Originally Posted by scottm

Agreed, and the airlines will not require a degree much longer.

But lowering standards may not be enough to attract this well-informed generation to the cockpit. They read breathless articles about airliners flying themselves, they read that NASA, DARPA, Boeing, Airbus, and just about everyone else with a dog in this fight is working hard to eliminate pilots. NASA thinks it will happen in 15 years. Where will a 20-yr-old be in 15 years pursuing an airline pilot career? Eight years to a regional cockpit, another seven years to regional Captain then new-hire at the majors. And what happens to new-hires when airlines start to eliminate pilots? They are on the street with few marketable skills. Ask most major airline pilots and they will give you their story of being furloughed at middle-age with a mortgage and car payments and kids in school. Kids can read plenty of these stories online, and there are few airline pilots they can talk to that will recommend the profession.

Kids entering flight school today have a very low chance of reaching the universal pilot goal of well-paid, wide-body captain with time to enjoy life a good retirement. Yes there is a huge shortage coming, that will only add incentive to finding ways to eliminate pilots through automation and relaxed rules.