Airline degree major flight school?

Question

I have heard that most airlines prefer that you have a Bachelor's Degree before applying for a position, but it does not have to be an aviation degree or aeronautical sciences.

I also saw on some websites that --**Preference will be given to college graduates with aviation degrees**.

http://www.piedmont-airlines.com/

Can someone explain if it is better to have an aviation degree or not? I have a business degree.

Answer 1

A business degree is fine.

An aviation degree is a scaled down business degree, replacing some business classes with aerodynamics, meteorology, safety, CRM, and flight training.

At this point, airlines are looking for any kind of degree.  Aviation, business, or any physical science are all strong choices - stronger than degrees like philosophy or history, but many airlines probably wouldn't differentiate between those either.

EDIT:  I checked out the job requirements in the link you provided.  Their advertised minimums are 300 hours total time, 50 hours multiengine time.  That's a pretty low requirement.  They will in fact give preference to aviation degrees because at that level of experience, an aviation degree at least means that they've had a very standardized level of training comparable to what the airlines will expect and that they will be better versed in CRM concepts than a business major with that level of flight experience.  It's still worth a try.  I would guess that their order of preference would be:

1) Lots of flight experience with an aviation degree

2) Lots of flight experience with any other degree

3) Cautiously consider lots of flight experience without a degree

4) Minimum flight experience with an aviation degree

5) Minimum flight experience with any other degree

6) Scraping bottom for people with no experience and no advanced education.

I think options 1 and 2 are almost on the same level... Option 3 depends on the quality of the flight experience - depending on the applicant, that scenario could be down to #5 on that hierarchy.

Answer 2

You're OK with the business degree.

Piedmont Airlines trains pilots under AQP (Advanced Qualification Program). They do not train pilots to a time or hours of experience level, but rather to a level of proficiency and compentency. Once you master a task, the instructor can move on in the lesson. Having any type of college degree shows that you can be taught, learn and finish your studies. An aviation degree simply means that someone might "catch on" quicker since they may be more familiar with a concept; especially for new pilots at the 300/50 level of flight experience.

You have a business degree. Great! Do you have the 300/50 hours required to apply? If not, get going! In the mean time, what you really need is a contact who works within the company as a pilot who can write a referral for you. That will get your paperwork moved to the top of the pile no matter what degree you have!

When I fly the Chief Pilot and HR Recruiter from HQ to the Training Center to do interviews, it amazes me about the stories they tell. Not once has the type of college degree ever been mentioned as a factor in deciding not to hire someone. More than likely it has been the quality of their 300 or so hours of flight time that has or has not given them the skills needed to suceed in the AQP program.

Answer 3

In addition to what coffebuzz said the reason many require a degree is to determine that first you are trainable(you are able to learn and follow a regiment) and two that you are able to complete something that you start out to do. That's part of the reason a degree is preferred. Different airlines require different qualifications, not one size fits all categories. Also if the airlines have plenty of applications or few positions open for pilots then they may require you have Space Shuttle experience to narrow the field. If there are plenty of openings and no applications coming in then naturally the requirements are lowered. Having a business degree you probably understand that. Simple supply and demand.