Becoming an airline pilot.

Becoming an Airline Pilot in Canada?

• I am 18 years old and a first year student at The University of Western Ontario. Now...I have hopes to become an Airline Pilot and i am willing try my best to succeed to become an Airline Pilot. I am currently working towards a University Degree under Medical Sciences. I know major airlines require a University degree. However, i have no idea about any of the steps to become an airline pilot. Can you explain to me the shortest route to become an Airline Pilot? How long will it take if i want to become one from now? Is there an alternative way to become an airline pilot without having to go through a 3-4 year bachelors degree?

• Answer:

  There are many possible options for you. Most Canadian airlines prefer university degrees, they don't require them. There are a number of college programs in Ontario that offer aviation diplomas. These college programs are acceptable to the airlines. At the end of the day, an airline will take someone with a college aviation diploma over somebody with a university degree in an unrelated subject. (For any Americans reading, college and university are not the same thing in Canada) In Ontario, Sault College, Seneca College and Confederation College all offer aviation programs that give you a commercial license. This will allow you to start at a low level flying job to gain the experience required to get hired by an airline. Sault College (maybe the others, not sure) is government subsidized, so tuition and flight training is very affordable, although the program is more selective. The University of Western Ontario also offers an aviation degree, which gives you a degree in aviation management as well as a commercial license. This is a very expensive program though.