Is becoming a regional airline pilot one of the few great jobs that you can have without a college degree?
Many regional airlines don't require college degrees. Is becoming an E-170 or CRJ700 captain much better than working as a bus driver or a carpenter?
Added (1). You think sleeping at Motel 6s or Motel 8s and drinking that free coffee is bad? It would be a very nice treat for bus drivers or people with other jobs that they could find with no degree.
Added (2). I would be honored to sleep at Motel 6 or Motel 8 for free. At least it is much better than hostel or Airbnb.
For some maybe, but it's getting to the point of being hired, and then all the years put in to upgrade to captain at low wages, and all the more years put in to achieve decent seniority, pay and a good schedule that makes it a not-so-great job. Been there, done that, made captain, made top level seniority list and still walked away and never looked back with regret at quitting that grind and doing something more fun and interesting.
Yes, it's a respected job and well paid. It's stimulating and challenging.
You will be doing a lot of sleeping in Motel 6s or Motel 8s and drinking that nasty free coffee in the morning. No thanks.
Go to college and become an orthodontist and fly First Class everytime.
Regional pilots are poorly paid and work long hours.
Oh, those magnificent men in their flying machines!
You don't need a college degree to be a bus driver either, Skippy. The only serious difference is the places you stop.
While the college degree is not essential for becoming a pilot for a regional airline, it is still preferred. In 2016 SkyWest, a large US regional, hired 37 pilots, only one didn't have a college degree. Also, if you get hired, you only get to be a captain after three to five years, if you're lucky.
After decades of low salaries and recent minimum flight hour requirements, the US regional airlines are beginning to have trouble finding enough pilots. They have increased the starting salaries, but can do nothing about the $75,000 to $100,000 cost of acquiring all the necessary ratings and flight hours that the candidates must pay out of their own pockets before they apply for a job.
With out a degree?
Those are rarer than hens teeth!
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