Pilot without OSSD?

[Brown]

Is it possible to become a pilot without graduating high school in Toronto, Ontario? What would be the necessary actions required to pursue a career in aviation without a High School diploma?

I will be 19 as of late October this year, I believe entrance into University or College with a Mature student status is permitted, if anyone can outline the specifics that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for you time for reading this.

[ywgflyboy]

You would really have to look into every individual school. (1)every school has different entrance requirements (2)19 is not yet considered a mature student in many provinces.

Finish your high school then take the path that is right for you. Flying was my priority and now that I am into flying I am pursuing higher education via distance ed as I know in the long run it can only help me move onto bigger companies. Like I said; everyone needs to figure out their own path and step 1 for everyone would be finishing off that high school

[200hr Wonder]

All you need for a Commercial Pilots License is to complete all the mandated Transport Canada exams and flight tests. There is no requirement for high school, GED, anything at all, HOWEVER, and that is a capital HOWEVER, employment afterwords might be an issue.

Without a High School diploma not many companies would be willing to touch you. Certainly you may get on at smaller operators or even be able to instruct, it is when you want to get into bigger operators where the lack of the paper is going to become an issue. Without one you can forget Jazz, Air Canada, West Jet, Porter and so forth. For example directly from the current Jazz posting on Workopolis, "Must have completed a High School diploma." Nothing is said about College or University, but certainly high school.

I would HIGHLY recommend you re-think not completing your diploma. If you are just a few credits short, take night school, do correspondence, just get it done!

[tkdowell]

Is it possible to become a pilot without graduating high school in Toronto, Ontario?

As many have eluded to already, to be a 'pilot' you need only to meet the Transport Canada Requirements which certainly do not include a complete and successful completion of a formal primary education (highschool diploma).

What would be the necessary actions required to pursue a career in aviation without a High School diploma?

I did not graduate from highschool and I am pursuing a career in aviation and have been humbly successful so far. Keep in mind I am a resident of Alberta, so there may be some minor discrepancies between our respective education systems. I was accepted into a post-secondary instituion offering a Aviation program, and in fact recieved a scholarship ammounting to the first year's toution and multiple thereafter. Since graduating from the diploma, I have been instructing while working towards a degree with that same institution on the side. I can honestly say that failing to possess a piece of paper has not slowed me down very much.

That all being said, there are a few disclaimers. As previsouly mentioned, some employers may be more hesitant to hire a potential pilot (with all the "Transport Canada Requirements") on the basis of a lack of education, certainly primary and sometimes post-secondary (although not as often) as well. By the same token, many employers are hesitant to hire an employee that has too much education --> there is differing opinions in the industry on the necessity and validity of a post-secondary education to be a 'glorified bus-driver'. Finally, as was the case for myself, I wanted a 'Plan B', in-case the pilot path did not work out, and having an education I thought would be a good back-up.

As far as actual steps, you are well on your way. Researching and understanding what you're getting into is a big first step, and asking questions is very important. I would recommend you get in-touch with some of the schools around you, whether it be just flying schools or post-secondary schools as well. I know some of my classmates upgraded while taking courses to meet some of the prerequisites. Make the right decision for yourself.

I do not pretend to be an expert as I am also a novice in this industry and I am sure many more experienced pilots/employers will offer more wisdom, but I thought I would share my unique perspective with my experiences with the lack of a highschool diploma.

Best of luck!

[Bede]

You can have my diploma. I don't need it.

I would get your dimploma anyways, but I worked with a senior captain at Jazz who only finished grade 10. Keep in mind he got into aviation 40 years ago. He had a great line, "while you guys were in university, I was building seniority". There's a lot of truth in that.

[Hedley]

Learn to fly. Get your GED. Doesn't really matter what order you do them in.

One of the best pilots here - Cat Driver - only had his grade 8.

[AMM]

Just go to night school and get your diploma you loser!

[atpilot]

Things aren't the same today as they might have been 40 years ago. Complete your education regardless of what career path you choose.

[Stevo226]

You can have my diploma. I don't need it.

I would get your dimploma anyways

sorry, couldn't resist

[Brown]

Thank you for all the great replies!

Has anyone had any experience with military pilot training standards? Or how major air lines look upon a candidate with military pilot training?

Thanks again.

[172PIC]

You're only 19, complete your high school for sure. It can only help, I know someone who couldn't get a job driving a dump truck because they didn't have high school. Might suck going back but it's easier now than later. Going to post secondary without high school is going to be that much more difficult too, both in opportunities to get in places, and in the actual course work.

Military requires that any pilot has a degree first as far as I know.

You can start on your PPL while finishing high school, do both at the same time, see if your school will give you credits for it as a coop or something.

[FlaplessDork]

Learn to fly. Get your GED. Doesn't really matter what order you do them in.

One of the best pilots here - Cat Driver - only had his grade 8.

+1

More recently, I know a few pilots that have just a GED. I also know a few that only have a Grade 9 education. Some made poor decisions early on while others just missed a few credits. I've seen troubled kids turn their life around by getting into avaition and turn into brilliant individuals. I also know kids who are geniuses but had trouble with school because they weren't challenged enough and started acting out. Good Will Hunting types.

In all honesty highschool is a joke, but if you have the chance to get it done in the normal processes of the educational system it will save you a lot of headaches in the future, fewer closed doors, and a lot less to fall back on. Gotta fly through the hoops to get where you want to be sometimes, even though those hoops are often not necessary.