Flight School vs. College or University.
Want to be a Pilot? Lesson #1: A Straight Line is the Shortest Path
One of the most confusing aviation myths that is perpetuated online is that a pilot needs a
four-year college degree in order to move from the regional airlines to the major airlines.
This is simply not true. You don't need that four-year degree to fly for the major airlines.
While there is nothing wrong with obtaining a college degree, if you want to become
a commercial airline pilot and know for sure that this is your life's path, then you
will be wasting time and money going to a private or community college that offers a
flight program along with a four-year Bachelor's Degree instead of choosing a Part 141
accredited flight school. We'll compare and explain why a BA is not necessary for a
career as a pilot.
We say in our travels:
"One of the most compelling comparisons between Academy of
Aviation and a four-year college is the time/money factor. Unlike a full-time college
commitment, we get you into the air for the full duration of your training. If you've
got your heart set on a
career as an airline pilot, our career-oriented programs will put you on a direct course
to your goal in
much less time, and for less money."
We do not say that lightly, or say that to “get you in the door.” We say that because there
is a difference between sitting in a classroom at a community college and sitting in a
classroom
at an established flight school. You do NOT need a four-year degree to become a professional
commercial pilot working for the major airlines. Read on for considerations about private
accredited Part 141
flight schools vs. the college/university pathway.
Costs Less Money, Takes Less Time
Study.com
states:
"While a college degree is not always required to get started in
this career field, the BLS reports that airline pilots are required to have a bachelor's
degree, which
can be in any major. However, aspiring pilots can gain more relevant knowledge by enrolling
in an
aviation or aeronautics bachelor's program. Regardless of major, students must complete
coursework in
physics, aeronautical engineering, mathematics, and English. It's important to enroll in an
aviation or
aeronautics program that has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)."
The fact is, students will learn all of the proper skills and concepts mentioned above- but
the
difference is that at a flight school, these concepts are taught without the student
worrying
about other
classes in the major that they chose to study concurrent to their flight training. This does
two
things-
it gives the flight student a single-minded approach to flight training, which in our
opinion is
the
optimal way to learn a craft, and it also costs less money and takes less time, because you
can
typically
become a professional pilot in two years for literally half of the money as a college
degree,
and you can
start earning money as a pilot much sooner than if you're in a four-year program.
Study.com also
says:
"While in school, consider joining a student club. Membership in
a student club, such as the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) ACE club, can
help you form
networking connections, learn more about the industry, and find jobs after graduation."
We agree; joining groups like those mentioned as well as networking with partnered airlines
from
your
chosen flight school is a great way to immerse yourself in the business, but you do not have
to
be in
college to join any of these organizations. Moreover, the flight student will have access to
any
of the
outside clubs or groups that pilots will want to become a part of, whether you go to a
college
or a flight
school. Flight schools are also in the position to offer a graduating student a CFI job, and
a
path to a
partnered regional airline, just like colleges.
The “Real” World
AOPA says:
"4. The college experience. Can you see yourself at this school?
Are you ready to embrace wearing a uniform while you fly, or do you prefer something less
regimented?
Also take into consideration what you want out of your college experience—i.e., whether
collegiate
sports and outside interests will be important along with the flying component."
Flight schools do not offer sports programs and all of the other tangents of university
life.
But, is
that what you want? Can you join a local sports team that won't cost you college tuition?
Can
you make the
same kinds of relationships and connections at a private flight school as in a college? The
flight school
student can get the benefit of living in the “real world” instead of getting sucked into a
college
lifestyle that has routinely shown to be an ingenuine and misleading entrance into the
“real”
world.
The Same Benefits and FAA Oversight as a College
clearedtodream.com states:
"The second regulatory construct, 14 CFR Part 141, is an
optional set of regulations that serve as the framework for FAA-approved training schools.
Part 141
flight training organizations must obtain and maintain an FAA certification, which in part
requires an
approved flight training curriculum. Training provided under Part 141 is generally
considered higher
quality due to its additional structure and increased FAA oversight as compared to Part 61.
Some flight
schools conduct training under Part 61 in a manner structured similarly to Part 141 but
without FAA
certification and oversight. While Part 61 training and Part 141 training result in the same
certificates and ratings, the added structure of 141 can better prepare the student for a
training
environment similar to the training environment at an airline.
