ahhmino

Hello,

I've recently turned 18, and I'm trying to face an issue I haven't been able to decide on for a while. I'm torn between becoming an aeronautical engineer or becoming an airline/corporate pilot. I've been a little put off of being a pilot because I'm fairly sure that within the next 20 to 30 years, airliners will go fully autonomous, so maybe I should just keep the flying thing to a hobby. Any advice on which way I should go?

Thanks in advice!
P.S. It's my first post here, hi

Rama

They won't get to that point that quickly. If and when it happens, it will be phased in slowly. There are thousands of airframes flying in the US alone.
Get your engineering degree since you need one anyway.

ahhmino

So I should maybe get the degree as a back up, but still go for being a pilot as a career. Appreciate it

ToastAir

I was in your shoes once a long time ago. I got a 2 year aviation degree, a BS in engineering, and then became an air traffic controller for 32 years. Now I fly part 121 for a regional, but I also have a pension. The point here is life usually doesn't go the way you plan. You probably really don't want it to. I think I would get the engineering degree and work on your pilot rating as you can. Good luck.

rickair7777

You need a degree anyway, so get one in engineering and get an engineering job. Do general aviation for fun on the side. After a year or two, re-evaluate where you're at and make a decision. Nothing like a desk job to give you an enlightened perspective on aviation.

The next ten+ years will see unprecedented pilot hiring and seniority progression opportunities. Unprecedented in the history of aviation. Today's young pilots will not pay the dues that older generations faced.


I'm experienced in systems engineering, big organizations, and government. I've posted in detail here many times about autonomous airliners, and it's not happening in my lifetime for a variety of good reasons (might happen to cargo planes). Do a search for my previous posts on that if you want the details.

Even single pilot ops would require a fully autonomous airliner, because pilots do become incapacitated in flight.