Does someone need a high school diploma to fly a commuter plane?

Question

I went to a flight school in a private airport and learned I can start training for single engine and private jets and I don't have my diploma yet. If I start training now, I can be finished by the time I'm 17 or 18. I'm 16.

Answer 1

You misunderstood, and you are a little too excited right now.  You can get your Private Certificate at 17 and your Commercial at 18, but it will take you five years to build up the flight hours to apply for even the lowest level commuter/regional airline job.  You will need the ATP Certificate and 1,500 to 2,000 hours total time.  You have to be 23 to apply for the ATP, and it is an absolute requirement for the commuter/regional airlines.

Also, you need a 4-year college degree in today's aviation job market.  People will argue that that is not true, but it is.

So calm down and do your homework.  Don't get ahead of yourself.  Airplanes will still be around when you are old enough.

Answer 2

Jose,

You do not need a high school diploma to fly with a commuter, but you will probably get one before you would get an offer anyway.

There are a lot of answers that say you have to have an ATP to get hired, but that is not really true. There are a lot of "commuters" that do not ever require an ATP (12500 lb gross wt). So forget all that and enjoy your training.

Answer 3

You don't need to be an ATP to be hired by some airlines as a copilot.

FAR 121.437 (b):  "No certificate holder may use.....a pilot.....unless the pilot holds at least a commercial pilot certificate....."

Answer 4

Finish school!

Under FAA guidelines NO a High School or College Education is NOT a requirement to fly.  BUT - and remenber who is going to trust you with a mult-million dollar aircraft and with the lives of the passengers if you do not have the drive to complete even High School.

The airline industry want to see a College Education, but talent and training can overcome this although hard.

I know of 2 people in the Industry both Captains who do not have a college education.  One a personal friend of mine - is a Captain and works now in the training department at one of the majors.  The second is my brother who is a Captain flying the Airbus for an Airline.  There are others, it is an uphill battle but it can be accomplished.  But you better offset it with expereince - flying experience.

Answer 5

You need to have an ATP certificate to have a realistic chance of getting hired as a first officer on a regional airline. That requires a H.S. diploma; at least 23 years of age; no felony convictions

To have a realistic chance of being hired - no DUI; no speeding tickets (at most one for not much over the limit, if it was a long time ago); and a four-year college degree (in any subject).

Answer 6

To answer your part of your question, Yes.  To fly as Pilot in command of a commuter A/C you need an ATP. One of the requirents of getting an ATP is High School or equivalent (at least that was when I flew)