Becoming a commercial pilot!?

Question

i am considering to become an airline pilot one day. There are many requirements, and one of them is the education. Some airlines require you to go to 4 years of college.

Does this mean that i can take any course, even a course that doesn't apply to aviation,(example: management)?

Also, will becoming an airline pilot mean that i will spend a lot of time from my family and home?

Thanks very much for the help!!!!

Answer 1

A degree in anything directly related to aviation is a waste of 4 years of your life.  Go to your local state school and get it in something completely unrelated, that you also like doing.  Many people with the dream to fly either don't make it or realize that the dream is not all that it's cracked up to be.  For them, a degree in "Aviation Management" or "Aviation Science" is now worthless.  A different degree will also help when you get furloughed (it will happen).

Yes, you will spend a lot of time away from your family.  I used to spend about 50% of my time away from home and that was when I was living in the city that I was based in.  When I was a commuter (i.e. live in a different city and fly to work), it was much worse than that.  There were times when I would be on a 4-day trip and after getting home, I would only have about 12 hours before the start of the next trip, due to commuting issues.  

Being an airline pilot can be the best job in the world and the worst job in the world, depending on you and your spouse.  Count on never being home on the weekends or holidays for many years.  It's a very tough career.  It's takes a lot of money, contacts and luck to make it.

Answer 2

Yes, a degree in something other than aviation would be best.  All that the airlines care about is that you have a 4 year degree.  If I could go back and do it over, I would get a degree in some medical field.  That way if you get furloughed (laid off) or loose your medical finding another job would be easy.

You will initially spend a decent amount of time away from home.  This all depends on the airline that you work for and where you are based.  Starting out at the commuter airlines, you can expect to have 10-12 days off per month.  As you get more seniority you might get anywhere from 12-18 days off.  Then when you get hired for a major airline you can expect around 12 days off per month for several years.  After that it is pretty common to have between 14 to 18 days off per month.  

10 days off might sound like a lot of time off, but remember that when you are working you are away from home the entire time.  

Also think about doing corporate flying.  I switched from the airlines to corporate flying a couple years ago.  I average 21 days that I don't work per month.  I work 8 days on call and 6 days off.  About 1/3 of the days that I work, I am back at home that night.  The corporate pay is getting to be just about as good as the airlines and the people that are flying on private jets have a ton of money, so job security is very good.

Answer 3

Hi there!

I am planning to become an airline pilot too!! I am 15 and I have done a lot of research into this, and yes you do need certain grades. The company that I am planning on training with is what most of the Airlines in the UK train there pilots with. It is called CTC Wings. And they do require certain grades in certain subjects.

It will take time and money but it will pay off in the end. If you want more information, you can go to the link below.

Good luck! I hope I have helped, and hope to see you up in the skies one day!!! :D

Answer 4

No, a degree in aviation is not required. In fact, I recommend that you take a degree in something that both interests you and that can employ you if the aviation career doesn't work out or you get laid off. I have spent almost 25% of my flying career laid off and it would have been helpful if I had a degree other than aviation to fall back on. The only reason the airlines prefer a 4 year degree is that 1) it shows you have some intelligence, 2) it shows that you are trainable and 3) it shows that you can finish something you started. They do not care what field the degree is in, and in fact some airlines prefer a non-aviation degree because is shows that you are a more rounded person.