education required for airline pilot

[mcheung]

Hi there, I am new to this forum and I heard many things about post-secondary education. How important is it to have a degree when wanting to fly for AC or WJ. Would someone who has a undergrad have more of an advantage over someone with a diploma (assuming experience is very similar).

[Pop n Fresh]

I believe it's a way to reduce the pile of resumes from a million to a few hundred thousand. If you and another pilot have the same hours/ratings and they have a better certificate of education likely they get the job.


Kind of like you would not be hired to be a garbage man without a high school equivalency diploma.

As for actual education required? Let the games begin.

[awitzke]

Well technically you don't even need a HS diploma to get a CPL.

[pianokeys]

I think its up for interpretation.

Diploma or degree, I'm not sure it really matters. However, having some kind of non-aviation related education is probably the best idea you can have, because you can fall back onto it when you fall out of this rocky industry.

The best thing you could do is become, for example, an electrician. Then you can work as an electrician and earn money to pay for flying lessons. That way you accomplish a semi-(or even full) debt free pilots license, electrician industry experience to fall back on, and life experience. You could also pick up work on the side when you do fully transition to aviation.

Get a non-aviation related education that you can use to your advantage and let it pay for flying lessons for you. Escape your industry and switch careers, and you'll always have it as a safety net to fall back on.

[DanWEC]

So you're an optimist?

[Gilles Hudicourt]

And don't forget that all of your flying career will be dependant on you passing a medical every year. I know several who were heading for the moon only to see their carrers shot down by a medical isuue.

It's best to have a second set of skills, not just for finding a flying job but to land back on your feet the day you lose that dream job you had, for whatever reason.

[Legacy14]

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[DanWEC]

Or you can do what you want? Especially when it comes to trades , you better like or and/or have an aptitude for it, because after a 60 hour week of doing that vocation,, you don't want to hate your life. You only have one.

[pianokeys]

Or you can do what you want? Especially when it comes to trades , you better like or and/or have an aptitude for it, because after a 60 hour week of doing that vocation,, you don't want to hate your life. You only have one.

Yeah if you want a rewarding career, don't become a power engineer. Sitting on your can for 12 hours gets old, after the second hour.

[davecessna]

Whatever that other education/trade is, make sure it isn't engineering at a university. +1 on what pianokeys said. Become an electrician or plumber, or similar trade. With those occupations you can do side work. With engineering, not so much.

What's wrong with engineering. High-tech low-pay all the way.

[mcheung]

or you can become a bank teller and work your way up, part time pays alright

[TeePeeCreeper]

or you can become a bank teller and work your way up, part time pays alright

Funny I had a chat with my bank teller just this week.
$16/hr and 3 years full time on the job.... Not what I would call "pays alright"!