To Be or Not to Be

[NewWings]

Hi Folks
I have been researching and wondering if this is the perfect time to make a career change. Unfortunately. I may to have to sit in my cell for the rest of my life. I am in my early 30 something. Am I wondering if it too late to become a pilot from scratch. I have my associate degree. And trying to get my BS in Mechanical Engineering and probably face more stress working atmosphere .
Let hear it folksss
Thankssss

 

[bobbysamd]

Career change

Better do it now or hold your peace (apologies to the wedding ceremony).

You do need a four-year degree in something to amount to anything.


Read some of my other posts. I had my four-year degree already and tried to change careers several years ago when I was in my mid-thirties. I didn't go far during times that are extremely similar to now.


Youth is on your side - but, again, you need to get going. If you can train and build some hours during these slow times and land something that will put quality hours (i.e. turbine PIC) in your logbook, you might have a chance with the commuters after they absorb their furloughees - which might take a few years, so be patient. Specifically, if you can accomplish the above in five years, times might have improved and you won't be too old at all for the regionals. The majors will be tough because you will be competing with regional pilots who've stayed put and gotten a head start on you, displaced pilots from the majors, military pilots, who always go to the front of the majors' hiring line, and others.

You don't have to fly with the majors to enjoy success. There are some good commuter airlines that pay well and offer a decent career. There are great corporate opportunities. Flying for a major freight carrier, such as UPS or FedEx, is a great job that offers excellent benefits - if you can handle working at night.

Hope that helps a little. Good luck with your training.

 

[Dep676]

Re: Career change

You do need a four-year degree in something to amount to anything.

Bobbysamd

So you are saying that people without a 4 year degree won't amount to anything. That's a nice thing to say. I guess me and all the others here that have 2 year degree's or no degree's are nothings? Well you can take your 4 year degree and wipe your a$$ with it. I see it got you a good flying career. I always thought you had some pretty good insight and advice to add. With a comment like that I tend to think different now.

 

[bobbysamd]

College

Sorry you took it that way. What I should have said, maybe, is you really need a four-year degree to get to the majors.

Take a look at how the majors hire. They place a premium on people with four-year degrees - for whatever reason. That's not to say that you can't get hired at the majors without the degree, but, if you look at most of the new-hires, most have the degree, or more. I recall reading the "Congratulations, FAPA pilots" column in Career Pilot magazine years ago. Very few pilots were hired at the majors with less than a four-year degree. That was more than ten years ago.
Also, why do so many people here ask about the best way to finish the degree? Through distance learning? We have so many questions about which college to attend, or in which distance learning program to enroll. Apparently someone here must be concerned about needing a four-year degree to get hired or else we wouldn't have all these discussions.

Why place yourself at a disadvantage with all the competition out there? That's what I'm driving at. That was my point. Sorry you took it the way you did and sorry if I wasn't clear.

PS-No, I didn't achieve my career goals. But, my degree helped get me my first aviation job. ERAU required at least a four-year degree for flight instructors during those years. It probably helped me get my MAPD job, which included teaching ground school at San Juan Juco. My degree also helped me very much after aviation. And, if you lose your medical or certificates, you, too, may have an "after avation."

 

[bigr]

I'll second what bobby said

back in the 80's when i was at AA's flight academy, I was told that less than 5% of their pilots were hired without college degrees. and these pilots were from "a different era".

the military was the same way. up thru the 50's you could be a pilot without a degree. that changed. chuck yeager was one the best test pilots of his era. he wasn't even considered for the Apollo project because of his lack of academic credentials. many of his students at the Edwards Air Force Base Test pilot school, went on to walk on the moon.

don't butt your head up against a wall and find out too late they won't invite you to the dance. the regionals will probably start only accepting people with degrees as well. why? because they can.

 

[katanabob]

... Unfortunately. I may to have to sit in my cell for the rest of my life...

Prison probably isn't very conductive to flight training. What are you in for?

 

[Flymach2]

Hi...

katanabob,

I was wondering the same thing...lol

Regards

 

[de727ups]

Dep676

What bobbysamd was trying to say...and he pointed out in his second post....was that your odds of making the big time in this industry without a four year degree are slim to none. My defination of "big time" is well over six figures and at least 50% of the month off.

I don't know of anyone at this forum who LESS deserves to have his sh*t jumped into than bobbysamd....he give great advice and takes the time to answer a lot of posts. I only occasionally disagree with him....which makes him pretty smart...hehe.

If you think a four year degree is worth nothing more than wiping your ass with....then you'll always be a small time player in this business, especially with the demeanor you display....

 

[Typhoon1244]

Re: Re: Career change

Originally posted by Dep676
I guess me and all the others here that have 2 year degree's or no degree's are nothings?

Yeah, pretty much.

By the way, you should have spelled out the word "two" in that sentence, and the apostrophes after "degree" are superfluous.

See how much having a four-year degree has helped me?

(Dep, before you pull that thing out of its holster, I'm just kidding!!)

 

[Dep676]

I doesn't matter what degree I have. I will never be a english scholar. I agree that you need a 4-year degree to get the major airlines. The way it's going right now there aren't going to be any jobs at the majors for a long time. That is if they even survive long enough to start hiring again. That is what he (bobbysamd) should have said then. Just becareful how you post your thoughts. As far as hitting it big time. I have 50% of the month off right now. I don't make six figures and don't care if I ever do. I do however make enough to get what I want and then some. I have a backup plan if I lose my medical and it doesn't require me to have a 4-year degree.

 

[bobbysamd]

Thanks, de727ups.

 

[Dep676]

Hey I apologize to bobbysamd for jumping your back. You were just trying to give the guy some advice. I just hate it when people downgrade others because they don't have a 4-year degree. I know plenty of people with 4- year degrees plus extra schooling that aren't working or making big bucks. So it does make you more competitive it doesn't guarantee anything expect a student loan payment. Not everybody wants the airline gig and get a pretty good job and make decent money without. It's all in what people want to fly. I know a lot of guys making six figures or more flying and have great schedules. None of them have any degrees or just 2-year degrees. Again sorry you contribute a lot of useful info to this board. Keep it up. Truse!!!!!!!!!

 

[bobbysamd]

No problem, my friend. Thanks for your comment.

And, you're right about the airlines. So many people believe that airlines are the top gig. They don blinders and refuse to listen when alternatives are suggested that may be just as satisfying and easier to attain. I believe we can thank Kit Darby and his purported pilot shortage in part for that.

Pilots make so many life-altering decisions on the basis of rumors and incomplete information. I'm sure that most of us opine because we just want to help others and avoid mistakes we made.