Will I need a B.A to become a commercial pilot?

Question

I know they are not required but every airline website I visit says that a bachelors degree is higly desired. If I do decide to get a bachelors, what should I get it in. Is aviation management good for commercial pilots? I was also thinking about aeropace engineering, but I heard its quite hard. What do you think?

Answer 1

You can be a commercial pilot without a degree, and earn a subsistence living doing charter, odd jobs, and instructing.  You will not be hired by an airline nowadays without a 4-year degree.  It's just a law of nature.  The aviation job market is very competitive, and becomes more competitive each year.  The college graduates have a very strong edge.

It isn't as hard as you may think.  Your degree doesn't have to be in science or engineering; the airlines love pilots with business and accounting degrees.  You just need the 4-year degree so  the hiring manager knows you can finish what you start.

Good luck!

Answer 2

--Not needed for commercial flying.  

--Can be required for many airline and some corporate pilot jobs.

--Any degree whatsoever.

Aviation management is not good for commercial pilots.

Any engineering curriculum is hard.  Don't expect to get any engineering degree in 4 years of college.

Major in what you find the most interesting.  Change your major as needed.

Answer 3

I really think practical, real world experience in aviation is more important.

Obtain your commercial licence (CPL) - then try your hand at as many different facets of commercial flying as possible!

Charter, scenic flights, instructing (thats a big one...almost a must), survey, etc...

Hours and experience are the more vital keys to being an airline pilot...the airlines want someone who is an experienced, capable and proven pilot to fly their planes - NOT an engineer or manager...

I think it depends where you're looking too. I'm Australian based and the only people I've heard say a degree is needed are those who provide the degrees (of course they would say that, naturally). If you look at Qantas (Australia's leading airline) the key requirement is flight time.

I'm not an airline pilot yet - but I am a commercial pilot. I got my CPL in 2005, and now work as a charter and scenic flights pilot in light planes (up to 10 seats) - and I'm training as an instructor. Main thing for me at the moment is to build up my hours.

Then I'll apply to the airlines..

Hours are the key - and the sooner you start on hour building, the faster you'll get to an airline.

Sadly, the harsh reality of aviation is that it IS a hard field to crack - and airline jobs take a while to step up to...so once you have your licence, you have to be prepared to shift around a bit, and either take second jobs or accept appalling pay (I work in a mine doing shift work as my second job, and flying in my "days off".) However - stick at it and the rewards are truly worth it :-)

Best of luck!

Go straight to a flying school...don't stress about college degrees!

Answer 4

no..

u not req it but its beneficial as a graduate to becoem pilot.

pilot need only minimum qualification of +2 with pcm