I’m really interested in becoming a pilot however, it’s very intimidating if you spend thousands on getting all of your requirements and don’t end up with a pilot position at one of the main Airlines.
I’ve always wanted to be a pilot but never knew where to start and truthfully always felt like it was something that was unattainable for many reasons. This video really opened my eyes to how to go about it. Thank you very much
Every pilot I know who flys for the majors (I only 3) does not have a degree and all three started their aviation career later in life (31, 38, 45). One flys for atlas, skywest and one for southwest. Four year degree is absolutely not necessary for becoming an airline pilot so do not waste your money unless you just need one to feel better about yourself. You just need to be a badass pilot. Good luck
Mom of a 16-yr old who’s loved aviation since about age 6. He’s been “flying” in DCS sim game for few years and finally took a Discovery Flight last week and loved it! We are headed to Embry Riddle and ASU next week for tours. Your videos have been a WEALTH of info…THANK YOU. 4 yr degree program costs are a little overwhelming however the salaries of pilots within even 5 years after graduating seem to make the debt somewhat doable. I’ve heard some parents recommend my son look into getting his private pilots license before getting to Embry Riddle but confused as to how that expedites things..?
I'm also a 16 year old wanting to become a pilot and I'm in the same position as your son. I also wanted to go to ERAU but then I did some research and talked to a few professional pilots and graduates of ERAU who said that their Aeronautical Science program is a complete ripoff. What most of them recommended was that I get a degree in some other field either online or in a small community college (I decided to go to a regular college) and work on my pilot certificates as that would save a lot of money and time. Also, you can be a pilot with any degree but if you choose not to fly or are unable to in the future, you won't be able to find a good job with an aviation degree. Just my two cents on this
@@cloudythbthat’s great info! How were you able to talk to these professional pilots to get their input? I would love to do the same but i don’t know how…
@hereforschool1747 I'm 16 and whenever we fly I will ask to speak with the captain and I'll get their number and we will discuss possibilities I will most likely get my engineering degree as a backup incase the pilot stuff goes to crap while also working towards getting my atp
I plane spot a lot at John Wayne. I will have my bachelors degree completed this December and plan to start flying full-time in January (will get medical in January as well). You guys are definitely an option I am considering. Once I am closer to starting, I will reach out to discuss how OC Flight Lessons may be able to help me with my goals. Appreciate this video!
Thank you for the very useful information and advice!! Im currently leaning more toward the getting my degree through an AOPA approved university to get a bachelor’s degree and reduce those hours to 1000. Though it is more expensive it is less time consuming than doing 1500 hours. Thank you again!
It’s great information and I actually do have a college degree in radio and television but being a pilot has always been something I’ve always wanted to do!
Thank you for this video. I’m very happy and I plan to become a flight pilot somewhere in my later years as time goes by. The key ingredient is for me to be patient as I work towards my goals. Thank you 🙏
Thank you brother. That was some really good information. 3 more classes until I graduate with my B.A. in management. I also wanted to get my A.S. in Aviation. I was thinking this would help understand Aviation a little better.
For R-ATP 2:57 not every university can authorize you to get a restricted airline transport pilot certificate so be sure the university you want to go to is authorized. The one I’m going through right now was only just authorized in 2022. Also, the only university that will charge you $140k for a 4-year degree is embry riddle and maybe UND so expectation management.
This was definitely helpful thanks. I was waiting for you to answer my question about field of study for the four year degree and right there at the end you answered it for me. Thanks!
The best thing for me in this video is that I share the same name with captain Omar, so I hit subscribe button and like even before watching the content😂😂 Thanks you for the infos!!
It’s a good deal, a lot students aren’t even joining them because you can only join one at a time and you don’t want to locked in to just one airline. Others join them but never accepted any money and once they hit their 1,500hrs they didn’t even end up working for the airline lol. In todays market for the foreseeable future I would say they don’t matter. Best advice I can give is to go to the school where they pay their flight instructors 40hr, that’s the school that the instructors care about their job and ultimately about their students
I wanted commercial flight licenses (SEL & MEL), as well as an A&P license. Accelerated routes for flight & maintenance licenses were about 1 and 1.5 yrs, respectively, via Part 61 schools. Even though I already had a college degree, I ended up going to a Part 141 school (LeTourneau). I will finish in 3 yrs. Their program is brutal, but I feel like I will graduate as a pilot with a degree somewhere between a mechanic and an engineer.
