Originally Posted by
blaine
Have you seen the cost of even the cheapest online degree? I for one wouldn't even consider going $30k or more in debt when only two or three airlines still ask for one and soon won't. Needing a degree is a thing of the past for pilots. Also, what kind of guy goes around saying pilots who don't have a degree are lazy? I have many pilot friends who do not have degrees for many reasons and have great jobs with the majors. There can be many reasons... They started working straight out of school or had a poor family (no, there is not always government loans or help for everyone), etc. Heck, some people just don't want to do it because it's of no interest to them at whatever point in their life. Some people have a family to raise and refuse to strap their household with massive college debt for a degree that makes them only slightly more competitive. I think you rate college degrees for pilots much higher then what exists in reality. It's really shameful that you'd have that view and quite frankly, ignorant.
...and with that...add Virgin America to the club of "must have a 4-year degree". Your argument has merit for someone who doesn't want to be in this profession. But for those that do, there are many examples of professionals amongst us at all levels of this industry who came from meager means or were struggling in life and still made it happen. They were driven. And there are ways. Those who rise above and accomplish that goal get the call. Those who make excuses don't. It's that simple. It's actually more "ignorant" to expect that it shouldn't be expected.