Horizon Air is somthing else

[N1FuelFlow]

I heard a rumor the other day that the interview geniuses at Horizon will no longer hire pilots without a 4 year degree? I can see the major airlines being picky about a degree but HORIZON! They are a freaking regional with an upgrade of 7 years! I guess thats about how long it takes for their low time UND new hires to meet the ATP minimums. They will pass up quite a few experienced pilots with this new rule. Do any of the Horizon pilots on this board have any input? -Regards

 

[Southbound]

"Anyway good luck to Horizon and there UND private pilots."

In any college (not just UND) you will learn the proper use of common English words such as there, their and they're.
C'mon amigo. Post some GOOD rumors, this stuff is boring.

 

[N1FuelFlow]

Southbound, you must be a UND grad who can edit english papers but doesn't have clue in the flight deck.

 

[Str82theNumbers]

My buddy who is pretty high time compared to regional standards got turned down by them because he didn't have his degree. Methinks they like low timers with degrees so that when management comes knocking for concessions someday, they will be more apt to bend over and take it than someone with enough hours and contacts to say F- you and go somewhere else at the drop of a hat.

 

[N1FuelFlow]

My buddy who is pretty high time compared to regional standards got turned down by them because he didn't have his degree. Methinks they like low timers with degrees so that when management comes knocking for concessions someday, they will be more apt to bend over and take it than someone with enough hours to say F- you and go somewhere else.

Sounds right to me! Don't get me wrong a degree is a good thing to have but there is more to a person and their experience than just a degree.

 

[NWaviator]

I don't know if I fully agree with everything. Yes they have a direct hire with UND and CWU but I don't think that they are hiring people with ultra low time. A friend interviewed with them last week. He flys freight and said he was the must inexpirienced person there. The others that were furloughed 121 pilots. I have amost 1,100 total and 165 multi and they said that i shouldn't be getting an interview until I have1500-1700 total and over 500 multi. I also have a degree at CWU and did an internship. anyways, to get back to the whole degree thing, I think that if they have such a high demand of pilot applicants and they can get away with degrees only then they should do it. But they will be passing over a lot of great qualified applicants.
Respectfully yours.

 

[dkwid]

I don't know if I fully agree with everything. Yes they have a direct hire with UND and CWU but I don't think that they are hiring people with ultra low time. A friend interviewed with them last week. He flys freight and said he was the must inexpirienced person there. The others that were furloughed 121 pilots. I have amost 1,100 total and 165 multi and they said that i shouldn't be getting an interview until I have1500-1700 total and over 500 multi. I also have a degree at CWU and did an internship. anyways, to get back to the whole degree thing, I think that if they have such a high demand of pilot applicants and they can get away with degrees only then they should do it. But they will be passing over a lot of great qualified applicants.
Respectfully yours.

You are correct. And just to keep the flamers in check, the majority of recent new hires at Horizon have been higher time (as high as 6000+) and not too many UND's lately. To keep the facts in line also, The UND new hires are not straight from class.

 

[dkwid]

My buddy who is pretty high time compared to regional standards got turned down by them because he didn't have his degree. Methinks they like low timers with degrees so that when management comes knocking for concessions someday, they will be more apt to bend over and take it than someone with enough hours and contacts to say F- you and go somewhere else at the drop of a hat.

Horizon is a incredibly senior company. Is it you opinion that a handfull of new hires will persuade 600 pilots with between 5 and 25 years with the company to take wage and benifit cuts?

 

[N1FuelFlow]

You are correct. And just to keep the flamers in check, the majority of recent new hires at Horizon have been higher time (as high as 6000+) and not too many UND's lately. To keep the facts in line also, The UND new hires are not straight from class.

Will Horizon substitute experience for a college degree?

 

[Crash Pad]

Hey everyone says this industry is a race to the bottom. Horizon has raised the price of admission... If every regional did that there would be a shortage of pilots at the regional level. Pay would go up and unions would have more power. I'm 100% behind horizon and I don't even work for them.

 

[Hypoxik]

dang

I was pumped for getting close to their minimums! Guess I forgot that whole competitive minimums thing....

 

[JetSpeed219]

Just an FYI one of the CFI's I used to work with was just recently hired with a 2 year degree.......

 

[turbinesurgeon]

Will Horizon substitute experience for a college degree?

Yes they will

 

[RJDC]

All the Horizon rejects without degrees can apply to USA Jet and be making $100K a year.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I don't think it's such a bad idea.

 

[~~~^~~~]

It is their airline, they can require anything they want as long as it does not involve, race, sex, age, or religion.

The military also wants college degrees for their flight slots.

I think we need to hire nothing but law school graduates at our airline - so the new hires can help out the grievance committee and fight scheduling with more skill

 

[labbats]

All the Horizon rejects without degrees can apply to USA Jet and be making $100K a year.

yeah, no

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/charter/usa-jet-2005030694.htm

 

[Hawker800]

I have a Bachelors degree and 4000hrs. Age 55. Would I stand a chance at Horizon? The Q400 looks like fun.

 

[Klako]

"Anyway good luck to Horizon and there UND private pilots."

In any college (not just UND) you will learn the proper use of common English words such as there, their and they're.
C'mon amigo. Post some GOOD rumors, this stuff is boring.

I usta couldn't even spell aviator, but now I are one.

 

[Lebowski]

Hey everyone says this industry is a race to the bottom. Horizon has raised the price of admission... If every regional did that there would be a shortage of pilots at the regional level. Pay would go up and unions would have more power. I'm 100% behind horizon and I don't even work for them.

Well said.

