So what about college?

[152-for-life]

Hi. This is my first thread on this sight, I just signed up. I am 23, living in Dallas. I currently have 700 or so hours, free-lance instructing. I have no college... I have not had the time the last four years for a number of reasons. I want to go to the regionals when I have their minimums, but I dont know where they stand on not having a degree completed. I have been told different things, and was hoping I could get some advice on what I should be doing with myself. Should I enroll in school (now that I have the time) and just build time the next 4 years!?, or will they eventually hire me and allow me to finish college while flying right seat? Or should I go to school and try doing part time charter flying or something when I have 135 min.'s? Please help...

 

[MarineGrunt]

Most regionals do not require a degree, but it helps. Check out: www.pilotjobs.com

 

[C425Driver]

152,

MarineGrunt is right - most regionals don't require a degree but it helps. Before you expend too much effort on going to the airlines you should do a lot of research on the quality of life issues at the airlines - It's not what it used to be. And I'm not just talking about regionals - it's industrywide. Do a search around these boards and talk to as many airline pilots as you can and try to get an objective picture of what's really going on out there.

Good luck to you.

C425Driver

 

[mar]

Take the long view

Let's put it like this:

--Airline hiring (for all practical extents and purposes) has essentially stopped. Therefore, you're not missing anything right now.

--You're young and I assume single with no kids or a house. That means no anchors.

--You say you have the time to attend college.

--Education is always an asset.

My advice: Go to college now before 1) The airlines begin to recover and start hiring again 2) You get married and have other financial committments and 3) Before you accrue seniority, start making a little money, get lazy and lose the ambition.

Good luck.

 

[152-for-life]

Thanks for your advice,

You seem to have been around long enough to know the ropes, my education must come first of course (I am single and do not own a home). I would just love to be flying a turbine while I go to school tho... or at least something with two props and no student. I hope. -blue skies

 

[mar]

The *longer* view

I would just love to be flying a turbine while I go to school tho... or at least something with two props and no student. I hope. -blue skies

Listen my friend. I know what it's like to want something really bad and yet be continually smacked down and denied.

I'm single too. But that's not what I'm talking about.

You're new here (and new to the industry) so maybe you haven't been reading all of the complaining going on.

College will take you four years...and then you have the rest of your life to fly multi-engine turbines and here's the kicker: You'll fly so much you'll be bored to death and sick of it.

Enjoy college now while you're young, there's plenty of time to sit behind the yoke and grow hemmorhoids.

Tailwinds (to cool the burn).

 

[Guitar rocker]

Hi. . Should I enroll in school (now that I have the time) and just build time the next 4 years!?, or will they eventually hire me and allow me to finish college while flying right seat? Or should I go to school and try doing part time charter flying or something when I have 135 min.'s? Please help...

Go to school dude. You can still fly while your going through school.either flight instructing or even doing some part time 135 flying here and there. Your a lot better off going to school, get a degree in something other than just aviation so you have something to fall back on when the bad times hit. As you very well know, this industry is not without furloughs, bankruptcies and so on, and a degree in something else is always good.

 

[152-for-life]

Thanks for your advice. Sometimes I just stress myself out trying to look down the road into the future and wanting to know exactly how everything will turn out in life.... when all I really need to do is to just keep on flying what I am flying and stop spinning my wheels over the future and school- just get r' done.

 

[pilotyip]

Fly full time, built time, get a jump on the future hiring by having a better resume. Do not worry about QOL or pay just yet. If one of those 600TT 100ME regionals would hire you it would be the right move, go for it. Do your college on the side. A college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane. Hey guys he asked for advice what am I suppose to do ignore him?

 

[MarineGrunt]

Oh yeah........ DON'T get a degree in aviation. I was stupid enough to do that.

Hopefully I can keep my house....

 

[Bankangle]

I agree with YIP..If you can or do get picked up by a regional..take it. Then get your degree on the side. You will have plenty of time to get the degree before you will be ready and competitive for the next step.