Greetings to you sir from Guyana. I'm really appreciative of your honesty at showing the reality of earning one's wings. I've had a passion for aviation since my primary school days but because here in third world Guyana the opportunities don't really come by easily and as often. However, I would still like to earn my PPL and from what I'm seeing in your videos I would very much liked to be trained @OC Academy. Thanks.
Thanks for the guidance sir. I'm currently working towards my Bachelor's degree but once it is done and my military contract expires, I will be looking at a few flight schools. Do you recommend any flight schools? Currently looking at ATP but will use what portion of my GI bill to cover some of the expense for whichever flight school I choose.
I don’t think a 4 year degree is a big plus to get hired at a major now days, if there is thousands of pilots trying to get a position then why is a big shortage of pilots? It doesn’t make sense. Going to an university or a college is a waste of time and money. Just hear this, let’s say you go to an university and spend 4 years and 200000$, then you go to flight school and spend about 1.5 to 2 years more plus 70000$ and then apply for a job at a regional airline . Instead of, go straight to flight school, spend 2 years in training until reaching 1500 flight hours and then apply to a regional airline job and those 4 years in college you avoided now you invest it in seniority.
Hi there, aspiring pilot here. I'm still quite struggling on deciding which route is best for me especially because of costs since I barely even have the financials to afford local flight school training. Due to this, I was thinking about just worrying on getting my flight school certifications, after that landing a job at a regional, and while at said regional just work on a Bachelors degree online, cause I really don't mind getting stuck to a regional for a few years, I just want to be a pilot. But then there's my question, do regionals care about degrees? Have they historically, even before COVID, hired many pilots without degrees? I don't want to struggle getting a job with a regional because I don't have a degree.
Hey, thanks for this video, it's really informative. I have a quick question, if possible. I already have a 4 year degree, but it is completely unrelated to aviation. It's in graphic design. I'm looking at becoming a pilot as a second career. I know that you mentioned that a degree in anything is good, but I want to ask if the airline recruiters look down on these type of degrees that are so unrelated to flying. What do you think?
Im 21 and really want to become a pilot, but unnfortunately money is my main problem, and i feel sad bcs I always dream about becoming a commercial pilot since my childhood 😥.This job is only for very rich people ,and thats really dissapointing...
I can assure you it’s not. I grew up on welfare and food stamps and made it to airline captain. Whoever is telling you to think this way, run as far away from them as you can. They are poison for your mind
I like this channel and I have 1 degrees already and going to a local flight school. I looked into several large and small university flight schools and I have not seen one over $150 ALL-IN. Meaning degree (professional pilot degree or something aviation) with hours of flight time, etc. The two I looked at were under 100k. Important to note if you want to go and get your Associates degree and do flight school, it’s somewhere around 70-80k. AND it’s no longer 1,000 hours for an R-ATP, it’s 1,250 hours. Still better than 1,500 though. Something to be aware of.
Ao really the best way to do this would be: go to a Community College for 2 years, and then finish your final 2 years at a Uni if you want to get the degree under your belt.
I rarely went to class while getting my bachelors. I was flying and being a CFI. It was a two point oh and go experience. Nobody ever drilled in to it any further. With the online options you have now, I’d say that’s the ultimate opportunity. Enlist in the guard, be the one they don’t want to be without, and get hired for the undergrad pilot training program. It doesn’t matter what you fly. Fat girls are fun to dance with too. After 2 years of flight training, 2 years of hardening off on full time orders, I think you can check off all the boxes and get picked up by a major. I’m not a debt type. Your personality and priorities might not line up with mine, my way may not be your way.
How does the military route work? Is it the same as the civilian route except that you gain your hours through military aircraft? What are the pros and cons in taking this route? Thanks!
