Originally Posted by
maybe1day
Thanks for the advice, Go Pats. It is a really tough decision right now. I agree that a Master's is a good thing and will probably end up staying on and getting it. One question though, will an advanced degree make you more desirable to an airline? I know the majority of the weight is placed on hours and ratings, but what about advanced degrees?
Are they that important in the aviation world?
Major airlines do ask, and statistically it will improve your odds.
However...the statistics may over-state the benefit. The military is big on advanced education, and even a first-term military pilot will likely have a masters when her gets out and retired officer is almost certain to have one or more...and the airlines like to hire military pilots. But that's because of their military piloting skills, not because of their masters degrees.
I would consider a masters as a tie-breaker between two candidates who are otherwise equally qualified, but it will not replace quality flight experience.
Originally Posted by
maybe1day
Galaxy Flyer, you are 100% right, I don't know. But I know that I love flying, love being in the airports and watching the planes, and since I was about 7 years old, have dreamed of flying airplanes. Now, I got talked out of being a commercial pilot in high school (economy sucked, no hiring) for basically the same reasons everyone says to stay away now. So, I went and got my B.S. all the while with flying for a career in the back of my mind. Somehow, I let some professors talk me into grad school and here I am now wishing I was flying. Those reasons lead me to think that aviation may be my calling.
Every single pilot (or person who tried to become a pilot) felt that way at one point. It usually wears off after your first year at a regional.
Originally Posted by
maybe1day
Also, I know I hear horror stories of F/Os never getting upgraded and being stuck at a regional. I understand that starting pay is awful. But is it really like hitting the jackpot getting an upgrade to the captain's chair?
At a regional? No, it's better pay than a contract janitor but not as good as a union janitor (it slowly gets better over many years...a 15 year regional CA probably makes almost as much a new-hire MS EE).
At a passenger major? No, but it's a living.
At FDX or UPS? Yes.
Originally Posted by
maybe1day
I am just curious and I know that all of you know a lot more about it than me. I am under the impression, and this is just my assumptions, that right now, F/Os are getting upgraded in about 5 to 6 years. Can you shed a little light on what its really like? I am just trying to know exactly what I am getting into before I make any major decisions. Thanks!
That's about right, but that number is TOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY, 100% MEANINGLESS to you.
Your time to upgrade will depend on demographics, industry, and economic conditions in the future...and different airlines can have different numbers (I think COMAIR will have junior CA's who were hired around 1992).
Upgrades at regionals has varied between zero (hiring captains off the street) to 10+ years. The historical average is probably 4-6 years but that will be totally irrelevant if YOU happen to get stuck for ten. There's no cure for a bad seniority situation...