Likewise, the training provided by a college or university is generally considered higher
quality
training because the institution submits to an accreditation process designed specifically
to measure
the quality of its professional pilot programs. In addition, if the college or university
qualifies as
an institution of higher education as outlined in 14 CFR Part 61.160, the training is
considered to be
of an even higher quality, which benefits the pilot after training is complete."
While the above paragraphs certainly are true, attending a private and accredited Part 141
flight school
will have exactly the same benefits and FAA oversight as a college or university. The FAA
may
even look at
a private school with a stricter eye, as a university is looked upon as more established
than a
private
school because that's just the nature of a university over a private school-- but the fact
is,
the
requirements and oversight is the same. The accredited 141 private school, which usually has
smaller
classes and more personal instruction, is also looked at as having more to prove as a
serious
learning
environment-- teaching flying, safety, and all of the mechanics of being a pilot-- because
it
is, by
definition, competing with the larger colleges. We believe that, as a private school where
people choose
to attend, there is also a pride and a personal approach that a college will lack.
The Same Guaranteed Pathway to the Majors at a Lower Cost
Flyingmag.com says:
"As a big supporter of the collegiate system's pathway to the
R-ATP certificate, the RAA has determined that the No. 1 thing students are interested in is
having
certainty in their careers. “They want a clear flow-through path from the school to the
regional
airlines, where they have a guaranteed interview or hiring, and continued flow from the
regionals to the
major airlines. Because we know these pilots dream of flying the heavy metal,” Black said.
Still, as pay at the regionals increases, the cost to earn a collegiate degree and amass the
required
hours for an R-ATP certificate remains high. For instance, Embry-Riddle says that while
costs do vary,
its four-year aeronautical science degree program costs about $44,000 per year for tuition,
room and
board, books, and fees. The school recommends students budget an additional $20,000 per year
for flight
training, equaling a total of approximately $64,000 per year. That's about $256,000 to earn
the degree,
with some of those costs offset when students are hired by the school as instructor pilots
in their
senior year as they build hours toward that magic 1,000-hour tally."
There are two messages here. The first focuses on the dream to fly and the pathway to the
airlines and
the collegiate promise of a guaranteed interview and pathway to the regionals. This is also
true
of the
private Part 141 flight school that has regional partnerships. There is a guaranteed
interview
for a CFI
job for graduating students of a private flight school, and a guaranteed pathway to the
regionals from a
private flight school, exactly the same as from a college. It is only up to the students'
performance and
dedication that will make or break an interview-- from both the college or the private
flight
school. But,
as the second message illustrates, at a significantly lower cost and lesser time for a
private
school than
the college or university.
Similar Pros and Cons
Pilot blogger Swayne Martin compares pros and cons of the collegiate path:
1. The Aviation Universities: Many colleges in the USA have
aviation and aerospace programs. Three examples of well known universities in the United
States which
either centralize on aviation, or have highly reputable aviation programs are: Embry Riddle
(ERAU),Purdue, and the University of North Dakota (NDU).
Pros:
A like-minded student body, sharing the same passion
A structured learning environment, students working together
High acceptance rates
Reduced hiring minimums (from 1,500 hours to 1,000 hours as of August, 2013)
A degree in a field you're interested in
Aviation-related minors (ATC, Aviation Management, etc)
Alumni and Student Networking
Airline quick-start programs, only available to students from these schools
Instructing jobs (through the schools) offered to students and alumni
Learn and fly on “top of the line” prop and jet simulators
Take advantage of diverse, well maintained fleets of aircraft with glass cockpits
(ERAU): two locations to choose from: Prescott, Arizona and Daytona Beach, Florida
Cons:
Expensive, expensive, oh yeah, and expensive
Low paying career (early on) — hard to pay off school debt
Degree in Aeronautical Science isn't great for much else, besides being a pilot
Too much aviation? It's something that you'll be constantly surrounded by… If you consider
this as an
option, you probably shouldn't be thinking about an aviation university anyways
Group setting: everyone else is like you, a pilot, you're no longer unique.
Fact: every single “pro” on the above list should also be available at a Part 141 private
flight
school
that is worth their flight-training money, less the BA degree and differing locations (a
small
plug: AOA
has a new location in North Carolina near Charlotte, and we will be expanding to Florida
soon,
for
students who want flight training outside of the NYC area.) There are cons with private
schools
as well
which parallel the cons above, as with any form of education, but the fact is, it will cost
you
a lot less
money and take less time at a private school.