My son (14, 9th grade) has been interested in becoming a pilot for MANY years. He has read and reread various pilot manuals already. As a homeschool mom, I am looking for the best way to get him to his goal. Do you have to attend a known flight university or aviation degree to get the reduction of required flight time to 1000 hours? Or is that with any 4 year degree? Thank you for the informative video!
as a 13 yr i want to become a pilot in uae the only thing im worry about is about the education system like middle school then high school then what after that and what do i need to do i need like a 2 hour explanation from a real pilot explaining every detail im not saying you video help me but i just need like a long talk with a pilot on the start like which age should i start flight school and all that things
Is the two year timeline to start signing up for airlines including the flight training or is it two years after you’ve completed your training to start building up enough hours in order to apply ?
Thank you for the comparison. What do recommend for studying at a community college program first and obtaining a local license as a pathway to becoming a United (for example) pilot. Our local CCBC (Community College of Baltimore County in Baltimore MD) offers becoming a local pilot and then obtaining aviation instructor hours. Or is it better to just go for the BS.
Hi Claudinna I went to community college for 2 years, transferred to a university for 2 years, all while attaining my flight ratings. My peers that attended big name aviation universities paid $250,000 for their licenses and degree. I attained both for less than $50,000. Keep in mind, I started community college in 1998. Thanks
@@ocflightlessons this sounds like such a good option. Do you know if these days one could go to their local Junior college for their general ed, (get an AA in anything?), while working on private license flight hours, and then transfer into Embry Riddle and get the 4-year degree/college experience?
I just graduated from English Literature major, how long do you think if I continue flight school will take until I graduate? Thanks in advance uncle Omar, your reply will be appreciated from me in Jakarta Indonesia❤❤
I would like to ask if getting a four year degree is the right route. I understand it makes a difference in recruiting, but as an individual I cannot pay thousands of dollars for a four year degree. If I don’t get a degree, I’m wondering if I can still be a commercial pilot on a good salary.
Hello there Sir, i just wanted to clarify about the 4 year education section. You mentioned youre more competitive having a Bachelor’s degree in any subject. So it doesnt have to be in aviation? I have a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science majored in Medical Laboratory Sciences and planned to change career to becoming a pilot (completing my private pilot right now). Is that enough to cover the education category?
It does not have to be aviation. The airlines literally won't care if your degree is in basket weaving. They just want to see that it is a 4 year degree.
Great video! Could I get a sports scholarship if I do the university route? I could get a scholarship for my sport and could get cheaper college. Is that possible?
Hi If you go to a university like embry riddle they have programs that allow you to be hired at 1000 hours. If it’s from a non aviation university then you gotta get 1500
I got my PPL 2 years after college for fun but want a career change. Is the degree required to be in Aviation specific fields or can it be teaching, political science etc...
Hello Omar, I wanted to know which Online Degree you would recommend to people who have completed their high school and are looking for a career as an airline pilot. Cuz as you said, it'll be better to have a degree when applying for jobs in the airlines... Ur reply will be appreciated
Do something aviation related in the Army,do the GI Bill,and use it for flight school when you get out of the military. In addition,your duty station might have an Aero Club where the fees are a bit cheaper than normal. Some have rates as low as under 100 per hour wet.
Hi Oscar You can use the GI Bill for instrument rating and after. It won’t cover the PPL. If you’re looking to fly in the military, there’s a lot of testing to complete to be chosen.
@@ocflightlessons Wouldn’t I be able to utilize the GI bill through Embry riddle? And would embry riddle Allow me to get my PPL and other licenses /certificates, flight hours etc..
@@dreamyworld4111 Hello, You can use the GI BILL for training after your private pilots license is attained. ERAU does allow you to get your PPL prior to entering. Many of our students do this. Thanks
If you're in the US Army, one thing you might consider is applying for the WOFT (Warrant Officer Flight Training) program. The Army does select a lot of currently-enlisted soldiers into that program.
Hi Chris, Your degree can be in anything. My degree was in Social Science from UC Irvine. Airlines don't really care what the degree is in, and to be honest, most are not caring about degrees much anymore. I was hired 2 months before graduating so the airline scheduled me for a later training class date. Bet of luck!