 

[rightrudder]

I have a Bachelors degree and 4000hrs. Age 55. Would I stand a chance at Horizon? The Q400 looks like fun.

When I was hired there in 99, there was a guy in his mid-fifties in my class. I don't think your age will hurt you.

 

[ERJFO]

Bottom Line -

You should have to have a degree to work for an airline, even a regional... Like another poster said if this was a requirement less people would qualify and therefore our current "race to the bottom" would be running alot slower.

To the poster who said the lower time guys with degrees will bend over and take concessions, that statement is retarded... Why would they take concessions when they and their education are worth more?

There should be two payscales on for people with 4 year degrees, and one for people without.

 

[F9 Buff]

Yeah, when I decided I wanted to be a pilot, I was told that all airlines required a degree so I went and got a 4 year degree. Now it seems everyone is getting hired without a degree and some without ever even taking a single college class.

Good move by Horizon, I just hope others do the same.

 

[Windsor]

I think a degree of some sort should be required for our profession. Either a 2yr or 4yr i dont care, but theres got to be something. A degree raises the bar both inside and out of the cockpit.
A CP at a former job had zero college education and it showed. Our company manual (which he was in charge of) had serious spelling and grammatical errors in it. I would have been embarassed to put out company documentation with stuff like that on it.
As far as what Horizon and some of the other airlines are doing requiring a degree, I say good. You can have thousands of hours with lots of expierence, but flying isnt the only thing we do in life. Education is a good thing, its only going to help.

 

[Southbound]

Will Horizon substitute experience for a college degree?

OK, I'll bite. Bored.

Dear Mr/Miss N1FuelFlow,
To answer your questions. First of all, I understant this IS the internet and rumors are fun but the point of this forum is to answer questions about people who are trying to get a new job. To help pilots decide which company is right for them and to make informed decisions. I am SURE Horizon is not the right place for everyone. It is NOT the end all be all airline. It is better then some, worse than some and guys need to know the facts to make their (not there) decisions. We'll get to your decisions later.

I like to see people succeed. Good people anyway. I could give a rats ass what you think about me based on my internet profile or where I went to college (though I've never been to North Dakota) or how many ILS's you have flown during your years of Metro experience. Most of the senior guys at Horizon have more hard IFR Metro time than your (not you're) total time when you retire (if your stats are even real, maybe you just do this to escape your real life). I flew with many of these guys during my long tenure as an FO. They didn't brag about their experience when I was new because they are men. Men who don't measure themselves with hours in a logbook or degrees on papyrus. They just mentored when I needed it, let me screw up when I needed it and made me better. Many of them didn't/don't have a degree because they got hired at a time when it wasn't required. Many of these highly qualified pilots could've moved on to majors decades ago but they lacked one thing. A 4 year college degree. Some of them wanted to leave Horizon, so they got a degree and left. Some did not get a degree and stayed. Seems (not seams) pretty simple.
For the last 10 years companies like Horizon, Skywest, ASA, Air Wisconsin, Trans States, ExpressJet, Eagle, have all stated at one time or another "degree strongly desired". I imagine it is another way to shorten the stack of resumes.

SO, Mr/Miss N1 I know you are capable of learning because you were able to correct at least a few of your gramatical errors so I want to help you. If you want help that is.

IF you are asking if the degree requirement is intact at QX and you really want to get hired at Horizon I'd be glad to answer your questions OR
IF you ever want to stop flying your South American jet for South American wages and work for a major airline someday, just go to college and stop your petulant internet whining. You might learn a thing or two.

 

[Klako]

Before you apply for that pilot position at Horizon Air, seriously ask yourself if you want to eventually fly for a major airline. If a major airline is your goal and you do not already have a lot of turbine PIC, then do not apply at Horizon Air. By the time you can log enough turbine PIC time at Horizon Air to be competitive with the majors, you will be old and gray. The best route to the majors is getting that 4 year degree and flying for some outfit where it is possible to get lots of turbine PIC time as quickly as possible.

Horizon Air really is a great place to work and therefore most seem to consider Horizon as their career airline. Attrition is much lower that other regionals. A few do go to Alaska, but you must have very strong contacts there to even stand a chance for that. Horizon is now near the top of the pay scale for the regionals (pending contract up for negotiations this Sept.) and the working conditions are generally the best that you will find anywhere in a regional airline. The Pacific Northwest is a wonderful place to live and fly. The major down side to working for Horizon is that the up-grade to captain is now running about 6 years but that could change if the current rumors of growth play-out. I do believe, however, that Horizon will continue to be very conservative in its growth plans as it always has been.

 

[Corona]

Good post, Klako.

If the rumor is true, Horizon is requiring the degree because the applicant pool will allow it. (I.e. plenty of applicants anyway.) Nothing new there; nothing at all.

C

 

[michael707767]

Good post, Klako.

If the rumor is true, Horizon is requiring the degree because the applicant pool will allow it. (I.e. plenty of applicants anyway.) Nothing new there; nothing at all.

C

exactly right. as long as they have enough qualified applicants with a degree, they will require it.

 

[FreightPup]

Hey Southbound,
It's understand (not understant).

 

[MALSR]

I heard a rumor the other day that the interview geniuses at Horizon will no longer hire pilots without a 4 year degree? I can see the major airlines being picky about a degree but HORIZON! They are a freaking regional with an upgrade of 7 years! I guess thats about how long it takes for their low time UND new hires to meet the ATP minimums. They will pass up quite a few experienced pilots with this new rule. Do any of the Horizon pilots on this board have any input? -Regards

You have some more editing to do: “thats” needs an apostrophe in order to indicate the abbreviation of “that is.” Also, you used improper punctuation with the question mark in your first sentence.