Going to school while flying
 

Hello,

I’m a CFI with a two year college degree. I am just a few months before applying to the regionals and I am unsure of how scheduling works at the airlines. Is it reasonable to consider going to school while flying for a regional?

You can do an online program, there are plenty of them these days. But even with the most flexible of schedules, there is really no way you could go to school at a brick and mortar university and work at an airline.

Not true. Many airlines offer continuous duty overnight schedules. I know Endeavor and Skywest are two that have this. AKA standups or highspeeds or naps. Not for everyone but great for someone who wants to go to school or has childcare needs. Report to work at around 8pm, wrap up around 7:30 am... fly last flight out, first flight back with somewhere between 4 and 7 hours of sleep opportunity depending on delays and the route.

Also once you're a lineholder it wouldn't be too difficult to get a schedule with M-W or T-Th off and take a M/W or T/Thu class schedule as 4 on 3 off is a typical schedule. It's the weekends that can be tricky to get off as a junior pilot.

Edit: needing to commute would complicate all this.

Thanks much!

This is like having a job and a side gig.
At some point you’ll need to make a decision which one is more important at this stage in your life.
Less-then-idea job with time for school or great-job with no time for school.
You may have to do the first one for a while.
Don’t expect your employer to start making exceptions for what it is you need.

Standups (aka high-speeds, CDO's, naps) go really senior in some places. In SLC I suspect you might need ten years... as an FO.

In some places they go junior (ex SFO), but that's probably because it's a big hub with hours worth of parking and traffic hassles every day.

If you game plan is to take a job to do standups, find out from the natives how senior/junior they go, and what the QOL is like. Big difference between four hours sleep and six hours sleep IMO.

Online. Get it done by the time you have 2500-3000 hrs TT so that it doesn’t hinder your advancement.

Honestly, why not get the degree done before heading off to the regionals? A CFI gig is exponentially more flexible to accommodate a school schedule. Just be sure to get it done. A 4year degree is absolutely required to eventually move on to a major.

I was flying for the regionals when I first finished up my 4 year through UVU. It took me about 3 years. Depending how many classes you take each term, you can finish earlier or later than 3 years.

No, a 4 year degree is NOT required by several majors, including SWA. It's preferred and is more competitive, but other qualifications and accomplishments are considered as well.