How are you Ja' Veon? Have you started with Liberry University yet? I'll be starting there in the Spring of next year. I live in the Richmond, Va area. Please feel free to let me know about your experiences if your already enrolled and taking courses. Also wishing you nothing but the best.
If I am a transitioning pre-operative, hormone supplementing, born male- with fantasies of flying for the airlines with an ATP and FAA First Class Medical- can I still be an airline pilot too?
Hi, I’m a senior in high school and like you said in the video the cost is too much for university, from what I’ve read I don’t need a degree in flying specifically, it can be anything. I’m thinking of going to community college then transferring to a university to finish up my bachelors, so I can save money. After that or while I’m in college I’ll prolly go to an accelerated flight school or academy, after that I’ll work to get my 1500 hours. Does that seem like a smart way to go about this? Any advice?
What are your thoughts on legacy cadet programs? I’m looking at American Airlines Cadet Program. It’s expensive, but I’m wondering if it really is a fast track to get to fly with AA
It’s really any degree ? It doesn’t need to be aviation related at all? Asking because I have a bachelors in environmental science and not sure if that is what’s being asked by big airlines when asking if you have a degree
thank you for this video very helpful. I will be done with my 4 yr. fingers crossed 2023 Feb. and looking into ATP or even United's Aviate program any other advice?
Hello sir i’m currently taking my lessons at a local flight school. I just got my PPL and working towards my instrument rating and eventually to a commercial license. I have a bachelor’s degree but I got it from another country. Will that still be acceptable or do I need to get a degree here in the U.S?
Is there any significant difference in pay between a pilot with an associate vs a pilot with a bachelor's degree? If there is no real pay difference the cost of a uni is hard to justify when a local collage would cost 24000 for an associate and drop flight requirements down to 1250
Since I already have a bachelor’s in science. If I sign up for an accelerated pilot program and complete it in let’s say 7 months. I still have to sign up to be a cfi (certified flight instructor)? Before I can be looked at by airlines?
Technically no, BUT you MUST build hours, a Commercial pilot lisence allows you to fly for money, it is not the same as an airline transport certificate, to have this you must have 1500 hours (or 1000 if you went the university route, or 750 from military). If you don’t want to flight instruct you can do various other things to build hours such as fly pipeline patrol, crop dust, traffic watch, or even fly skydivers, technically you could even just rent a plane and fly around for months on end, but most people say being a flight instructor made them a better pilot, and the airlines know this too You can thank the government for this ridiculous law, the US and Canada are the only places on earth that have this
Any state college or university works. Embry Riddle is good but expensive. Honestly, the degree isn’t being pushed too hard at the airlines much these days. But things can change pretty fast
Im new. What is the degree portion? Im about to sign up to a non university, ive narrowed it down to two. One is 7 months, the other is 1 year. Neither has mentioned a degree.
I'm trying to decide between lift academy or atp flight school in indy both are telling me different things and what is ground school they have a school here in Fort Wayne Indiana saying 700 dollars ground school and a guaranteed to pass the faa certification exam??which one would be better
Great info. I have a curve ball for you though. I am a duel US/CAD white male with aprox 1200 hrs bush flying exp. as a commercial/instrument pilot and a bachelor's degree. Life dictated some changes and now I'm 44 and havent flown for 12 years. Have been looking at restarting that career hopefully achieving an airline position. Any thoughts on path forward and realistic likelihood of achieving an airline position? Thank you. Ben
Realistic: heck ya. In 2010, when I was a Phoenix based captain, my new hire first officer was a 51 year old Wall Street banker that quit and became a pilot. Path: Go find a seasoned instructor and have him put you thru the motions. Any good instructor can get you going in 20-25 hours with the amount of time you have. I’d say spend about 1-2 months studying at home for 1-2 hours a day and another 20 hours with your CFI proving you know what you know. Good luck! You can do it
@@ocflightlessons that is awesome to hear. Thanks for the info/encouragement. A bit more of a challenge these days with a family etc. I would anticipate wanting to go for my multi engine instrument instructor in the process of "getting back up to speed". Perhaps also in effort to improve my chances of landing a reasonable job. Worth the time/cost in your estimation to go for the ME II? Or better to streamline it another way?