Flight hours vs. College degree?

Question

Ok, I was wondering if having MORE FLIGHT HOURS instead of a COLLEGE DEGREE would get me a job for a regional airline?

For example, Horizion Airlines has a MINIMUMrequirment of 1,000 hours of TOTAL flight time. Say, if I had something like 2,500 hours to 3,000 hours of flight time logged versus having a MINIMUM of 1,000 hours logged AND a college degree...

Would this make up for not having a college degree? Or would it be an advantage, or even a disadvantage?What do you think?

Ps: I do plan on getting an Assosiates degree at my local community college.

I'm just curious.

Answer 1

College is a requirement at many major airlines.  Not at regional airlines.

Answer 2

Different airlines select applicants in different ways.  Obviously, a college degree never hurts.  But if you have those kind of hours, especially if a good chunk of them are jet time, I don't think that NOT having a college degree will hurt you in today's regional airline market.  If the market changes, that might be a different story.

The majors may be different.  Everybody applying has a boatload of quality flight time, so a college degree would differentiate you there.  But as for the regionals, if you have 2-3 times the minimum hours, good luck at the interview because you'll probably get one!

Answer 3

You want to know how to get a job with a regional airline.

Duh.

Phone a regional airline and ask them.  Don't you think they might have more information than somebody just cruising Yahoo Answers?

Answer 4

If you want to increase your chances, you will aim for a degree And as much flight time as possible (working as a flight instructor is one way to build the time).

However some airlines will at times hire pilots that have the minimums, but don;t have a college degree with it. For the most part, they will do this if there is not a large pool of applicants at the time. If they have to chose between a large group of applicants, they will very often (especially for legal purpose) start by eliminating those without a college degree, unless they have exceptional qualifications.

So my advise to you, Get a degree, and build as much flight time as you can in as many different types of aircraft as you can. If you get the chance to ad some turbine time in there, take it. They will be looking for that.

Answer 5

The honest answer is it all depends on the airline.  The majority of regionals will look at you if you have the required minimums.  That, of course, depends on the economy at any given time.  Unfortunately, many regionals and other airlines in general are in tough shape at the moment.  Rising fuel prices coupled with a lot of people having economic hardships at the moment have really hurt the airline industry.  Many airlines are not hiring.  It all depends on when you attempt to enter this career... and if it's a few years down the road, nobody can tell you how good or bad it will be.  Heck, I can't tell you how good or bad it'll be next week, let alone in a couple years.

That being said, I highly recommend a 4 year degree.  Why?  Well, if you want to sit at a regional for the rest of your life you really don't need one.  The issue is the best pay is going to be at any of the major airlines.  Bottom line:  if you want to be paid for what you're worth, you'll need the four year.  Also, there is nothing saying you'll be doing this career forever (you'll go in for a medical once a year to be an FO and twice a year for captain).  If, in any of those medical exams, you come out with any number of ailments (ex. diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure) you're going to lose your medical.  Career done.  Sometimes you can get your medical back, sometimes not... but it's always best to have a fallback.  The simple truth:  a 4 year degree gives you the best fallback.  I really wouldn't waste time with a 2 year degree unless you seriously plan on following with a 4 year a short time afterwards.  If you do decide to go 2 years the best 2 year education would be a tech education of some form (auto mechanics, etc.) where you would have a viable fallback.

Back to your question though... it all depends.  You may get the interview at the right time where an airline needs pilots and will pick you up-- or you could get an interview in a time like today where a degree could help you out signficantly (it shows dedication, an ability to learn, and may put you above many other applicants).  It's all about supply and demand... the supply (of pilots)  is high at the moment and the demand low.  A degree today would help you greatly.  5 months ago you could've gotten a flying job with a few certificates and a pulse.  Things change quick in this industry.

Also, plan on having a fallback.  If you take a job flying I can almost guarantee you'll lose your job due to furlough at least once... probably 2 or 3 times.  It's a tough industry.

Answer 6

That's not the way it works.  Sorry.  It's not a choice between a degree and experience.  When you are riding in the airliner, you will have a crew up front that have BOTH experience and a college degree.  BOTH--not one or the other.

So the question is a false dilemma.  You will never have those two choices as alternatives.  Your crew will have BOTH.

Answer 7

Yeah, regional airlines will hire First Officer's w/out a college degree, but the degree helps, especially if you want to advance to a major airline. Most all the pilots for the majors have a degree, most a bachelors. But that doesn't mean an Associates won't work. You can start with the AD and then later on if it's necessary get a bachelors, but maybe you won't even have to!

Good luck and good flying!!! :)