Degree - "NOT REQUIRED"

[Brasgaucho]

Maybe you should mind your own business and stop blaming Mesa, pilots without college degree, Martha Stewart...
If you don't like it go do something else...

 

[Goldeneagle646]

Originally Posted by Herman Bloom
Airlines should require a college degree. It would go far to improve the reputation of pilots in general...maybe restore some of the long lost prestige the position use to carry.

I believe that if all pilots had a degree that yes we would be paid more. BUT... Who makes up the hiring requirements, not us pilots. I seriously doubt that the people running the joint would require a degree from their applicant's just so that they can start paying them more.

 

[Herman Bloom]

"If you don't like it go do something else..."

I did just that. Got out, because I practice what I preach. What else ya got?

 

[maddog805]

F#ck you guys. Wait I can't say that if I have a degree....

 

[shamrock]

You could get a degree in elementary or secondary education, but then you couldn't leave flying and make better money teaching.

My GF is a teacher and makes more than I do, but I am a lowly FO. 2 months off each summer isn't too bad either, although I still wouldn't trade jobs with her.

I was shocked at how much different it is compared to my school days. Teaching isn't what it was with all the behavior problems and "couldn't care less/not my child" parents these days.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread.

Continue the argument........

 

[boxjockey]

This has got to be the most ridiculous bunch of sh!t I've ever seen. Return the profession to the prestige it once had? Do you have any idea how many of those people who flew back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's had college degrees? During a large portion of that time, if you were living and breathing you could have a job. It's all about supply and demand, man!! The only reason airlines require a degree is to cut down the number of resumes they have to go through. Not enough resumes coming in, lower the time or CHUCK THE DEGREE!!! Numbnuts.

box

 

[sf3boy]

You know, I changed my mind after being enlightened by those that received a degree. I now know for fact that the CEO's of NWA and Mesaba told Mesaba's MEC during contract talks that since 1 out of 3 pilots in the top half of the list don't have a degree, we need to pay the current and future FO's crap.

Guess what though....the airlines decide what the hiring criteria is whether it be high or low, not the employees. Reference afore stated United, US Air.....

 

[Brett Hull]

My GF is a teacher and makes more than I do, but I am a lowly FO. 2 months off each summer isn't too bad either, although I still wouldn't trade jobs with her.

I was shocked at how much different it is compared to my school days. Teaching isn't what it was with all the behavior problems and "couldn't care less/not my child" parents these days.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread.

Continue the argument........

That's o.k. My wife's a teacher...but she doesn't make more than I do, though. But everything else you said was right on the $$$$$$.

 

[Tooslow]

Is that before or after they payoff their some $100,000 in student loans at 500 a month for 30 years?

 

[whereamI]

Wtf?

Are you refering to teachers with your student loan quip? Cause I know plenty of teachers who only have a 4 year degree. In fact, I have a friend who was recently hired teaching at the college level with a masters degree and no previous experience. He is teaching 4 days a week, with 3 months off for the summer, and he makes more money than me. Student loans, negative gostrider! He is free and clear making more money than me, and he didn't have to pay for all of his "training". Yeah, I love flying airplanes, BUT I am really sick of being paid a sh!t wage after all of the education I have payed for. Should pilots be required to have a 4 yr degree? If it means my paycheck will cover my bills than yes. However, I have a 4 year degree so my opinion is biased. Supply and demand someone said? The market is completely saturated with qualified pilots at the moment, soooooo why don't the regional airlines require a degree. I am not certain the reason, but economics would dictate a 4 year degree being a requirement for a CFI position in this market.

 

[pilotyip]

WWII, Vietnam

Most of the pilots who flew in WWII did not have degree; they performed feats in the air that showed they had extraordinary skill as pilots. How do you measure the pilot skill to hold a B-24 in formation at FL140 for nine hours? How do you measure flying 350 NM from your carrier using DR only and safely returns every time? How do you measure shooting down 5 enemy airplanes in 5 minute? These feats were performed by pilots without degrees. In Vietnam most of the helo drivers did not have degrees, does that mean they did not perform unbelievably in combat? My first PPC in the P-3 did not have a college degree, (former Navcad) he was one of the finest pilots I ever flew with. The degree has nothing to do wit flying an airplane.

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

Those pilots that pay $100,000 for their degree then pursue their career are not the smartest, maybe the complete opposite. Wouldn't a smarter person pursue their regional airline job as fast as possible, maybe only getting their first two years done at a Community College, while building some flight time. Then getting on with a regional and slowly work on their degree while building quality time? Then you can be Captain and be finishing up you degree in time to apply to a major, while your buddy is just getting on with your regional as your first officer making nothing and trying to pay off his/her student loans. It's not about how smart your resume makes you look. It's about being qualified during the small windows of hiring at the majors. It's all about seniority.

 

[pilotyip]

Words of wisdom

barer pole has some great advice there.

 

[Tooslow]

Nope, aviators

 

[sleeve]

I was gonna write this long paragraph about how i have as much college under my belt as the guy with the degree who thinks he's better than me because I don't have one yet.. but then I thought F$^k it....I'd bet 10-1 that I can beat the shi.t out of him anyways.

 

[Tooslow]

I am just saying why someone would spend $100,000 when you can get same thing at some small university for $25,000. I spent 25 gs and there were guys in my class that had spent 100 gs. Same thing same place same time for 75 more?.

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

If they discount you for getting that $25,000 degree, and say that the big name college means more, then the even better thing to do is to get the same degree that they paid $100,000 for and do it for the $25,000 - $30,000 range. Get your first two years done, get all your ratings, then finish up with Embry Riddle. They even give you credit for your flight time, and you don't have to pay for it. Gotta love it, $75,000 off. But then again, they are much better pilots then I am, so I better not rub it in.

 

[flyjen30]

Higher education should always be something to strive for. There is no reason why any of us should not want to raise the bar on our careers. Get out if you don't like it. Putting people down for doing the work involved in getting a degree (ie- Riddle) makes you sound bitter and small time.

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

I am not trying to put people down. I spent the time and effort to get that degree, and I am proud of the work I did. The point I was trying to make is it does not make you a better pilot. A degree is an excellent way of broadening your horizon, however, if you use it as a way to discriminate against your fellow pilots and feel that they are lowering the bar, you did not learn much from college. Also by requiring it at the regional level, it slows down the process for those of us that love to fly and would rather be in an airplane, learning from real life experiance, then sitting in a classroom and learning about other subjects. By getting into the industry 2 years earlier, it also allows you two more years in your career which at current pay rates, could be $300,000 - $600,000.

 

[LR25]

Quote by Killjack.

" Riddle me this BATMAN" - why do three out of the four military flight schools require a four year degree?"



Next time you happen to meet an WWII veteran pilot, ask him what his major was in before he was sent off to flight school.