4-Year Degree vs. Career Background

Mellotron · November 29th, 2005, 23:04

What a great forum! I have been wanting to be a professional pilot all my life and at 33 I am ready to get started.
My question is related to the requirement of a 4-year degree. Let's say I wanted to apply for an opening for SWA and I had all the necessary ratings and flight experiences. But I was lacking the 4-year degree. I graduated high school in 90 while in the National Guard, then got an Associates at DeVry in Electronics after spending 2 years in business courses before that. Form 1994 to 2003 I worked for Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems (then name changed to SBC then Cingular) in Dallas, TX starting as a cell tech moving up through the ranks as Site Design Engineer and RF Engineer. These titles were earned through my accomplishments. Starting in 1999 I started a small business and was able to quit my "Telecom" job to go full time with my Synthetic Lubricants business in 2003 and today I have grown it into a $120,000 year income as well as the top 20 in sales nationally for our supply company, not to mention a mentor for 166 other dealers in my business and 50 commercial accounts. I can now afford to pursue a career in Aviation and will still have a decent residual income if I work my lubricants part time. I would be starting from ZERO experience of flying time.

Would those accomplishments override any 4-year college degree? I would think that the extra time spent earning experience with regional carriers would be more worth the time than going back to school taking classes on non related courses. I could probably instruct some of those classes anyway...

Dallas is a great place for Prof. Pilot training. There is ATP and I particularly like this community college here who offers a 2-year program which seems fill the gap. Other options if you absolutely must have the 4-year BA would be (Since my goal is to move back to my home state of Nebraska eventually) to go to the full 4-year U. of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation School or the Kansas State College of Aviation which offers a complete 4-year program for about $40,000 (non-resident is $90,000) and even advertises that SW Airlines scouts out there. So doing something like that I could perhaps test out of many of speech or other nonsense courses if I took them first at the CC in Dallas.

Any ideas? Is there any Airline pilots who convinced their employers while lacking the traditional 4-year education to bring them not only because of a excellent resume of flight requirements but because of their success in the business and technology world? Afterall, several CEO of those companies never had any college at all.

DE727UPS · November 29th, 2005, 23:29

"Would those accomplishments override any 4-year college degree"

No

"and even advertises that SW Airlines scouts out there"

Look...SWA doesn't need to "scout out" for pilot jobs. They have a one month window a year where they accept applications from qualified pilots. Qualifed means 1000 PIC turbine, a 737 type rating, and an in-house recommendation. Why would they need to be scouting at a university? This is a very competitive enviornment.

You sound like a very successful guy, I'm sure way smarter than me. I take it that you can somewhat "retire" from your current business and still have a decent income. My advice to you is to buy a nice 172, find a free lance CFI, and work hard and fast up through your CFI. Then, buy a Dutchess (everyone knows Beeches are better than Pipers), and do ME instruction in it to get your multi time up. You won't have any problem getting a regional job these days with some decent multi time. Work at the regional job and hope for the best like everyone else. There are no shortcuts in this biz. Having money will make it easy for you to get your ratings quick and get you in the job market, but I don't see your successful business background helping you get a good major job...it just doesn't work that way.

Have you thought about corporate? I'd think a guy with your sales savey would be a good fit for corporate aviation. Get to fly a high tech cool jet (seriously, much more high tech than my 757) part time and do the sales thing part time. Probably make as much as a Southwest pilot. You don't need a degree for corporate and I'd think business aviation would look on your successful sales background as a major asset unlike the airlines....they could really care less. Your just a number on the seniority list to them.

"Afterall, several CEO of those companies never had any college at all"

I wonder if that's why airline management is so clueless.....

Mellotron · November 30th, 2005, 01:37

Thanks DE for the quick answer. That was what I was looking for. Sorry for the wrong choice of words "scout". I think what it said was several students were sucessful with SWA as SW regards K-State highly.

I have thought about corporate work, but as I am just exploring I haven't sat down yet to talk to anyone about it. I will definately take to heart what you said though. Not sure what my end goal is just yet but I was hoping to use my past as a means to get in the door.
That's all a long way off so we'll just take it as it comes then.

Yes, I'd think the best pilot job is working somewhere where you can relate better to the upper mngt and know youre more useful to the biz. Also constant change and adapting to change is something I am used to. I could definately take advantage of any destination from my home base for sales work. Does a corp. pilot in general spend more time out on turnarounds? I would think so as major airlines have fixed schedules.

Perhaps if I owned my own 172, that would provide the means for my wife to become involved as well but that won't be possible for at least 2-years. Speaking of which, I was just in Wichita and too bad they (Cessna) don't let anyone in for tours..

DE727UPS · November 30th, 2005, 02:58

"Does a corp. pilot in general spend more time out on turnarounds? I would think so as major airlines have fixed schedules"

I think you are asking about overnights, corporate vs airline. I don't think corporate would be any worse than a junior schedule at an airline and probably a lot better. Figure only being home 12 days a month at an airline, unless you bid reserve and are lucky. With seniority, it gets better. Look at Ophir, he went six weeks without flying on reserve at Skywest. So, it's really hard to say. Corporate? Not really my area of expertise but I think corporate guys are home more than airline guys, as a general rule.

