Fly High in Your Career
Many people who are serious about becoming an airline pilot have questions about prerequisites and majors they should choose and degrees they should get in order to reach their goal. They wonder if they need an aviation degree or whether they have to attend an aviation college to become an airline pilot.
Although a college degree is not a requirement to become an airline pilot, it is definitely an added advantage while applying for jobs with major airlines. Reputed airlines have a preference for those who possess a bachelor’s degree or at least two years of college experience. Hence it makes good sense to get a bachelor's degree.
You could also pursue online degree programs to complete your bachelor’s degree while flying as a professional pilot. In such a case, you attend a 4-year college or university with a flight training program. You earn your commercial pilot certificate, multi-engine and instrument ratings, and flight instructor certificate/ratings, and a bachelor's or associate's degree in the field of aviation or aerospace, or any other career field upon completion of the program’s requirements. Many colleges with aviation degree programs accept FAA pilot certificates earned thru Airline Training Programs’ flight training to be utilized as transfer credits.
You may also check out ‘The University Aviation Association (UAA)’ at their website in http://uaa.aero/. You may pick a school of your choice from a complete list of colleges listed here. As a non-profit organization it plays a central role in the advancement of degree-granting programs in the field of aviation. Its members include 105 accredited colleges and universities all over the US. There are many other websites for flight schools or flying clubs in your local area that list colleges offering aviation degree programs.
A 2-year degree or a 4-year college degree especially a Bachelor's of Science in aviation helps you to understand and complete an aviation education program easily and successfully. The field of aviation depends upon knowledge of science and technology and hence majoring in science would be very helpful. A major in science subjects help you hone your creative and logical thinking skills. It also helps you to work along with teams in problem solving. Concepts of teamwork and problem solving are important skills you would need as an airline pilot.
It is important to also consider your situation if in times of recession airline companies lay off people due to dire economic conditions. It might be a good idea to major in some other field so that your career prospects are not hampered. Please note that airline companies do not discriminate even if you have a degree majoring in a totally different subject.
Finally please note that The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all US certified pilots to be knowledgeable in the English language. You should be able to read, speak, and understand the English language. You should also possess a valid medical certificate to meet those standards in your flying career.
