Steven4200

I have been reading about most airlines requiring a four year degree on top of 1500 hours and flight school training. I had a conversation with a flight instructor and he said they changed that requirement and most airlines do not require a four year degree anymore. I just wanted to do some fact checking and see if that was correct or not. The cost of flight school is staggering much less adding a four year college degree to the budget. Thanks in advance for any input!

BravoTango

My impression is most top airline jobs, the majors either require it or close to require it, and at others it’s a big handicap to getting hired even if it’s not required. Others will jump in and say the degree gives you fall back options - imagine losing your medical permanently. I’d also say it can make you a better person and citizen, but understand it can be a luxury to afford the time and cost.

Realistically, many jobs don’t require it. You can do a part time degree or online degree while you build hours in 135 or at a 121 regional. Are you happy working for Spirit instead of say American? The very top will always be able to remain selective.

Being an airline captain is only partially about being a pilot. It’s also having the life experience and perspective to take on a lot of responsibility and have good judgement under pressure. A degree doesn’t guarantee this to an employer, but in their eyes sure ups the odds that they want to trust a multi multi million airliner and their passengers lives to you.


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Steven4200

What do you mean by close to it?

JohnBurke

Regionals won't require the four year degree. Perhaps the instructor had that in mind.

Above that, four year degrees are either required, or so common that you will have a very difficult time being competitive without one.

For the remainder of aviation, some corporate jobs require one. Some other jobs require one, but few.

If I were to counsel someone today on the matter, mine would be to get training, get flying, and do a degree online while you work. Bear in mind that doing so takes longer and is made considerably more difficult by having far fewer hours to study, with far more distractions in life, but it can certainly be done.

Excargodog

None of us can tell the future with any accuracy but I would guess that we’ll see pilotless aircraft flying passengers before a college degree ceases to be valuable in getting hired at the most desirable majors. Yes, they will take people - even now - without college degrees, but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.

Would you rather be in the competition for the 97% of their slots that WILL be filled by someone with a degree or competing for the 3% of the slots that will be filled despite the applicant not having a degree?

If the latter, be sure to pick a regional with flow, and expect that to cost you probably two or three years longer working in the regionals than it will take someone else in your indoc class who DOES get a degree.

Sliceback

If you fly first, and work on your degree online, you can be at a regional airline 3-4 yrs ahead of the guy who chooses the college route first.

If you bust your butt you can be a college graduate and have been a regional CA for several years, with a very competitive resume, at 25. It isn’t easy but it’s possible.

Right now the only realistic path to one of the biggest carriers requires a college degree. The only exception to that is if you go to a ‘wholly owned’ AA regional. At that point, without a college degree, your only big carrier job possibility in today’s environment would be with AA. It won’t matter if another airline is your first choice as you’ll probably not get hired unless the standards change.

A four yr degree requirement has been close to 100% for 50 yrs. If you think you’re exceptional you can skip the degree requirement if one of the biggest major airlines is your goal. A requirement to be considered exceptional is a bumper sticker on your car that reads ‘I’m special.’ That helps the recruitmenters identify the best candidates.

TiredSoul

Mind you, it wasn’t by choice but by circumstance but I don’t have a degree and ended up a little better then just ok.
But do something useful with your time.
Don’t get a degree in “aviation sciences” or whatever.
Get something that could give you career option B.
For what it’s worth I do t think there’s any statistical evidence having a degree makes you A- smarter pilot
B- safer pilot

BravoTango

It may or may not make a particular individual a better pilot (I think it might make em a better captain though) but I do think it elevates the general quality of the pilot population by weeding out those who don’t have the smarts or the discipline to achieve a degree.


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sourdough44

Some majors may not ‘require’ a 4-year degree, but the vast majority hired will have one.

Of course at a regional one may not be necessary to get hired.

Maybe cut some corners, get a lower cost, easier degree while undergoing flight training.

Most of these questions leave a few critical issues out, a main one being the motivation level of the perspective pilot. What works for one person, may not work for the next.

GogglesPisano

Bottom line: Don't be lazy.