Expert: David A. NewMyer - 5/3/2007

Question
what is the ratio of career pilots...ex military pilots vs pilots who got their degree at a university or flight school?

Answer
Hi,

I am not sure if I am clear on your question, but, let me put it this way:

Virtually 100% of military pilots other than Army helicopter pilots MUST have a BS degree in order to be officers.  The Army warrant officer flight program does not have a degree requirement.  So, virtually 100% of career pilots out of the military (other than SOME from the Army) have a degree...as far as what the degree is in, they are from all different majors.

Civilian trained pilots may or may not have a degree.  But, one survey that was done in the early part of this decade indicated that 90% of all pilots hired by the major airlines had a BS degree or higher.  That means 10% did not.  Of the 90%, again, those degrees were from all over and not just from aviation schools.

I hope that this is the type of thing you were looking for in the answer.

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu