bigoilman

I'm helping my son do research on this field while he is at work and I'm off. I've been reading a lot on this forum and I'm appreciative of all of the info that's here.

My son just turned 19 and wants to become an airline pilot. My best friend is a helicopter pilot (flying to rigs in the GOM) and he's helped with some advice but his career path was a bit different (Italian Navy pilot, then to the US).

My son isn't pursuing a degree and doesn't intend to. Will that hinder his career long-term? My understanding is that the degree requirement being dropped in some schools/programs is a recent development in the industry.

He's interested in the Military but there are no guarantees of training that way, either (even in the Army WO program for helicopter pilots that doesn't require a degree). He's looking into the USAF Reserves to get a taste of Military life and earn GI Bill credit, but even the GI Bill doesn't get close to covering the cost of Flight School (every little bit helps, though).

In addition to the military path, we've looked into ATP Flight School and Epic Flight Academy.

Is there a career path that we're overlooking?

We've read a TON of info on pilot lifestyle. I've worked rotating 12 hr shifts for 25 years in the oil refinery biz. IF, he wants to pursue this career as a pilot, it seems to me that doing all of the "dirty work" (commutes, irregular schedules, i.e paying-your-dues) is best done at this stage of life (no mortgage, no wife, no kids). Would you agree?

Thanks for any and all input.

Richard

usmc-sgt

There are literally HUNDREDS of threads on this very topic and any question you could ever have. You’ll get a few responses but you’ll find tens of hours worth of relevant reading through browsing these forums. Get a degree though, some way, somehow. Its not required...but he is severely hindering himself by not.

bigoilman

Thanks. I'll read on.

By hindering, do you mean his career progression (all other things being equal)?

galaxy flyer

No degree, likely very little chance at legacy airlines—DL, AA, UA, FDX and probably WN. It’s been that way for decades and top career paths will always demand a degree in the US. You need to do what my father did, enroll him, take him there and say, “meet your next four years, then you can pursue whatever you want”.

Military requires one and is the easiest and least financially problematic, but comes with its costs.

rickair7777

The degree is the norm in the airline industry. If they loosen up on that, it will likely only be until the shortage is over.

You can usually (certainly right now) get a regional job without one, but career-wise that's like working for a third-tier oil company, ie you want to get to the majors if at all possible.

Right now, if he hustles, he should be able to get a job at a ULCC/lower-tier major without a degree. That will provide good pay and QOL compared to 95% of jobs in America.

Do not plan on getting to a top-tier major without a degree. There is one path to that... an AA wholly-owned regional with flow. You just have to get hired by one of those regionals, after which you'll exchange years of sub-standard pay and QOL for an automatic seniority number at AA. Not a bad deal if you're hell bent on not going to school. Those regionals are a bit more selective than most others.


But the degree is the norm for majors... if something happens to the economy, they'll have degreed pilots lined up around the block again for any major job... without a degree you go to the back of that line.

Army WO is the only mil option without a degree. Pretty sure you'll need at least some college to compete, but not certain. Mil helo experience will not get you an airline job, you'll have to build fixed wing time somehow time (possible in the army, not a sure bet though).

Do your research. Lots of research. Entry-level aviation can be rough on folks who have no industry SA. Any black mark will haunt you for life and some of those schools specialize in black marks.

Yes. The dues paid early on will probably make for a better life than oil for example. Good money plus better schedules (still be away from home some of course).

bigoilman

Thanks for the info. I'm getting most of the initials/abbreviations/anagrams but "industry SA" eludes me. What is SA?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

USMCFLYR

SA = Situational Awareness

Bahamasflyer

Rick can correct me if I wrong, but it seems as if taking on the role of a ground school or even sim instructor until one reaches at least 1000 TPIC would do more harm than good because being in that roll would not allow you to build hours as quickly as one would otherwise.

My systems instructor at my regional has 500 SIC but rarely flies the line. I don’t see how that’s beneficial to getting the time one needs to move on as fast as practical.

But if one truly loves teaching, disregard of course

I’d think that a volunteer roll in the safety dept or even a non aviation charity/group etc would be better since you could still fly a lot to build time

kevbo

There are some academic aspects to being a pilot. Why cant he go to school? If he cant get through the basic classes then maybe look into a maintenance career.

Pilsung

In this current environment, skip the degree (in basket weaving et al) for now, not forever. Get all money-paying ratings (C, CFI) ASAP. Then, while getting paid to fly as a CFI/Regional pilot, reevaluate if a degree is necessary in the then future environment...
...not having a college degree on a resume for the majors will be a non-issue within 5 years...