Is a bachelors degree required to get a job as a comercail airline pilot?

Question

Im not talking about 20 years ago, but today would a pilot need a bachelors degree to be hired as an airline transport pilot at an airport.. assuming he had all other requirements..

Answer 1

Mark L, most commercial pilots do not come from the military. That was true 30 years ago, but not today.

There is no FAA requirement that you have a college degree, or even a high school diploma, to obtain an ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) certificate, which is what most airlines require. However, since the number of applicants is always more than the number of openings, they can afford to be selective, and will almost always want a degree. About the only thing that might replace a degree is extensive flight hours, especially in an aircraft type they for which they have a large need, but acquiring those hours in the first place would be difficult.

Answer 2

Yes and no. There is often no firm requirement that a pilot has a degree to be hired as a pilot. However, unless you come from a military background, you will need a degree to be competitive for a job.

The nature of the degree is often not important. Engineering is often an excellent degree choice, but any degree will do. This "requirement" is similar to the requirement that all police officers have a degree. In any position that lives of citizens are put at risk, the hiring company wants to know that the person entrusted has some qualities typical of graduates: critical thinking, time management, sound judgement, foresight, etc.

Answer 3

You will never live down not having a degree - there are too many highly qualified, skilled pilots with degrees - its just a big damn funnel . That is of course assumes you want to work with the majors - bush pilot in alaska or pilot instructing in poo-dunk - no one would care.

Answer 4

A pilot would have to come from the Military, any branch, being previously a pilot in the service.
A bachelors degree isn't worth 2 cents when it comes to flying a commercial airliner.

Answer 5

I am a working commercial Pilot and Flight instructor. In my experience the only bit of paper the really means anything to an air operator is the logbook hours and experience. Anything else is a bonus but at the end of the day in this industry it all about who you know.

Answer 6

most major US passenger and freight airlines expect a four year degree as a minimum requirement. exceptions are few these days. military drivers are sought after because they combine education (bachelor & masters degree common among military pilot community), top notch flite training, disciplined and by the book attitudes

Answer 7

For the Majors...its prefferd and highly recomended. For regonal airlines some college is mostly prefferd or a 2 year degree.

Answer 8

It's not a must but definitely a bonus.