Honestly, you have your sights set too low. Stay in that box throwing job a couple more years, and move into a senior VP position. Isn't that the very same logic you want to apply to the pilot group?
A 15 year ramp worker who gets an accounting degree, doesn't move to the head of the accounting department if they get hired there. They are new to the department, and go to the end of the line.
Everyone here was a captain of his ship before they were here, but the majority of us spent a little while plumbing when we got here.