The older you get the harder it is to go to school. Knock that out, preferably non aviation major. But studying something that piques interest will probably get best results.

Major not that important, performance always matters.

Don't talk to recruiters, look up ROTC if military is an interest.

Sounds like a good kid, congrats

Tell her to be a doctor instead. Much more respect

Im beyond thankful for all your ideas and input, it means alot you all took time out to offer some advice to my youngster. A big thanks not only from a dad, but a Marine corps vet and the grandson of a United airlines mechanic of over 30 years. Much respect.

It’s the slow roundabout way to get to an airline but they will guarantee the flight slot, no college is required, helicopters are way cooler than jets, and there are opportunities to fly fixed wing turboprops and light business jets.

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-j...-officers.html

Consider Officer Training School (OTS)

The advantage there is she can walk up and say “I want to be a pilot or nothing.” - it’s that guarantee she’s looking for. The USAF will be at max pilot production here soon so her timing is good. I have heard that they are signing pilot only OTS contracts (in the past you they only offer “rated only” contracts when ment you could become a navigator.)

If she goes that route make sure the contract says “no RPA”

She does need to get at least her associates degree. Once she’s in the USAF will give her money to finish her Bachelors.

And if the USAF (active duty) says no way...well nothing lost. I would also encourage her to look at guard/reserve units. Heck there’s a reserve F-35 unit in SLC. She could even enlist in the guard/reserve (stay with me here) as a part-timer, get money for school and then become an officer and a pilot in that unit after college.

And....jet fighters are a blast!

Good luck!

Let me just be the fly in your soup here for a moment:

“Captain at a Major Airline”...

Is that something that you want her to like or is it her wishes?

I hear a lot of “Dad knows what’s best for you here’.
Don’t forget to give your kid some room to be a teenager here.

And a degree outside of aviation for sure.

Air National Guard hires you into a specific role. You pass and you are in that role, something prevents it and you can get out. That's a good guarantee for flying. She'll need to complete a degree first, although she may be able to apply while still in school.

I'm going to buck most here and recommend an aviation degree if she is going the full civilian route because of some of the advantages espoused here. There are other ways to do it, but if this is what she really wants, I think it's worth going that route if possible.

The only thing guaranteed in aviation is that the aircraft will come back to the ground one way or another. We haven’t left one up there yet!

There are no shortcuts, and many external factors beyond our control that will shape a flying career.

Timing (very much beyond our control) is your biggest advantage at the moment with historic career progression and potential.

It’s always been a matter of being in a position to apply to the airlines at the right time with the right competitive quals.

So far the magic 8-ball points to good hiring prospects in the next 6 years (the minimum age for her to get an unrestricted ATP rating).

As for a backup degree, keep in mind that the hiring was good all the way up to September 10th, 2001.

Good question..... But this is all her. I've coached, supported and mentored her, she was going to be a doctor however she didn't like the school, residency and so on. Her Grandpa was a mechanic for United for 30 years who also had his own tail dragger he flew.

I've paid for her initial PPL, to help her ensure it's the career she wants, after that she's on her own. Im just trying to teach her the value of networking and speaking people that are in the field to gain the most adequate and up to date knowledge.