Q: I’m 18 and a recent high school graduate. My grades were below par at best. What are the odds that I would get accepted into a good flight school and get a shot at the career that I’ve always dreamed about? —Ken from Santa Rosa
A: Obtaining those coveted FAA pilot certificates does take a certain aptitude for learning. Regulations, meteorology, weight and balance calculations, performance data, and systems understanding do require some smarts. You don’t need to be an Einstein to fly aircraft, but there is a solid need for a good amount of brain power. Thus, anyone contemplating the aviation career path needs to conduct some self-evaluation. “Do I have what it takes?” Were the poor grades caused by lack of ability or lack of personal commitment and application? Many of the academies and aviation colleges will give you a fair shot. Of course, colleges have admission standards that are more academic in nature, such as SATs and ACTs. Flight academies typically do not have such rigorous qualification hurdles.
Another consideration: the wide range of aptitude tests that certain airlines administer to recruits. As a junior in college, I interviewed for a pilot job at TWA. I was nowhere near prepared for a battery of math, physics, English, and mental aptitude tests that made the SAT and ACT look easy. Several major airlines still make aspiring pilots endure the maze of tests.
It’s not too late to change course and show your stuff. Go for those aces in future classes that you might take. If you go to college, strive for the best grades possible. That may take work and extraordinary effort.
But remember that flying jobs at some major airlines can be somewhat dependent on college performance. Bill Traub, a former vice president of flight operations at United, has said that good college grades are essential. He believes that good grades and challenging subjects, no matter what they are, reveal much about a person’s work ethic and commitment. Traub has stated, “Bad grades are a show-stopper for us.”
It doesn’t take a genius to fly and chase that dream of professional flight. But, above-average smarts will take you a longer way toward reaching your goals.
Related Articles
