seniority list in your late 40s.

This week Dylan and Max dig into the recent Challenger 650 accident in Bangor and the very real pressure corporate crews can feel when winter ops get sporty. In the Mailbag, they hit union negotiations, whether helicopter flying is actually a smart career pivot, a truly elite ripped-pants-in-cruise story, and a listener correction on landing the Osprey. For Flight Advice, they tackle a big mid-career question: if you had to start over in your late 40s, is a fractional the better move than going back to the bottom of an airline seniority list? It's safety soapbox, career therapy, and just enough chaos to keep things on brand. Juan Brown Bangor Crash Video Air India Phuket Hard Landing Show Notes 0:00 Intro 3:56 Challenger 650 Crash & Deicing 26:26 Getting Too Comfortable 31:08 Pilot News & Musings 40:23 Reviews & Comments 43:52 Mailbag 1:04:01 Flight Advice Our Sponsors Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dylan, Max

Topics covered

  • Challenger 650 accident
  • corporate flying pressures
  • union negotiations
  • career pivots
  • flight advice
  • mid-career decisions

Keywords

  • Challenger 650
  • Bangor
  • corporate pilots
  • flight advice
  • career change
  • union negotiations
  • helicopter flying

Sponsors

Tim Pope, CFP®, Advanced Aircrew Academy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Juan Brown Bangor Crash Video, Air India Phuket Hard Landing

Places: Bangor

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