Airlines WANT pilots to have a four year degree

April 24, 2008 · Filed Under Aviation Related 

College is important in aviation for two important reasons.

  • It opens doors. In most cases, major airlines require or state that they prefer a four year bachelors degree. Every year tens of thousands of qualified applicants apply for a handful of positions. Many have met the specified flight time and have that precious piece of paper stating Bachelors across the top of it. To be competitive, you better have it.
  • If you lose your medical, what are you going to do? To put it nicely you are screwed. The degree will give you a backup and the potential to make a nice living and stay competitive for other career opportunities. A degree in something other than Aviation Science would be best decision one could make. A degree in Business, English, History, Politics, Journalism, hell even Poetry is a better choice. Why? Because the world consists of more than how a turbine engine works and taking a course titled “Math for Pilots 101″ isn’t going to score you many points.
Why do Airlines want you to have a college degree?

A college degree has no effect on ones ability to fly, but it does have bearing on ones ability to succeed in a challenging academic environment which is important to an airline who is about to spend several thousands of dollars trying training you. That’s why airlines prefer candidates with a degree. They know that an English degree won’t help you much, but they know you are able to memorize things such as places, dates, times, accomplish basic math etc, etc, and one can deduce that the person can also memorize flows, emergency procedures and other required tasks.

You will find that the farther you go down the road of life, many a prospective employer will want to see a Bachelor’s degree. Why? It shows a commitment to a structured plan over time, one that requires an individual to accept the responsibility and adhere to gaining an objective. And that is probably the biggest single attribute that employers are looking for. Job skills can be trained. Personal responsibility has to come with the person. Employers can’t afford to be spending valuable time and money in developing those traits.” - Jon Mickley (Ret. USAF/Delta Pilot)

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Comments

3 Responses to “Airlines WANT pilots to have a four year degree”

  1. Audry Conners on April 27th, 2008 8:09 pm

    Nice post. Pilots should obtain a degree in something other than aviation.

  2. Gord on April 28th, 2008 3:29 am

    Just noticed your comment on John Cow's blog.
    I am an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer working
    for Air Canada and when I started it was a 2 year
    college program but now it is 3 years. I agree with your post although you are referring to pilots. If I had a degree in a less labour-intensive job I would be pursuing it now as I am getting up there in years and the 12 hour shifts
    are taking thier toll on me.

  3. Travel Blog on April 28th, 2008 7:20 am

    I love the design of your site! It just needs more content :)

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