However will you be disciplined enought to fly you butt off and do online courses? Its hard to believe but at 23yrs old another 4yrs is nothing.

#1 rule the enable you to succeed right now....DO NOT GET MARRIED OR HAVE KIDS...RIGHT NOW.

If you do you have a slim to none chance of getting your degree. I feel I have succeed pretty well in this business, but it is disappointing to know that their are some places I cant even apply with out a degree...know matter what your quals.

good luck

 

[viper548]

You could get on with a regional, then get your degree while you work. I got my degree done while activated for the Iraq war and was probably easier than if I had been home all the time. Working for a regional, you'll spend plenty of time in hotel rooms or the crew lounge at the airport where you could be working on homework. I got mine done online at Utah Valley State college http://www.uvsc.edu
or http://www.aviationuniversity.com
Getting a non-aviation degree is a better idea, but the UVSC degree is as painless as it will get if you plan on flying for a living.

 

[pilotyip]

Wow! support for the "If you want to be a pilot fly airplanes, do your degree on the side" The absence of a degree will not effect your career much in the earlier stages. According to Air Inc only 5 of the 177 airlines hiring make the degree a showstopper. I would recommend a degree in business, you can use the information you learn in managing your finances.

 

[MICK]

Getting your degree on the side would be pretty tough though. At the regionals and the majors for that matter your schedule is different every month. Trying to get the same day off for that Statics 101 class might be hard to do. As a CFI you have more flexibility. Plus the industry is in the dumps right now. I was in the same boat you are now back in the late 80's and early 90's. Believe me, there will be plenty of opportunities!! Go to school and get a degree in something you like (NOT AVIATION) and have fun!!

Just my .02

Mick

 

[mar]

This is like the Pitch vs. Power debate.

Don't bother with the degree if you're just trying to check a box.

But go to college for an education (and the all the chicks).

Sorry to say, there ain't many chicks in aviation.

Go to college. Have fun. You have the rest of your life to work.

 

[Guitar rocker]

Sorry to say, there ain't many chicks in aviation.

Go to college. Have fun. You have the rest of your life to work.

And the ones that are all have fat a$$es as they graze on that first class food at UAL for example.

 

[152-for-life]

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom, I cant tell you all how excited I am that I found this sight. I wish I knew about it years ago. Thank you all for your time to respond. Happy Turkey day everyone.

 

[Junkflyer]

Get the degree while you're still young. I'm 42 with no degree flying a big freighter and my options are now pretty limited. Fed Ex would be the place to work if I had a choice. Most of the better airlines make it a requirement or at least "preferred" in their mins.

 

[Alin10123]

Getting your degree on the side would be pretty tough though. At the regionals and the majors for that matter your schedule is different every month. Trying to get the same day off for that Statics 101 class might be hard to do. As a CFI you have more flexibility. Plus the industry is in the dumps right now. I was in the same boat you are now back in the late 80's and early 90's. Believe me, there will be plenty of opportunities!! Go to school and get a degree in something you like (NOT AVIATION) and have fun!!

Just my .02

Mick

the UVSC courses for aviation allow you to do everything online and at your own pace. It was specifically designed for pilots. I dont work for them, but it's just what i plan on doing in the future. Finishing up my training, doing some instructing, and hopefully getting a job with the regionals and getting my 4 year degree at the same time.

I think the website is

www.UVSCaviation.com

 

[Flystr8]

College reply

Lets put it this way guys. I know instructors I work with that have thousands of hours and have a difficult time getting on with an airline or regional. Then I know pilots who have college degrees and get hired on with 600 and 100. College degrees are not reqiured by most airlines but think about it. If you have no degree and go to the same interview as someone who has a degree, what do you think the outcome will be?? I personally recieved my education from Embry-Riddle and wouldn't trade it for 8,000 hrs. in any airplane. GET YOUR DEGREE. ANY AIRLINE OR REGIONAL OR CORPORATE DEPARTMENT PREFERS IT!