Hmmmmmn!

[texman]

It's not about hiring a "better" pilot. It's about drastically reducing the height of the pile of resumes on the Chief pilots desk. In other words, it's a "filter".

When I was interviewing back in the late 80's all the majors required, or "strongly suggested", a 4 year degree. The only one that didn't was USAir.

With the new FAA experience rules coming soon, the 4 year degree "filter" would be one to drop to increase the supply of qualified candidates.

Never really meant a so much a better pilot, what I mean is a person (pilot) with a 4 year is no better than a person (pilot) with out.

 

[Abernathy]

Never really meant a so much a better pilot, what I mean is a person (pilot) with a 4 year is no better than a person (pilot) with out.

I'm guessing your major wasn't English

 

[texman]

I'm guessing your major wasn't English

Not really. Party hardy way to hard. Memory last about a day. Constantly doing cockpit flows every six hours to remember how to fly.

 

[waveflyer]

I support having a degree. It's not the be all end all- but I actually do think those that studied well in college make for better pilots IF(!)- they still socialized and didn't go so overboard into the dbag category.
A LOT of the no degree pilots are great. Many are also a little rough around the edges. Even if they are good sticks, they don't represent us well.
Been my experience

That said, the over-impressed with their education is usually a bigger drain on the op.

 

[airbaker]

Barriers to entry; simple as that. How do you think Doctors have managed to remain in the upper echelons of income earners (for now, anyway)? As professional pilots we should all encourage the journey to be as arduous as possible. Restrict the supply, increase your demands.

The day Sally Strouthers adds "professional pilot" after "TV/VCR repairman" is the day I'm out.

 

[flyboyike]

As professional pilots we should all encourage the journey to be as arduous as possible.

I think it's plenty arduous as it is. Then again, maybe only in my case.

 

[jea]

I didn't go to college. I have worked very hard in my career progression. Early on I started my own 141 school, got it connected with a community college- so I taught college level courses (go figure). During the process, I became an FAA designee. I have interviewed at 1 legacy airline. 1. I start my dream job in a few weeks. The degree is a filter, but I agree in aviation it doesn't matter much if you cant fly.

 

[Turtle21]

Engineering Degree. Masters degree. Feel like a huge waste of time. Do these companies get a break on insurance hiring overly educated employees?

Insurance affected by the level of education of the pilots? No doubt.

Everyone can complain about the discriminators the company uses for hiring but in the end they are gonna use what they want to use.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Insurance underwriters base their premiums by level of risk, they take into consideration training program, maintenance program, accident records. The background of the operators (pilots) is not even in their radar, Or you honestly believe Qantas that has never had a hull loss pays more in insurance than FedEx because they don't require a degree for their pilots? If that was the case then all of the worlds airlines would indeed require a degree for their pilots for the purpose of reducing overall cost, when in fact the opposite is true.

 

[flyboyike]

...Or you honestly believe Qantas that has never had a hull loss pays more in insurance than FedEx because they don't require a degree for their pilots?...

FedEx is self-insured.

 

[Turtle21]

Insurance underwriters base their premiums by level of risk, they take into consideration training program, maintenance program, accident records. The background of the operators (pilots) is not even in their radar, Or you honestly believe Qantas that has never had a hull loss pays more in insurance than FedEx because they don't require a degree for their pilots? If that was the case then all of the worlds airlines would indeed require a degree for their pilots for the purpose of reducing overall cost, when in fact the opposite is true.

Ok. So, the reason US airlines use a degree as a discriminator isn't insurance costs... Frankly I don't care why they use a degree as a discriminator nor do I care that they do. I don't even mind if they do it just because they think it makes them bigger as sholes. I had a degree when I got hired and I have a graduate degree now. As long as they don't require a PhD I won't worry about it.

 

[KiddDynomite]

Having a degree requirement is a joke. I have a degree in fact from a very prestigious university and what has it gotten me in aviation? Absolutely nothing! First it's not in aviation and second, it gave me the ability to check a box on an application. So I checked the box, never got a call from a major! What it comes down to is can you check the minority box or do you have someone walking in your resume or getting your application to the top of the pile. As a white guy with all civilian time, no violations, a bunch of type ratings, soloing at 16 and an instructor at 19 doing nothing but dedicating my life to this craft has gotten me nowhere! The magic formula remains who you know. I knew no one. So second tier it has been for me. That's reality! This profession has nothing to do with skills or degrees but who you know and affirmative action.

 

[HowardBorden]

Having a degree requirement is a joke. I have a degree in fact from a very prestigious university and what has it gotten me in aviation? Absolutely nothing! First it's not in aviation and second, it gave me the ability to check a box on an application. So I checked the box, never got a call from a major! What it comes down to is can you check the minority box or do you have someone walking in your resume or getting your application to the top of the pile. As a white guy with all civilian time, no violations, a bunch of type ratings, soloing at 16 and an instructor at 19 doing nothing but dedicating my life to this craft has gotten me nowhere! The magic formula remains who you know. I knew no one. So second tier it has been for me. That's reality! This profession has nothing to do with skills or degrees but who you know and affirmative action.

