The Pros and Cons of a 2-Year Flight Training Program
Becoming a professional pilot is a challenging and rewarding career choice, but the path to achieving this goal can vary depending on the training program that one chooses to undertake. While some aviation schools offer 4-year professional pilot training programs, others offer 2-year programs. In this blog, we will explore and weigh both the pros and cons of attending a 2-year professional pilot training program.
The Pros of a 2-Year Flight School
The Program Cost
One of the primary advantages of a 2-year professional pilot training program is the reduced cost. Four-year programs are typically more expensive due to the additional time and resources required to complete the program. This is particularly relevant for students who are funding their own education, as the cost savings of a 2-year program can be significant. Some examples of the increase in costs include two additional years of housing, transportation, and food, along with additional college classes that are not required for a career as a pilot.
Time Investment
This one is fairly obvious but still deserves to be mentioned. A 2-year professional pilot training program is a much quicker route to becoming a professional pilot and building experience. The program is designed to provide the necessary training and experience to prepare students for a successful career as a pilot in a shorter amount of time. This can be particularly beneficial for students who are eager to begin their careers as soon as possible or those who wish to earn a salary sooner.
While the workload of the program may be easier to manage at a 4-year program, the opportunity cost of two additional years of training can be extremely high. Following graduation, new pilots work to acquire as many flight hours as possible as most employers base their hiring criteria on the total logged hours a pilot has. This means that a pilot that graduates from a 2-year program can begin building hours of experience before a 4-year student has even graduated, by the time the 4-year student does graduate the 2-year student may have as many as 1,000 or more hours logged than the newly graduated 4-year pilot. So, while the 4-year graduate is looking for an entry-level job, the 2-year pilot will be looking to take the next step and earn upwards of $80,000 to $100,000 a year with their mid-level pilot role.
Curriculum
A 2-year professional pilot training program typically focuses solely on aviation-related coursework and hands-on training. This means that students can gain a deeper understanding of the industry, develop their skills more quickly, and be better prepared for their future career as a pilot. In contrast, a 4-year program may require students to take general education courses, which can be time-consuming and distract from the more specialized aviation coursework.
One way to consider this difference is to look at flight time throughout the two program options. Both programs are going to provide their students with around 200 hours of flight time to graduation, the difference being that the 2-year program will fly their students twice as much over the course of the two years. Despite having the same amount of flight time both schools enroll students as full-time college students. This means that students from a 4-year program take four additional semesters of general/non-aviation-specific courses.
Job Prospects
Despite the shorter length of a 2-year professional pilot training program, graduates are still in high demand by airlines and other aviation companies. In fact, some employers prefer graduates from these programs because they are able to enter the workforce sooner and have a more focused skill set. Furthermore, with the ongoing demand for pilots worldwide, job prospects for qualified pilots remain high, regardless of the length of their training program.
The Cons of a 2-Year Flight School
Program Workload
While earning your wings in the half the time is an appealing offer, it’s important for students to understand that the reward will come with a price of more dedication and focus than is required from a 4-year program. You will progress through your ratings and training at a must faster pace, this requires students to spend extra time in the books and dedicate more focused study sessions to keep up with the increased workload and learning speed.
Bachelor Vs. Associate Degree
With its additional general/non-aviation related courses a 4-year program will graduate its students with 200 hours of flight time, a professional pilot’s license, and a Bachelor’s Degree. In contrast, a 2-year program will graduate its students with 200 hours of flight time, a professional pilot’s license, and an Associate Degree. While experience measured by flight hours is more relevant to a pilot’s resume, a Bachelor’s Degree will open more doors outside of being a pilot if the student decides to make a career change.
It is also important to note that while a 2-year program does not provide its graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree, they do have the option of acquiring their professional pilot’s license and Associate Degree and then transferring to a 4-year university to take an additional 2 years of general courses to earn a Bachelor’s Degree while also building flight hours as a part-time flight instructor.
Conclusion
while both 2-year and 4-year professional pilot training programs can lead to successful careers as a pilot, a 2-year program can offer several advantages over a 4-year program. The reduced cost, shorter time commitment, more focused curriculum, and strong job prospects make a 2-year program an attractive option for those seeking a career as a pilot.
