Associates Degree or A320 Type.

[BrickTop]

If you don't have the time for that, then find the cheapest fastest online degree from a non diploma mill.

I have read there are dozens if diploma mills and often times they are very hard to discern. I would be willing to wager there are actually employed pilots at major airlines who received their degree from an illegitimate diploma mill. If an institution claims themselves to be accredited it could be very hard to for an HR department or third party firm to validate.

 

[SIG600]

WHY do major airlines require pilot applicants to have 4 year college degree? What sets an experienced pilot with no college education from one who is less experienced and has a 4 year college education?

Beacuse they can. You don't need a reason why. They want it, you need it if you want the job.

 

[shon7]

Beacuse they can. You don't need a reason why. They want it, you need it if you want the job.

Amen. Wonder how long before they make the requirement that a Masters degree is required.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Get a BS degree in something other than the aviation field. Since you are busy, consider looking into getting an online degree.

Try looking into Utah Valley University's online program. Best bang for the busy buck. I would get the degree as well. Good luck to you.

 

[talespin]

Contemplating finishing my Degree as owning a business has taken much of my time along with full time employment for a Regional. If you were a hiring department at a Major or LCC, who operated A320 aircraft, AND because the A320 is likely to be the widest used aircraft in Major operation, which credential would you think makes you a more likely applicant to be hired? I opt for the degree as it is not a certification the becomes obsolete.

Let the airlines pay for your type, that's the way it should be! The Degree fills a box and thats the way it is. Good Luck.

 

[gringo]

Associates degree? Really?

Here's what you can do with a 2 year Associates Degree- take the diploma, and then take the first three letters of "associates".

Use one to wipe the other.

That's all that degree is good for. Probably a lot less.

A 4 year degree is an absolute minimum requirement these days.

 

[Turtle21]

Get the four year degree and pursue your flying itch via the website below...

http://www.bananahobby.com/

 

[IBNAV8R]

The associates degree might be helpful if you are trying for that assistant manager position at Denny's. Otherwise, it's a cop-out cause you couldn't stick it our for a real degree.

If you're going to get a type, get a B737 type. As far as I know, there are no PFT airlines flying buses.

 

[JT12345]

Amen. Wonder how long before they make the requirement that a Masters degree is required.

More likely the requirement will be changed to an Associates before it is a Master degree. There will be a pilot shortage unless oil goes to $200 and we invade Iran, but then again the military pilots will be very busy

 

[shon7]

Let the airlines pay for your type, that's the way it should be! The Degree fills a box and thats the way it is. Good Luck.

Airlines should also be very profitable, the jobs should be secure, flight attendants should provide service. Thats the way it should be!

 

[waveflyer]

WHY do major airlines require pilot applicants to have 4 year college degree? What sets an experienced pilot with no college education from one who is less experienced and has a 4 year college education?

Baseline education. A lot of pilots disagree with this- bc we dont use this logic, but take it as truth. It doesn't matter what pilots think about what it takes to get the job- it matters what the people who will hire you think. The executives-the owners- and ultimately, the customers. From personal experience, executives know pilots are the front line ambassadors and hate it when they run into ignorant pilots in their uniform. It says so many bad things about an airline- and everyone's got em. Executives and mgmt usually have MBAs or JDs and know how hard they worked to get them- they don't like pilots making the money we make without at least the 4-year, or representing their airline in an uneducated way. They want us to have the ability to not only know aviation inside and out- but be able to carry on a conversation on many levels. Right or wrong, good or bad- I know this from direct conversations at several companies.

Ability to learn in a classroom- ability to set goals and COMPLETE them. Mgmt hates wasting money on training pilots, and want as many levels of proof that you'll breeze through training as possible. So your logic is correct- you're just applying it to the wrong goal.

It's a no brainer- watch your money- no reason to overspend- but get a 4 year degree- OR- live with a very large roadblock to your career. Its possible without- but you wont get interviews half as fast and youll have to have a really good reason why you dont have a bachelor's when over 95% of your peers do.

The 320 type is just burning cash and time. Worse yet, it'll look like you're trying to buy your way in. The only type that's justified is the 737 bc of SWA. When recruiters look at type ratings and training classes passed- it's a very different thing to see that someone paid you to train up and then do a job for them while under the pressure of being on probation and can be fired if not up to par- that shows your very real value. Not only did you pass training, but you passed an interview process just to get the chance to go to training. Buying a type has a lot of ulterior motives ($) and really doesn't prove anything other than you paid someone to get you through and they did. See the difference?

Good luck and good on you for trying to differentiate yourself.

 

[Scoot 11]

The 320 type is just burning cash and time. Worse yet, it'll look like you're trying to buy your way in. The only type that's justified is the 737 bc of SWA.

WOW! Does your arm hurt from patting yourself on the back?
But I do like how buying the 320 type is buying your way in and the 737 isn't.

 

[waveflyer]

When UAL, jetblu or VA starts requiring a 320 type it'll be a different deal-
But good try on the trolling

 

[Scoot 11]

When UAL, jetblu or VA starts requiring a 320 type it'll be a different deal-

Oh really? Who else might fly the 320? Overseas operators maybe. Or is it only Southwest that sets the bar so high that it's ok to buy a type?
You really are falling all over yourself. But at least you got that going for ya!

But good try on the trolling

Not really!

 

[outerlimits]

How come other pilots hate Southwest pilots so much? ^^^^^^^^^^^^