November 29th, 2005, 23:04	#1
Mellotron Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4	4-Year Degree vs. Career Background What a great forum! I have been wanting to be a professional pilot all my life and at 33 I am ready to get started. My question is related to the requirement of a 4-year degree. Let's say I wanted to apply for an opening for SWA and I had all the necessary ratings and flight experiences. But I was lacking the 4-year degree. I graduated high school in 90 while in the National Guard, then got an Associates at DeVry in Electronics after spending 2 years in business courses before that. Form 1994 to 2003 I worked for Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems (then name changed to SBC then Cingular) in Dallas, TX starting as a cell tech moving up through the ranks as Site Design Engineer and RF Engineer. These titles were earned through my accomplishments. Starting in 1999 I started a small business and was able to quit my "Telecom" job to go full time with my Synthetic Lubricants business in 2003 and today I have grown it into a $120,000 year income as well as the top 20 in sales nationally for our supply company, not to mention a mentor for 166 other dealers in my business and 50 commercial accounts. I can now afford to pursue a career in Aviation and will still have a decent residual income if I work my lubricants part time. I would be starting from ZERO experience of flying time. Would those accomplishments override any 4-year college degree? I would think that the extra time spent earning experience with regional carriers would be more worth the time than going back to school taking classes on non related courses. I could probably instruct some of those classes anyway... Dallas is a great place for Prof. Pilot training. There is ATP and I particularly like this community college here who offers a 2-year program which seems fill the gap. Other options if you absolutely must have the 4-year BA would be (Since my goal is to move back to my home state of Nebraska eventually) to go to the full 4-year U. of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation School or the Kansas State College of Aviation which offers a complete 4-year program for about $40,000 (non-resident is $90,000) and even advertises that SW Airlines scouts out there. So doing something like that I could perhaps test out of many of speech or other nonsense courses if I took them first at the CC in Dallas. Any ideas? Is there any Airline pilots who convinced their employers while lacking the traditional 4-year education to bring them not only because of a excellent resume of flight requirements but because of their success in the business and technology world? Afterall, several CEO of those companies never had any college at all.

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November 29th, 2005, 23:29	#2
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,635	"Would those accomplishments override any 4-year college degree" No "and even advertises that SW Airlines scouts out there" Look...SWA doesn't need to "scout out" for pilot jobs. They have a one month window a year where they accept applications from qualified pilots. Qualifed means 1000 PIC turbine, a 737 type rating, and an in-house recommendation. Why would they need to be scouting at a university? This is a very competitive enviornment. You sound like a very successful guy, I'm sure way smarter than me. I take it that you can somewhat "retire" from your current business and still have a decent income. My advice to you is to buy a nice 172, find a free lance CFI, and work hard and fast up through your CFI. Then, buy a Dutchess (everyone knows Beeches are better than Pipers), and do ME instruction in it to get your multi time up. You won't have any problem getting a regional job these days with some decent multi time. Work at the regional job and hope for the best like everyone else. There are no shortcuts in this biz. Having money will make it easy for you to get your ratings quick and get you in the job market, but I don't see your successful business background helping you get a good major job...it just doesn't work that way. Have you thought about corporate? I'd think a guy with your sales savey would be a good fit for corporate aviation. Get to fly a high tech cool jet (seriously, much more high tech than my 757) part time and do the sales thing part time. Probably make as much as a Southwest pilot. You don't need a degree for corporate and I'd think business aviation would look on your successful sales background as a major asset unlike the airlines....they could really care less. Your just a number on the seniority list to them. "Afterall, several CEO of those companies never had any college at all" I wonder if that's why airline management is so clueless.....

November 30th, 2005, 01:37	#3
Mellotron Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4	Thanks DE for the quick answer. That was what I was looking for. Sorry for the wrong choice of words "scout". I think what it said was several students were sucessful with SWA as SW regards K-State highly. I have thought about corporate work, but as I am just exploring I haven't sat down yet to talk to anyone about it. I will definately take to heart what you said though. Not sure what my end goal is just yet but I was hoping to use my past as a means to get in the door. That's all a long way off so we'll just take it as it comes then. Yes, I'd think the best pilot job is working somewhere where you can relate better to the upper mngt and know youre more useful to the biz. Also constant change and adapting to change is something I am used to. I could definately take advantage of any destination from my home base for sales work. Does a corp. pilot in general spend more time out on turnarounds? I would think so as major airlines have fixed schedules. Perhaps if I owned my own 172, that would provide the means for my wife to become involved as well but that won't be possible for at least 2-years. Speaking of which, I was just in Wichita and too bad they (Cessna) don't let anyone in for tours..

November 30th, 2005, 02:58	#4
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,635	"Does a corp. pilot in general spend more time out on turnarounds? I would think so as major airlines have fixed schedules" I think you are asking about overnights, corporate vs airline. I don't think corporate would be any worse than a junior schedule at an airline and probably a lot better. Figure only being home 12 days a month at an airline, unless you bid reserve and are lucky. With seniority, it gets better. Look at Ophir, he went six weeks without flying on reserve at Skywest. So, it's really hard to say. Corporate? Not really my area of expertise but I think corporate guys are home more than airline guys, as a general rule.