Do Majors hire without Aviation degree?

[wanttoflyhawaii]

I understand that Majors are not hiring at this time but I am thinking seriously about starting flight training. I am 15 and want to be a CFI by age 19. My plan is to go to 4 years college with a non aviation degree. My problem is, there are many military pilots out there without an aviation degree at major airlines but would a person who did not have any military experience and not have an avation degree be considered by major airlines? Are there really pilots working at majors without an aviation degree and no military time? How many percent of new hires at majors are military pilots, Avation Degree graduate and a person who graduated from a part 61 or 141 flight school? Are aviation degrees needed if my goals are to the majors?

 

[jbud]

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?threadid=23394

 

[iflyhigh]

wanttoflyhawaii

There are alot of civilian pilots working for the majors that do not have degrees in aviation nor do they have military experience. I am one of them. I was an accountant for 8 years before getting into aviation. Unforunately, like many civilian and military guys, I am furloughed and almost had to use my backup plan.

Please do yourself a favor and get a degree outside aviation. Alot of college counselors will recommend this to you. It better for you to prepare yourself for the just in case situation that may come along in the future. You can't be a 100% sure that you will pass every medical in the future or that you will not be furloughed. Having a degree outside aviation could help you sometime in the future. Think of it as a security blanket, you hope you never have to use.

iflyhigh

 

[pilotyip]

Do not need 4 yr degree

Do you want to be a pilot or go to school. You do not need a 4 year degree to be successful in aviation. Teaching, Accounting, Engineering yes, but not aviation.

 

[SWA/FO]

Very few people get on a major without a degree of some sort. Most Military pilots have at least a 4 year degree. I'd would recommend getting your degree. It does not matter what you major in - just finish it.

Of course you can find a flying job without a degree but you will have more choices with one.

 

[banned username 2]

Of course you can find a flying job without a degree but you will have more choices with one.

EXACTLY...

An education never hurt anyone...

 

[GCD]

Aviation degrees are junk, not even worth the paper they are written on. Most military pilots don't even have aviation degrees.

Get something that is worth something. Let's say...engineering, for example.

 

[pilotyip]

Right On

A man after my own heart

 

[de727ups]

Degree

You won't be competitive for the best jobs in aviation unless you have a degree.

A degree in aviation is a waste of time unless you have absolutely no other interests.

You can be successful in aviation without a degree....it just depends on what you are shooting for as an end result.

 

[F-eagle]

I have a two year degree in aviation, I have recently decided to get my four year in something else, but I don't have any clue what kind of degree I should pursue. I would like a degree in something that can be useful to me if I get furloughed, or just want to make some extra cash while on reserve. The degree would have to be pursued online. Any ideas, PLEASE!!!!!! I am loosing my patience and feel that I am running out of time. Please help!!!!

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Don't know what you think about part time reserve or national guard work, but that could be pursued with civilian flying (your day job).

It used to be that the national guard would pay for tuition at a state college (as an enlisted troop) then offer you a position as an officer after school.

 

[matchthehatch]

Don't Do It

What did my 4 year aviation degree get me? In debt and furloughed. I've got two good buddies who were hired at the same regional as I and then we all went on to majors. We all had the same total time, turbine PIC, etc... I'm 10 years removed from college and still paying off the debt. My buddies, who went to non-aviation colleges (more chicks) did their flying at local FBO's for a fraction of the cost. Don't do it!!

 

[FMR_RGNL_PLT]

wanttoflyhi,

You are at a great time in your life whether you realize it or not! Aviation can be a great profession, but definitely obtain a 4 - year degree. Think about what you might really want to do if you couldn't fly......... then go for that degree, whether that be in engineering, meteorology, wildlife management, etc. The majors don't care what your degree is in just that you have one.

Stay out of trouble, stay healthy, work hard, and follow your gut. IF you do those things you'll be successful and happy no matter where you end up!

Good luck......................

 

[trybysky]

non aviation...

your goal is exactly what I am doing.... I just recieved my degree from a university in Physics and am currently instructing. I have no regrets and everyone I have talked to said that this was a smart choice. If all does go to hell in aviation, then I could "fall back" on something else...although I have no intention in doing so, it's nice to have that security blanket, ya know? Plus, to enroll in an aviation school is fairly expensive....two of my co-workers who have just comm. and cfi are $+90K in dept from all thier trianing, living and school, and they have degrees like airport management and whatnot...not real applicable degrees.... I was able to work on the side (part time of course) and I'm $15k down. Just food for thought. A bias view, but a view nevertheless.

Good luck in what you choose.

Ryan

 

[Habib]

Don't waste your time.

I got a 4 year in Aviation, and the only way I would do it again is if I thought that I could not pass any REAL degree. I learned more in High School than college, other than Bar Etiquette. I did not want to go to college but I did because everyone told me I NEEDED to, so I went for aviation, it was a joke. I would also think about building your time as fast as possible, get your time, turn 18, get out of high school, get a 135 freight job, and do the degree online while you build time, turn 23, get your ATP and have 3000 hours, get a REAL JOB, but when it comes down to it, you need that piece of paper.

Whatever you do don’t go to a flight school where you will owe 100K after 4 years, because you wont make anything for a while.

 

[pilotyip]

pilotyip?

You sound like pilotyip on the four year degree and an aviation career. According to 727UPS you will only able to get to a mid level aviation job, where you suffer throught life at 100K per year, oh well it is a rotten job, but someone has to do it.

 

[KnowledgeSeeker]

F-eagle,

I don't want to hijack this thread, but if you want some ideas (and opinions) on non aviation routes send me a PM.

 

[msw]

wanttoflyhawaii

Did you get the PM I sent you several days ago?

 

[PSL]

The short answer is no ... you don't need a 4 yr degee to work at SWA, but it helps put you in the majority. Some airlines have the 'catch all phrase' (4 year degree preferred from an accredited college/university).

My new hire class at SWA had the following demographics:

24 in class
Ages : 25 to 51
TT: 2025 - 14,000
Civil : 50% / Military: 30% / Civil/Military: 20%
5 had little (less than 100 hours) jet time
Civil : 3 FAR 91 (DA-50, LR-JET, GIV,V) / 3 FAR 135 Scheduled / 2 Unsched FAR 135 / Rest were FAR 121 Jet / Turboprop
Military : Almost perfectly split between single seat (and RIO capable A/C), transport (C-5,C-130,C-141) and heavy Bomber (B52), 1 Astronaut, 1 U2/SR-71 driver, 2 from the ATC (Air Training Command).

100% of the military guys had at least a Bachelor degree, 75 % of them had a masters (all over the map ... Mathematics, Physics, Electrical / Mechanical Engineering, Economics).

95% of the civilians had a Bachelors degree, 25 % had a masters degree, 1 had a Ph.D. (again ... degrees were all over the map ... Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems Management, Economics, Finance, Chemistry)

The military guys made up 80% of the first half of class (older group) ... most were retired 05s and 04s still serving in the reserves.

From my records we did not have an 'Aviation Science' major in our group. I don't know exactly what that degree entails but from my perspective I agree with a prior poster ... get a degree in something you can use God forbid something happens to you to disqualify you from flying.

So in a word or two ... pretty varied backgrounds. Our class meshed very well. We had little or no clique action going on. We studied, drank and had dinner together.

Sorry for the run on ... I was amazed I could find those records from class actually.

Best of luck ...

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

To paraphrase Bobbysamd from another thread:

GET A DEGREE!

It's not so important what it's in, just get a degree. Anyone who tells you different is either a fool or competing with you for a job.