<p>Hello,</p>
<p>My ultimate dream after college is to become a pilot for a major airline and to fly intercontinental flights. For this what is the best engineering degree? Is a non engineering degree more helpful? What about graduate school? Right now I plan on majoring in computer engineering.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>If you want to be a pilot, you're going to need some ratings, and a college degree is usually preferred (or required) for the airlines. I'd recommend going to either a flight university (like Embry-Riddle, UND, etc) where you can major in aeronautical science, or going to a University and studying something non-flight related (for job security) and going to a local FBO at the airport to get your ratings.</p>
<p>Most people end up going through their ratings (Private, Instrument, Multi-engine, Commercial), and then getting their CFI and flight instructing to build hours. Sometimes you can get lucky and be able to get hired at some sort of flying job with only the few hundred hours you will have after flight training, but usually you need closer to 500-1,000 flight hours for a commuter airline.</p>
<p>Computer engineering may be a good choice for job security (if the airline industry is in a major downturn by the time you'd be ready for it), but you also need to start now on flight training, unless you plan to go into the military.</p>
<p>Airlines will not pay for your flight training, they will only train you to fly their planes. So, you will need to invest likely a couple hundred thousand dollars into getting your training at a flight school. Most small airports will have one, but you need to do your research to make sure you are going to a reputable one.</p>
<p>Getting an engineering degree won't help too much in giving you a leg up to getting a pilot job, as pretty much an degree will do, and something flight-related may give you more of an edge as you would have needed to take courses in subjects such as Crew Resource Management and other topics that will help you day-to-day in the cockpit.</p>
<p>Also, consider a flight training University if you are really serious about the pilot career, as more airline pilots out there have gone to schools such as Embry-Riddle or University of North Dakota for their training than just learning to fly at the airport. The training is more respected, and you will have flight academics in addition to your ground, flight, and simulator training (end up with a lot more knowledge).</p>
<p>Graduate school is another plus for pilots, as they can be very marketable to work in other areas of the airline in addition to their flying, and also be marketable for a job other than flying if needed. If you end up flight instructing at a University, they likely would pay for your Master's while you work them--it's quite a job perk to make up for the poor pay of a flight instructor. Starting out flying, the pay is horrible. Many of my friends can't afford their student loan payments as they make < $24,000/year.</p>
<p>FYI: I go to Embry-Riddle as an AE major, and know a LOT of pilots. Let me know if you have questions and if I don't know the answer I could probably find out.</p>
<p>Have you considered the Air Force or the Navy? Seems to me like every other professional pilot was in the military...</p>
<p>(I'm sure you have, but just wondering why you ruled it out.)</p>
<p>I too am considering on becoming a pilot. I beleive the most feasible route is through the airforce. I will be majoring on Electrical Engineering and I am going to try to qualify for a Air Force pilot position. Once you get enough air hours and training, then maybe you can make a transition into commercial airlines.</p>
<p>Yes, the military is a great option money-wise and career-wise. But, I hope you all keep in mind that it is nowhere near a sure thing. I also have friends who have had their dreams shattered for medical reasons, or just got out of luck and didn't get a pilot spot. Also had a friend who wasn't even placed in a position in the Air Force near his major (AE major and ended up doing administrative work for a couple years). But yes, much more budget friendly.</p>
<p>To work for the US majors, you'll have to have a college degree. No exceptions. It might say otherwise on the job app or whatever, but your competition will have a degree. From what I've seen, the best way is through the military, specifically the Navy. I'm sure the other branches are excellent as well, but some of the major US airlines (especially a particular southern one) are known as the Ex-Navy Officers Clubs. Obviously, there are other paths, but this seems to be the path many take.</p>
<p>Thanks for the helpful replies. After my getting my engineering degree, what is the best non military path towards a major airline pilot. I'm ok with non us companies like Lufthansa and Srilankan as well.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, it is best to start with smaller airlines (short haul), cargo, or foreign airlines. I really don't know about the whole foreign thing. One path that I've heard is short haul cargo/passenger to long haul cargo, to long haul passenger (at a larger airline).</p>
<p>I have no idea if that is the best way, but it's one I've heard.</p>
<p>As of right now, the Navy is packed to the gills with pilots, and is turning down applications like they were faux-pas. Naval Flight Officers, on the other hand, are in demand, though they don't learn to actually fly & thus that track would be useless to you later on. Remember, though, that an aviator track in the military is for 6 years after your initial 2 years of flight school, assuming you meet the physical standards & can get through OCS.</p>