Check airman will open a lot of doors for you.

 

[Sir Innocenti]

Before you root for this profession to shed any remaining college degree requirements, please reflect on how that may impact future wages and benefits.

Also reflect on how the term itself, "profession," strongly implies completion of an advanced degree.

It didnt seem to negatively affect the pilots from the golden age of aviation, (60's, 70's, 80's) approximately half did not have degrees and they made a rather comfortable income for several decades.

 

[KiddDynomite]

And there is my point Howard, I don't care if you have a bachelor's, master's or you piled it high and deep, it's all about connections in this game now. skills and experience are meaningless unless you have that connection. I'm stuck where I'm at with unrealized career goals and it's too late now. I'm not starting over in my mid forties just for a sense of accomplishment. This career has turned out to be a pile of crap and not just for me but many guys in my age group. We were hit with pay for training, which I never did, mergers and multiple bad economies. Besides all of that the respect this job had at one time is gone. We're now viewed as expenses not assets.

I like how people bought into the nonsense that college is the key and don't relaize none of that truly matters unless you have a sponsor! My experience came from doing it not sitting in a classroom. I did it the old fashioned way, working for it as a 15 year old kid scrubbing bellies, pumping gas, turning wrenches and picking up every nugget of knowledge I could. College means squat! A desire to learn and be the best you can be at your craft is what matters but we are now in a who you know not what you know industry! Personally I'm done with it. I have sacrificed too much for nothing that has turned out only to be a job and not a career. My recommendation, go get a college degree in a something useful or learn a trade and run your own show.

 

[Full of LUV]

https://aa.pilotcredentials.com/index.php?a=qualifications

Qualifications


Here is what it takes to be a successful pilot at American:

? Ability to learn and work with PEDs



Aspire to be the best and join a great team! Apply now to explore the possibilities!

American Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

I am having a hard time finding the 4 year degree requirement. Paradigm shift?
.

How do you show an ability to learn and work with PED's?

Is there a certain type of pilot that can't learn and work with PED's?

 

[jonjuan]

Having a degree requirement is a joke. I have a degree in fact from a very prestigious university and what has it gotten me in aviation? Absolutely nothing! First it's not in aviation and second, it gave me the ability to check a box on an application. So I checked the box, never got a call from a major! What it comes down to is can you check the minority box or do you have someone walking in your resume or getting your application to the top of the pile. As a white guy with all civilian time, no violations, a bunch of type ratings, soloing at 16 and an instructor at 19 doing nothing but dedicating my life to this craft has gotten me nowhere! The magic formula remains who you know. I knew no one. So second tier it has been for me. That's reality! This profession has nothing to do with skills or degrees but who you know and affirmative action.

The world needs ditch diggers too.

 

[Flopgut]

It can be anguishing to get on anywhere and then to continue to move up. These employers act like the more qualified the better, but then spend the rest of your career trying to convince you the quals really aren't worth anything and that your pay ought to go down every year. There used to be some espirt de corp (or whatever that's called) that we shared amongst each other, but that's long gone since age 65 (among other things) has meant open season on the next guy in line for guys over 60. The profession is a mess. Everybody needs to just wait and see a few years. Maybe there will be a little free agency type change? The regionals will be out of pilots at the payscales they offer real quick. That will move things.

 

[SAABaroowski]

Aviator82,

Can you explain why some of the greatest entrepreneur's don't have a 4 year let alone a 2 year degree? They have showed a lot dedication and busted their butt too. While I am not nocking education, but I knock the pilot world for looking down on others that may not have one.

Makes for a more "well-rounded" individual, at least in the eyes of the HR folks. It's not debatable, sorry.

 

[HowardBorden]

And there is my point Howard, I don't care if you have a bachelor's, master's or you piled it high and deep, it's all about connections in this game now. skills and experience are meaningless unless you have that connection. I'm stuck where I'm at with unrealized career goals and it's too late now. I'm not starting over in my mid forties just for a sense of accomplishment. This career has turned out to be a pile of crap and not just for me but many guys in my age group. We were hit with pay for training, which I never did, mergers and multiple bad economies. Besides all of that the respect this job had at one time is gone. We're now viewed as expenses not assets.

I like how people bought into the nonsense that college is the key and don't relaize none of that truly matters unless you have a sponsor! My experience came from doing it not sitting in a classroom. I did it the old fashioned way, working for it as a 15 year old kid scrubbing bellies, pumping gas, turning wrenches and picking up every nugget of knowledge I could. College means squat! A desire to learn and be the best you can be at your craft is what matters but we are now in a who you know not what you know industry! Personally I'm done with it. I have sacrificed too much for nothing that has turned out only to be a job and not a career. My recommendation, go get a college degree in a something useful or learn a trade and run your own show.

I think you missed my point. If you don't have contacts anywhere and are trying to stand out without having any connections, becoming a check airman will separate you from most of the other candidates.