Age when applying/hired @ Regionals
 

What do senior pilots think about really young (under 23) pilots getting hired w/ the regionals. Do the younger pilots get the same about of respect as the older ones? What if you were a captain and had to choose between a 35 year old w/ 500/50 or a 21 year old w/ 1200/150, who would you rather fly with w/o meeting either. Maybe age does not mean s#@* or it does, just a matter of ones opinion.

disregard the vote from the op (not w/ a regional and have not applied anywhere)

Age dosen't matter. The individual's maturity, personality, and overall skill/learning ability weigh much more.

What he said

Ditto...!!

Agreed, but the 20yr thats flying for the regionals probably doesn't have a 4yr degree so, the regionals will be his/her home for a very loooooong time.

Which regionals are hiring 20 year old pilots? IMO, a 20 year old pilot with more than a 1000TT is more mature than the average 20 year old college student.

True, I didn't have a degree when I started with the airlines. But I'm two years into my four year degree, and I intend to finish just in time to have 1000 TPIC under my belt ;) I'll only be at the regionals until I get hired by the majors.

I am in the same boat, just finished AS degree last week, how ever I do know plenty of guys that made it to
Majors with out the degree .

Someone where just in the right place at the right time with the right friends . Having it of course is your safe bet tho

That may have held true 10+ years ago...but I reckon it'll be rather difficult now, if only because a four year degree will be used as a screening tool just like total time, an ATP, etc.

I would rather have a 21 yr old with the higher time. I say this on the assumption that the 21 yr old has probably been an aviation rat his whole life and is probably way more motivated and ready to learn. I also believe the 21 year old will be able to learn quicker. In my own personal opinion those that truly love the art of flying as most very young aviators do, their motivations and abilities are different from those of other career changers.

Or age 65, whichever comes first.

That and being female/minority and/or having connections in high places.

OTOH an older person willing to go through the risks of changing careers and chasing a low-paying regional job probably loves flying more than some cocky kid chasing the major airline pilot dream.

As far as being a woman, I'd say yes, it did help me to wear a brown uniform. To say that age does not help with a persons maturity is wrong. So many things happen in life that mold you to be the person that you are, and ONLY experience will do that (not a ERAU or perdue (don't) degree)! Just my two cents.

Good luck with that bitterness buddy. Let's see how far it takes you in life...

So can we deduce from your statement that female/minority are a shoo in when it comes to hiring... Man I am sure you are a pleasure to fly with! <sarcasm> If you continue to view every minority/female like that you my friend will be a bitter person for a very long time...

So true..Doesn't make sense that a piece of paper should weed out experienced pilots, but I guess that's the only thing they can come up with.
Guess I should start working on my bachelors degree in underwater basket weaving so I can apply at the majors.:D

Screw underwater basket weaving! What you need to do is get accepted to the University of Colorado Boulder and major in the art of glass blowing. Then tell K4 to take a hike and get on as a pilot with Tommy Chong Transport.:D

..or he/she is pursuing an online degree while flying for the regionals. Just another possibility since I know a few people that have done this.

Richest guy in the world dropped out of college.

He may or may not be bitter. When you talk to pilots that had resumes in to the majors around 1997-2001 they have all those stories about UAL and USAir and how it worked. Of course it can go both ways, some places one probably had no chance if they were female or minority.

I think degrees are completely over rated. Play the whole "well it shows committment and a willingness to pursue something". Like being a professional pilot isn't hard enough? 20k a year starting out is enough for dedication. I think when the hiring starts in 3-5 years, they wont give a rats behind about a degree. What does it change in the cockpit? Absoutely nothing.

I wonder how things would have been different if the regionals required a four year degree?

You really think top-tier airlines will have a lack of highly qualified candidates with a 4-year degree to fill their vacancies?

No thats not what he said. Does a four year degree improves your flying skills and your experience?? Ask anyone and they will tell you no. I know guys with a four year degree in accountings, psychology or journalism. Does that make them a better pilot no. Honestly a four year degree does not mean much anymore in the world of employment since most people these days pursue masters anyways.

Matter of fact a few weeks ago we had a Delta jumpseater and were talking about Delta preferences. He mentioned that when mass retirements happen there probably won't be enough qualified applicants with a four year degree. So it will become highly recommended but not required.

I do have a four year degree and guess what? It does not make me a better pilot. It is just a piece of paper that cost me an extra 10 grand that I am paying it off now.

You're right...but that's basically what is implied with "they won't give a rat's behind about a degree".

No, it doesn't. Like I said upthread, a degree will be used as a screening tool, much like total time, an ATP, a FEX written or a certain number of turbine PIC time.

There's no need to remove having a bachelor's degree as a basic requirement so long as vacancies can be filled with pilots meeting said requirement...and there won't be any shortage of qualified pilots who have a 4 year degree wanting to work for "better" operators like Delta, FedEx, SWA, UPS, etc. well into the future, even after "mass retirements" begin.

IMO, anybody betting their career progression on retirements causing major/legacy airlines to drop a degree requirement best start preparing themselves for a major let-down...

Agreed 100%. There are only so many qualified pilots and many don't have 4 year degrees. Do the math and the majors are going to have to drop the stupid requirement at some point.

If regionals required a four year bachelor's degree, should it be in a subject related to to the economics or science of aviation?

The problem is telling the HR Dept in the interview (who all have 4 year degrees) that a degree in this profession is worthless. You can either do this job or you can't. A degree isn't going to make a slightest bit of difference. It will make a difference in getting an interview or not.

How about a new thread that asks "Current legacy airline pilots age 55-65, at what age were you hired at your legacy carrier?" I bet the results would be similar to this. ( the same people who are up in arms over 25 year old regional jet fo's)

I am new to APC forums, but this thread in particular is one I read full through completely.. I am about to go to ground school at a regional. I turned 20 last week. 1100/650 are my times. My own thoughts reflect a lot of what I've already read.

I've seen through instructing, a lot of guys my age getting their ratings. Their maturity compared to mine was quite a bit different. I think my confidence level with my moving to the regionals was based on enlisted Air National Guard experience, growing up in a military and airline family, as well as desire to be grown up. No one new hire is better than another, but as the company stated in our new hire paperwork, its all about attitude.

I just want to learn, stay humble, and work the job I've been loved since I was little. Unfortunately, I've seen attitudes that are different(to say the least).

Applied and hired at 20. Sims for my 21st bday...been with the airline for 3.5 years now.

Applied to AE in 2009 (age 33) got the conditional but, didn't pass the CA review. Still not sure why. During the process did lose my plwk & 3 months later they found it.

I now work for a 135 cargo carrier.

It worked for me. It can be dome with a little effort, that's for sure.

I'm also doing it currently. Aviation was a stupid degree choice.:rolleyes:

It doesn't matter what you think. It matters what the HR department thinks. You guys/gals that are counting on a pilot shortage to make the 4yr degree moot are most likely going to be behind the power curve. I've been hearing about an impending pilot shortage for about 2 decades and my airline has about 1500 furloughees

Haha my online degree I'm doing right now is Psychology.. :rolleyes: