Jhooper From United States, joined Dec 2001, 6006 posts, RR: 15 Reply 2, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1066 times:
...it's still a very competitive process these days to get any kind of flying job, so anything you do (such as a college education) to set yourself apart from your competition will help. If flying 'low key' cargo in light twins is as far as you want to go, then a college degree really isn't absolutely necessary. Probably the single most important factor in getting a job is the quality of your networking. If you have contacts at a certain company who can walk your package into the chief pilot's office, you'll be golden.
Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.
Type-rated From United States, joined Sep 1999, 1886 posts, RR: 30 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1034 times:
In addition to the great comments made by Jhooper, you have to think about the future. Is this "all" you want to do? I'd bet after a few years of "low key" cargo flying, you'll be wanting to step up to more challenging opportunities where a degree would be required.
Remember, it doesn't matter what area your degree is in, but it's the fact that you have one!
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
2H4 From United States, joined Oct 2004, 7277 posts, RR: 54 Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1000 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW DATABASE EDITOR
Type-rated:
More challenging opportunities? You're much more knowlegable about this than I am, but I was under the impression that it doesn't get much more challenging than single-pilot IFR in a light twin...especially when wx is a factor.
1millionflyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 984 times:
This type of flying is not fun at all. My brother flew aerostars on the east coast a few years back and I used to wait for the phone call that he bit the dust almost every night.
He had gear collaspe, no radar most of the time, no auto-pilot and the best :complete electrical failure in icing conditions at night solid IFR.
This guy may want to do this now but I bet he changes his mind after one year of it.
In any event this type of flying and the next logical job, regional carriers do not absolutley require a degree. I certainly does help with the regionals though -BIG TIME
KAUST From United States, joined May 2008, 181 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 828 times:
Thanks for the input.
This is probably stretching it, but would Fed-Ex require a degree for flying the Feeder planes, such as the Caravan? (Assuming of course I would never want to advance beyond it.)
Thanks -
KAUST
Houston, this is Apollo 8; we are now in Lunar orbit.
Av8trxx From United States, joined Nov 2001, 654 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 812 times:
Fed Ex doesn't set the requirements for hiring into the 'feeder planes'. The carriers Fed Ex contracts to for feed does. You would have to check each of them out. For instance, Mountain Air Cargo does not list any educational requirements to apply for a job. However, all of those submitting their interview experiences via aviationinterviews.com have at least a 2 year degree. Same goes for cargo companies like Ameriflight & AirNet.
KAUSpilot From United States, joined Jan 2002, 1693 posts, RR: 34 Reply 9, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 810 times:
You don't need one for the regionals. I got on as an RJ FO without a degree (about 90 hrs of credit toward a bachelors). I'm planning on completing my degree through correspondence while I work.
I got bored with campus life after a couple of years and figured I'd try my hand at working full time while finishing school part time on the side. This was supposed to be my senior year, but I think I'll enjoy it more this way......
Av8trxx From United States, joined Nov 2001, 654 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 797 times:
"You don't need one for the regionals."
That is a misleading statement. While you may have gotten a lucky break the regional carriers usually require a two year, but prefer a 4 year, just to apply. Please name the carriers that don't require one as I am not aware of any.
KAUSpilot From United States, joined Jan 2002, 1693 posts, RR: 34 Reply 11, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 785 times:
American Eagle, Expressjet, Commutair, and ACA to name a few. As to the original question of cargo operators, a degree isn't a "must have" for them either. Airnet, Ameriflight, etc will definitely take you w/o a 4 yr degree.
In my class of 31 newhires for the RJ, I'd say about 75-80% of us had a 4 year degree. There were 2 other guys besides my self who were too young to have finished and a few older guys who just never went or dropped out.
The whole "college atmosphere" is great for some people, but I didn't get a whole lot out of it. The bottom line is that you need to earn a 4 yr degree to at some point, but it doesn't necessarily have to come before your first 121/135 job.
ZKSUJ From New Zealand, joined May 2004, 6430 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 708 times:
KAUSpilot-If you do not have a degree, what are the requirements for getting into a regional in the USA? I would imagine that you need a certain amount of hours, how many and what else is required?
777STL From United States, joined Dec 2004, 2044 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 661 times:
Minimums really all hinge on the airline and the circumstances. If you're in good with someone in HR at certain airlines they could be as low as 500 hrs. Getting hired at an airline is certainly as much networking and who you know as it is your credentials.
KDTWFlyer From United States, joined Jun 2004, 684 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 583 times:
I wonder if we will ever see the day when careerists state that a bachelors degree is no longer sufficient and one should really consider pursuing a masters or Ph.D. Grrrr. maybe im just having a misanthropic moment lol. What will following generations have to do or achieve to be competitive?
KAUSpilot From United States, joined Jan 2002, 1693 posts, RR: 34 Reply 16, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 514 times:
KAUSpilot-If you do not have a degree, what are the requirements for getting into a regional in the USA? I would imagine that you need a certain amount of hours, how many and what else is required?
It varies from airline to airline, also depending on the job climate. I timed it just right and got in with 850 hrs total flight time, 150 of that multi engine, and no jet or turboprop experience. I had no "friends" inside of the company who hired me; my only letter of reccomendation was from a former co-worker of mine who is completely unaffiliated.
The lowest I've seen the minimums for a 121 carrier are 600 hrs total and 100 hrs multi engine flight time, although with connections you can get in with less.
A high school diploma is the minimum education wise. 4 year degrees are obviously preferred but not required. A masters or doctorate probably doesn't open up many more doors than a bachelors when it comes to pilot jobs, but again, they probably won't hurt either.
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