The Road to Becoming An Airline Pilot

I want to know if it would be a okay if I skipped out on college and head straight for flight training. I know for a fact that there are some airline pilots out there who do not possess any degree and yet they fly multi-million dollar jets. I'm afraid if I do attend college first then I might have to pull out a student loan. Flight training is expensive as it is. It doesn't help at all being in debt.
After obtaining my PPL, IR, CPL, MER, ATP and maybe CFI I could build up my hours instructing, transporting skydivers, etc. Then I could fly for a foreign airline and be based either in a foreign country or in the states. My first choice would be to transport cargo rather than passengers. It'll be a long and arduous journey to get to the airlines, this I know. So I don't mind working full-time or multiple part time jobs to pay for flying lessons and working my way up. I rather train at a local FBO than one of those fancy, extremely expensive academies. Any help would be greatly appreciated

NOPE. Get the degree. You'll need it when1) the economy heads to the crapper and your airline kicks you to the curb, 2) you want to get hired at any major airline (UPS and FEDEX especially). I got my degree and started flight training my last year in college. After I graduated, I found a job in my degree field that has allowed me to make enough money to do my INST, CSEL, and CFI debt-free. Also, I'll have experience in a professional field and a fallback career "just in case." BTW, I took out the maximum amount of Federal Stafford loans to pay for my degree and I'm doing fine.

under colligiate aviation (ie in the forums), there is one post titled 'your thoughts please..'. It might help if you read it.

and there are alot more with them... Do you want to be on the lower half of the spectrum or the top half when you go for a job? Nothing like marking no advance degree on that app. at that major airline, while everyone else competing with you is a military academy grad, or has a bachelor degree and/or master degree from a college. Then again with the current trend of parking planes you'll be even more competitive against all those high-time+degreed pilot competing for that job<sarcasm>...

Thanks jawright, mike777, and 3green for your advice. This is motivating and encouraging for me and it gives me even more hope to succeed in this industry. I'm gonna give college a shot. What if I majored in aeronautical or aerospace engineering? I noticed that a lot of people advising future pilots to stay away from aviation degrees. Why is that? Are any of you current or former pilots? If so what was it like? I just enjoy hearing and reading about stories of people in aviation.

Just in case you become a 'former pilot' down the road Best to be diversified in your background and training.

I'm a current 121 FO, but maybe soon to be furloughed FO. With that in mind, I didn't major in aviation and happy I didn't. Diversity will allow you to bail to another field if you fail your medical, bust a ride or get furloughed. Just a thought, why major in something the industry doesn't require? If they'll take any degree get one in something that will help you put food on the table and a roof over your head. But some people get motivation from getting an aviation degree so they get one, whatever it takes for you to get it done!

My undergrad is from ERAU (pro aero) and I can tell you that it is a worthless degree. The only exception...I can check the box that says "BS". I am in the process of getting my master's in a whole 'nother field that I can use in case aviation doesn't work out for whatever reason. Furloughs, medical issues, family issues, there are lots of reasons people have been forced out of aviation. At least consider a degree in another field. The airlines will not care what your degree is in.

I know what you mean by worthless degree however in today’s business world just having a BS opens a lot of doors that would otherwise be closed. I currently work for a company (non-aviation) that doesn't care what your degree is in just that you have one. It shows that the employee has the ability to learn. So yes an aviation degree might not seem relative however it might just open a door to something else you never even thought of. Most importantly do something you enjoy and better yet love.

So what if I pursued an online degree? Would I still get a chance at the airlines with a non-traditional degree? I've heard UVSC(utah valley state college) is pretty popular with their online program.

UVSC is now an accredited university I believe it is now UVU the name change should happen any time now. Why would an online degree be viewed any differently? I don't believe you have to disclose how you got it. Do you?

I'd get a degree in something regardless of whether it's worthless or not.
Aviation degree also doesn't mean that all you can do with it is fly the airplanes. There are plenty of jobs that are related to aviation where the degree can come handy. There are plenty of jobs where the degree in anything is more desirable than nothing...so...there's nothing wrong in getting ANY degree.

Okay so a degree is a degree whether it is online or not, great! haha. I just hope they have a system where you pay as you go for your college credits/units. In addition to UVSC aka UVU, I've been also thinking about University of Phoenix and Devry University. Has anyone obtain an online degree and how did it go for you? What is your rating in the navy skidz if you don't mind me asking?

Try this site my friend. Alot of great info here! Go the the forums.

www.online.degree.net

Thanks for the link learflyer. I appreciate it.

This is my opinion. Take it for what it is worth.

Online degrees are for losers. Maybe they're okay for an older person, one juggling a job, kids, etc. but otherwise they're for losers. Go to an actual college. Meet people. Network. Do some crazy, stupid things that you'll always remember. Have professors that will shape your way of thinking. Take some stupid electives, you'll find something that you really dig. Work on your flight training on the side, then you'll be the person that can take people that you find attractive up for airplane rides.

I wouldn't have missed college for the world.

How about someone juggling....um....3 jobs???

Sorry to offend you Junior, but some of us had to pay for our own flight training back in our early 20's. Mommy and Daddy didn't pay for it. I went to two yrs of college, started flying, acquired several thousand hours, and now I'm looking to finish my degree. What's wrong with flying first, college second?

ppilot - While your post has some good points about the advantages of choosing that path, calling folks 'losers' is most certainly not the way to go about it.

Everyone has different life situations and if they choose/need to get a degree via a non-traditional method so be it. Do not judge them for working hard and still getting it done. Get a clue man.

Umm, you can drop the 'Junior' business. And I don't have a 'Mommy and Daddy'; I paid for every penny of college and flight training out of my own pocket, working hard and paying as I went along.

Maybe 'loser' is a harsh word, but I think it's true (and I did say it was my opinion.) There is no circumstance I can think of other than maybe a very severe physical disability or running a family business north of the arctic circle that would make an online degree worth it for a young person.