Originally Posted by
CaptFuzz
The college degrees required for other professional, licensed jobs are professional degrees in their field. Lawyers need law degrees. Doctors need medical degrees. Engineers need engineering degrees. I'm unaware of any profession that requires a degree unrelated to the career field. If pilots are to be considered professionals in that way, a degree in political science, psychology, biology, or engineering (in which I have my degree) wouldn't make sense.
Now I think an airline having a requirement for a degree for their hiring minimums makes sense. It gives some indication about the general experience and abilities of the individual and could factor into whether they want them as an employee. However, a non-related degree has little bearing on your ability to safely and effectively practice a profession.
And as was mentioned by BoilerUP, the military requires a college degree to be an comissioned officer, not to be a pilot. Even if the vast majority of pilot warrant officers have degrees, it is not a requirement.
Just to be clear I am in favor of increasing mins for all 121 pilots to an ATP certificate (and don't think a four year college degree makes sense as an ATP requirement).
Your lack of understanding why a college degree shows. Doctors typically get a bachelors in some type of technical degree (chemistry, biology, maybe engineering). They then compete to get into medical school where they go through highly specialized training. But they must know the basics (calculus, chemistry, biology, physics, and be well spoken (English)) in order to be a doctor.
What we are saying is that a professional pilot must also have the basics; some type of college degree that emphasizes the math, physics, English, and possibly management. Then you go on and get your training in flight school.
Keep dumbing down the profession and keep watching your pay check dwindle. The more you devalue yourself, the less you are worth.
