Expert: D. Norkus - 3/24/2008

Question
Hi

I am interested in pursuing a career as an airline pilot. I have to make some decisions soon in the near future.

I was recently accepted to Embry-Riddle for their Aeronautical Science Program and I am looking at alternative options. If I attend Embry-Riddle, I am looking at two and a half years of taking college courses to earn a second degree and the Admissions director says that their students generally graduate with about 250 flight hours. The cost is around $53K a year, I would be looking at spending around $130K.



My dilemma is that I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems, but do not know if a pilot specialty program like AirSafety with more flight hours will provide me with future job opportunities in comparison to a program like Embry-Riddle with an Aeronautical Science degree and less flight hours.

How many students graduate from smaller airline programs each year and get jobs at Commuter Airlines?

Do you think having some kind of Aeronautics degree is vital to the success of getting hired and getting greater opportunities or will my Bachelor of Science be enough?

How are Airline Specialty schools in comparison to a school like Embry-Riddle?

If you can tell me what you know, it would help me make some decisions.

Thank You,
Alexis  

Answer
Alexis


Seeing as you already have a bachelors degree, you only need flight qualifications to land a job as an airline pilot. Personally, I think you would be very ill advised to attend ERAU and get an extra degree simply to become an airline pilot. The $130K in debt you would accrue is not worth it, nor is it necessary. You could easily spend less than half that on an airline affiliated bridge program, get qualified and have an airline first officer job 9 months from now. Or, if you did flight training via your local school or flying club you could perhaps spend $10,000-$20,00 less and become qualified in 1-2 years.

Being in your position, I'd advise against ERAU and suggest the two latter routes instead.

*How many students graduate from smaller airline programs each year and get jobs at Commuter Airlines?

I don't know the numbers (I am sure the marketing departments at such schools do!) but I can say more than ever such students are being interviewed and hired into regional jets and turboprops. My airline has interviewed and hired record numbers from such flight schools with 195-400 flight hours of experience when in the past a pilot needed 1,000 hours just to interview! Today, airlines often require 500 hours but airline affiliated bridge program grads are promised interviews at less experience.

*Do you think having some kind of Aeronautics degree is vital to the success of getting hired and getting greater opportunities or will my Bachelor of Science be enough?

A degree is aero anything is definitely NOT necessary! I know many, many pilots with degrees in English, history, art, math, communications and even one with a pharmaceutical degree! Airlines do not care what field of study your degree is in, only that you have one as it demonstrates the ability to study, apply yourself and implies critical thinking ability.

*How are Airline Specialty schools in comparison to a school like Embry-Riddle?

In getting one into the career? Both do the job. However, ERAU is also a university where getting your degree is the main emphasis while airline affiliated flight schools like ATP Flight School, Delta Connection Academy, or Mesa Pilot Development are basically 'pilot farms' as their sole purpose is to get you an interview and hired.

I really think if you are considering this career, you should spend a lot of time getting to know about the "how to's", what to expect and what the career is really like. I don't want to be a wet blanket but for many, their fantasy of the pilot career is not the same as day to day life "flying the line". I suggest these pilot career sites to help you do that:

http://www.pilotcareer.info
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com
http://www.jetcareers.com

Unfortunately, with the name "Alexis" I can't tell if you are male or female, but here are some links for women pilots with scholarship info just in case-
http://www.www.ninety-nines.org
http://www.wai.org

Hope this can get you started. If you need more, let me know!
Dottie