Does the pilots need a university degree?

To become a pilot in the United States today is undoubtedly a simple achievement. To start flying for the first time on a commercial plane with pushing travelers, the ambitious pilot must complete nearly a contract of training. With dozens of different tests that must be passed, certificates to receive, and tools to qualify, there is a very long and complex path for Pilots

Those looking to eventually decline the higher industry functions.

The commercial pilot can be a profitable project and an attractive financial career. The largest pilots in major airlines such as Delta and United will have salaries that exceed $ 200,000, along with generous work schedules that will give them many holiday days per year. These jobs, for example, have a pilot overnight to the Netherlands on Monday night. Then they will return to the United States after enjoying some relaxation.

However, the road to these types of situations is very complex, and often requires them to spend years building the expertise needed to qualify for these roles. Moreover, the training to become an uninterrupted pilot, and the candidates It is often installed with different types of debts that they will have to continue to pay with experimental salaries.

However, a member of the experimental training process recently became a major debate for many industry monitors. As of 2025, the vast majority of airlines will require pilots to obtain a 4 -year university degree, with many ambitious pilots in the fields of engineering or air navigation. However, getting a bachelor’s degree is very expensive in the United States, and the vast majority of pilots will need to borrow money to help support their education.

As a result, some began to invite a Bachelor’s degree to remove basic qualifications for being a pilot. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the relationship with colleges and pilots, and we will study why exactly most pilots have to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. In addition, we will also discuss how the elimination of the experimental degree requirements can change the aviation industry.

How complicated is the process of becoming a commercial pilot for air transport?

It is important to note that the process of becoming a commercial pilot for air transport is very complex. Currently, if one of them is looking for a business pilot license, he must start completing a university degree before searching for the appropriate amount of aviation training. The first stage of becoming a licensed pilot is to search for a special pilot license.

In order to receive this certificate, the visible pilots must start researching aviation training options and evaluating their professional goals, According to the seven stages procedures published by ATP Flight SchoolThe largest general aviation academy in the country. At this stage, the pilots nominated to identify their options are encouraged by comparing the availability in different aviation schools and choosing the program that matches their individual goals.

After that, the journey school recommends that the candidates take what was indicated as an admission trip, a preliminary lesson that allows one to compare programs through various aviation schools. During this time, the nominated pilots will be able to experience the quality of training and the direct quality that a private aviation school can bring. This introductory trip provides candidates the opportunity to understand what looks like flying behind the controls.

Get the latest flight news for north america

From simple flying!

There is a long process in itself to become a special pilot

Pilots must also obtain a medical certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to start flying. For those looking to fly professionally, it is important to meet the standards of medical certificates of the first degree that are determined by different student examinations. After that, student pilots must obtain a student pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This will be received through the Airman Integrated Certificate for Classification Students (IACRA). This license is necessary for any student student to conduct any individual trips, which is an essential element in experimental training.

At this stage, one can start taking the appropriate flight lessons and start working in order to obtain the necessary flight knowledge to become one of the special pilot. Ultimately, after completing a 40 -hour flight training, student pilots will be able to try to test special experimental knowledge in FAA, provided that they have received the support of a trainer. Finally, potential private pilots will have to take a practical test with a dedicated experimental examination (DPE), which consists of an oral and aviation part, which will determine whether the candidate has obtained a special pilot license.

Only after receiving a special pilot license, one can start the complex process to become a commercial pilot. To receive this type of certificate, one will need to complete 250 hours from the flight time. After this time, they can start training on what is known as a flight transport pilot license. This type of certificate requires that pilots have more than 1500 hours under their belts, which is what most of them achieve by working as airline coaches, clouds, or mail.

What are the pilots reward after all this training?

Once the pilots receive all this training, they will become a business qualified for airlines such as SkyWest. In the United States, the vast majority of potential trading pilots begin in their career in regional transport companies, as they will be qualified to build the amount of experience needed to be employed by an old airline. According to a previous analysis by simple aviationThe first -year officers in regional airlines such as SkyWest will start salaries ranging from up to $ 40,000 to $ 80,000, due to the difference in wage standards throughout the country.

Therefore, after investing hundreds of thousands and a contract in their training, pilots will start obtaining a somewhat low salary given the amount of debts they will carry with them. As a result, it is not surprising that the aviation industry is struggling to attract enthusiastic pilots over the past few decades. This has constantly resulted in a lack of pilots worldwide, especially in the United States. Even in places like the United Arab Emirates, the salaries of the first year can exceed 150,000 dollars (tax exempt as well), the pilots have proven somewhat challenge.

As a result, many looked at finding ways to make experimental training experience much easier. UNITED Airlines, along with many other transport companies, launched its experimental training academy, one designed with the aim of helping to simplify the training and support of the pilots financially. However, others, Including the CEO of US AirlinesI started discussing the removal of one of the largest and most expensive barriers in the industry.

Does the pilots really need a university degree?

According to a piece published a few years ago in Flying JournalThe airlines have increasingly began to reduce the requirements for obtaining a university degree. In America today, the cost of a university degree (even one in a college directed towards flying for a period of four years) can cost more than $ 200,000, which cannot be achieved simply for the ordinary American family. This amount is a debt that most candidates have to take a large barrier in front of those who hope to become a flying pilots.

Therefore, transport companies began to discuss the possibility of employing more candidates who went directly to training advanced flying from high school. This level of specialized education and the lack of a university degree is common for pilots all over the world, but not in the United States.

Those who go directly to experimental training will be able to raise the hours needed to start flying to a much faster regional airline, which will undoubtedly speed up their career. By accelerating experimental training and removing the amount of debts involved in this process, we hope, the commercial aviation industry will be able to attract talented and effortful professionals to this field.