Originally Posted by
Jland0413
I completely understand what your saying...and I see that it will change. But choosing an airline makes me have to choose my education route.
For example...Envoy does not require a college degree and having a college degree doesn't make me any better than anyone else. That's what all Envoy pilots have told me. So if I choose Envoy I'd go to ATP Academy in the Dallas area.
However if I go to United (via ExpressJet or Republic) I need a degree (I need one to be competitive) so I would go to LA Tech or another college.
I'm not disrespecting what you're saying at all...but Flight School versus college makes a difference to my choice.
Thank you for you're help.
Ummm, having a degree DOES make you a better person in that you will have:
1) Educated yourself in general (education is always an asset to oneself) and made yourself far more competitive
2) Given yourself an opportunity to make a living if you poke your eye with a static wick on a walkaround, if a 9/11 2.0 occurs, economic downturn, etc.
Will it make you a better pilot? No.
The fact that you are willing to sacrifice an education and simply attend a puppy-mill flight school say's a lot about your character. By going to envoy you are simply taking the easy route. Sure, will you be an airline pilot. Sure, you might make it to AA mainline. But what then? What if you bend some metal along in training. What if you get furloughed? Then its you and 1000's of your closest buddies all competing for job, yet they have a degree and you don't.
Here is the thing: yeah it's a pilots market today. But all the companies are starting to throw money at pilots at the regional level. Money has this funny way of fixing problems. One day pilots will be in ample supply again. GO GET A DEGREE. End of story. If you don't like that advice, thats ok. I don't matter. Heck, then just stop asking for advice on the internet if you are not going to follow it. After all, I am just a guy who for 5 years spend every possible free second of the day and all his time in overnights working on a (non aviation) degree. So I am sure that your envoy buddies advice is better.
When I decided to fly, I knew exactly what I wanted and went to do it without thinking 'hmmm whats the easiest way with least effort from me'. While I am still at the regionals, I would not have the prospect of moving on soon if I didn't have a degree. But I have both bettered myself and now I can do something else in life if the airplane thing doesn't work out or if I get fed up.
Good Luck Sir.