Originally Posted by
flyguydanny
Yeah... I just don't get that. In my opinion having a degree doesn't make you a better pilot. We have plenty of pilots here who are great guys and highly intelligent who do not have degrees.
Bottom line is, whether Delta likes it or not, we have pilots here that fly Delta Passengers all day, everyday who don't have a degree, safely and efficiently. I truly hope that the MEC doesn't fall into that trap.
I am not bashing going to school and getting a degree. I actually think it's a great thing! However, a lot of people don't go to college not because they are incapable, but more so on the line of not being able to afford it, along with not wanting to get into life long debt.
Some may argue that the debt is worth getting into when you are going to be working for Delta. However, as of right now a guaranteed defined career path to Delta isn't there.
Again, before this whole forum burns to dust because of this degree thing. I am for getting a degree to better yourself, however I just don't agree that it makes you a better aviator, and it shouldn't be a determining factor whether you are able to have a position with Delta as a pilot.
I've seen this argument and listened to this for years. If you don't have a degree, understand that you will always be part of the lesser crowd when it comes to INTERVIEWING for a new job, not that you are a bad person. Until hiring market dictates that a degree is no longer necessary, then understand you take a risk of falling behind a huge hiring curve if you look to go to another carrier that is not considered a Regional Airline.
I've personally have benefited from having a four year degree by first, able to quickly acquire a job while on furlough of 2009, granted not aviation related, and secondly got on with my dream job as a mainline pilot. I do hope that everyone one of my comrades have a chance to move on for those that want to but I also hope that those who have a choice to at least better their job application would pursue to do it than wait for chance or luck to help them move on in their careers.