College degree at regionals

[flight-crew]

I was just curious. On average, what percentage of regional airline pilots have a 4-year college degree? My guess is 60%.

 

[Saabslime]

On average, what percentage of regional airline pilots have a 4-year college degree? My guess is 60%.

More like 90%

 

[PilotOnTheRise]

Ive heard its 95% ... oh well, its 90%+, so get the degree!

 

[~~~^~~~]

We have had more than a few guys running around with MBA's and Doctorates who were career changers.

Most (85%+) just have their Bachelors.

 

[flight-crew]

Yeah, at the Major's I know that it's around 95%. But I was talking about the REGIONAL airlines.

 

[Caveman]

I've been with Comair a little over a year and a half. In the course of that time I've had the opportunity to talk to dozens of pilots about their backgrounds. You know the typical cockpit/crewroom/classroom conversations about where you are from, where did you learn to fly, got any kids, are you married, where did you go to college, etc, etc. So far I only know of 2 or 3 pilots that didn't have a four year degree. Everybody else has at least a BA/BS and more than a couple had graduate level degrees. Even the ones that didn't have a four year degree all had at least 2 years of college. One of them, me, has an associate degree. My informal survey suggests that upwards of 95% of of Comair's pilots have 4 year degrees. Then again Comair isn't a 'regional', it's a jet national.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

This one blew me away: At my Comair interview, there was a Navy Surgeon...not flight surgeon, but a real surgeon who cut on people. He was retiring from the Navy and did not want to deal with all the malpractice insurance and I'm sure had a lot of other personal reasons. But this guy had been around a long time, I'm guessing he was about 50 or 55. I don't know if he got the job or not, but I thought it was interesting.

 

[AWACoff]

At Lakes it was over 90% with college degrees with the vast majority being 4 year degrees. At Air Wisconsin, it is most likely the same mix. It might not be as high as the jet national comair since we are only a jet/prop international carrier. Oh well. 60% is definitely a low estimate. It is much higher. Get the 4 year degree.

Seee Yaaaaaaaa!

 

[MetroSheriff]

Then again Comair isn't a 'regional', it's a jet national.

Ego aside, it is just a matter of semantics. Unless you can make $100, 000 plus, as a 3rd year F/O, you work for a regional.

For further illustration of this point please see the new thread entitled "You might be a regional pilot if..."

 

[Caveman]

MetroSheriff wrote:

"Ego aside, it is ....."

You're kidding right? We are talking about pilots here.

 

[MetroSheriff]

Well put and point taken...lol

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

And here I thought regional/national/major were defined by operating revenues....

 

[DarnNearaJet]

"Ego aside, it is just a matter of semantics. Unless you can make $100, 000 plus, as a 3rd year F/O, you work for a regional. "

I didn't realize that SW, JB, Air Tran, World, ATA, Abex, DHL, AmWest and Frontier were regionals.

Learn something new everyday.

 

[MetroSheriff]

Whatever....you all know exactly what I meant.

I was ribbing Caveman about the 'jet national' statement. I work for a regional now. When we hit the revenue mark and the DOT classifies us as a "Major", my pay and work rules sure as he11 are not going to change, and I am not going to pull my apps from Delta, Fedex, and SWA. The DOT can say what they like, all pilots know EXACTLY how we define "Major".

I was making a point, and arguing otherwise is semantics.


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