Funding Options Available Today
According to Chronicle.com:
"To help open the doors for would-be pilots, Bob Rockmaker,
president of the Flight School Association of North America, said his group is working to
form an
accrediting body that would allow federal loans to flow to students at some 50 to 100
freestanding
schools. Flight schools not connected to higher-education institutions could then offer
their students
funding options. The process will take another year or so, he said."
That is definitely happening right now and there are funding
options available today, before the federal funding option is available. This opens
the
door to
students who would otherwise be shut out because of up-front costs.
The Reality of Ability
TheBalanceCareers.com remarks about universities:
"A common question asked by prospective pilots is whether or not
they should invest a lot of money to obtain an aviation-related degree from a top university
flight
school, or spend less for flight training obtained at a local flight school.
Aviation universities are a popular option for people who want to fly and also want a
four-year degree.
While it might make sense to kill two birds with one stone, a degree in aviation limits you
to strictly
an aviation-related career. On the other hand, obtaining an MBA while flying at the local
airport might
be the less expensive and more versatile option.
The decision to attend an aviation university is a big one. Aviation universities can be
very beneficial
when it comes to learning, networking, and ultimately getting a job as a pilot. But they're
costly, and
many people recommend a backup plan in case you're grounded in the future. If you have the
financial
resources and/or can get a scholarship for a university, it becomes a more viable, and good,
option to
consider."
They also write an exhausting list of “The Pros and Cons of Attending an Aviation
University.”
The
reality is, those pros are exactly the same as a local flight school.
Everything outlined above is setting the stage to what we are ultimately here to say: that a
pilot does
not need a four-year college degree in order to move from regional airlines to the majors.
What
does the
pilot need to move into the majors? Practical flying experience. The exact same experience
you
get in the
air and in your ground school training will be gained from both types of schooling. American
Airlines does
not care if you hold degree saying that you majored in art history or sociology. They care
about
your
safety record in the air, your relevant hours in the cockpit, your ability to fly and land
in
all weather
conditions and your track record of problem solving while holding the controls.
They All Landed Interviews
degreequery.com
states:
"Regional airlines in the United States do not require pilots to
have a four year college degree. However, the major United States airlines do require that
pilots have a
four year degree. Since the major airlines pay much better than the regional airlines, it is
advisable
for prospective pilots to obtain a four year college degree. These major airlines are
looking for pilots
with Bachelor of Science degrees with a focus on aviation.
Yet if a pilot's undergraduate course of study is not aviation related, he will not be
immediately ruled
out of consideration for an open pilot position. Even if a pilot isn't looking for work with
a major
airline, a college degree will help him land interviews with smaller airlines. The degree
presents him
as a serious candidate for open pilot positions as it indicates that he has the ability to
think
critically and complete the airline's unique education program.
Major airlines are looking for more than the qualifications listed above. Major airlines
favor pilots
who have 3,000 hours or more of flight time with half of these hours spent in a multi-engine
aircraft.
They also desire a minimum of 1,000 hours as a pilot in command of a jet (turbine) powered
airplane.
Captains and First Officers will need an airline transport pilot license. To obtain this
license, the
candidate will have to be 23 years old or older. He'll also have to have flown a minimum of
1,500 hours,
some of which has to be “instrument flying”. A certain percentage of these hours must be
completed at
night. Finally, he'll have to pass a written flight exam that is administered by the FAA and
also pass a
psychological / aptitude test."
The statements above about the four-year degrees are false. We, and many other private
flight
schools,
have trained many students that have nothing that remotely resembles a four-year degree from
a
university
and who are now flying with the majors. They all landed interviews, were serious candidates
and
used
critical thinking. Most any flight school will have that experience. Yet the myth of the
necessary
four-year degree to fly for the majors perpetuates via websites and blog posts, and students
are
lured
into spending huge amounts of money to live an unnecessary college lifestyle to attain a
goal
that they
already know they want - but with the added cloud of a full college tuition burden and two
years
of wasted
time.
The statements above about what the majors want are unwaveringly true. But every single
facet of
that
paragraph can be attributed to experience attained in a private flight school and achieved
by
the flight
student-- without the four-year degree.