Flight hours or college degree?

Hello,

Currently I am a junior in high school(17 years old) also working on getting my PPL(I am about three months out from my check ride). My goal is to get into the airlines as quickly as possible and I’m not sure what the best way to do it is.

I figure, if I go for a college degree with an aviation university, I will get both a degree and the ratings at the same time but it will take four years for the degree with an additional two years for building the necessary time. It will take at least six years and be more expensive but from what I hear it is a safer option.

On the other hand, I could go straight into a flight school or a cadet program out of high school and get all my ratings in about a year. Then, I could spend two years building time and potentially get into a regional owned by a major like Piedmont to American allowing me to go straight into a major after a couple years at a regional. It would only take three to four years and be less expensive than college but it seems like it could be riskier.

Should I go for a college degree that’ll be more expensive and more time but safer or should I go for flight training/a cadet program that’ll be quicker and less expensive but riskier if I want to get to the airlines as quickly as possible? Also, is more flight time better or worse than having a degree? If I had 2000hrs with like 300 being quality flight time(such as multi-engine or turbine) and no degree would I be better off than someone with 1500hrs of just CFI flight time and a degree?

Thanks in advance

Lincoln,

We recommend after completion of high school to attend a college and get a bachelors degree. While the majors do not require it is extremely preferred to have a 4-year degree, and given the market we’re in where airlines can be a little bit tighter on hiring minimums, it would be worth it in the long run. The degree also serves as a backup plan if something in aviation falls through. Imagine all you know is aviation and you lose your medical, what is your backup plan?

I actually recommend that if you’re unsure of what degree you’d like to major in, attend community college, get the general education credits out of the way, then find the college that fits your desire for the remainder of the credits. The last thing you want to do is commit to something that you’re unsure of or would dread for the rest of your life. I focused 3 years of accounting before switching majors, I love numbers, calculating EPS, dividends, statement sheets, but I had something come up and fell behind - accounting is one of those that if you fall behind, it’s HARD to catch up.

You can’t apply to an airline until you’re 21, you can’t upgrade to captain until you’re unrestricted and 23. There’s no need to rush the process, especially if you get your PPL now, continue to fly during college keeping proficient, then attend a flight school like ATP to finish your ratings and time build as a CFI (if you desire).

I’m bias of Piedmont’s cadet program, it’s one of the best out there because they allow you to build flight time however YOU want, no strings attached, as long as you’re actively flying. Many cadet programs you MUST be an instructor for a partner school. The ultimate question to ask yourself, where do I see myself in 5 years as I attend a flight school? Do I look at a regional with a ‘flow’, do I look at a chance of LCC, do I fly charter/corporate and stay with that lifestyle? These are the things you have to ask yourself.

Brady