Degree or no degree, that's the question

[Speedbird715]

Hi guys!

I have a problem. It may be a luxury problem, but still there's an important decision to be made. So obviously, I'll ask my favourite internet forum for advice. ;)

I've just gone through the selection process for Lufthansa's sponsored ab-initio flight training programme. And I've made it (yeeess!). Now besides "normal" flight training they also offer to take up an engineering degree in aviation systems technology (which is basically a "light" version of aero eng) before you go to flight school. This would take 4 years instead of less than 2 years for the normal route.

Now, even if I hadn't made it into the LH scheme, taking a degree would have been a consideration for self-sponsored flight training. So maybe this is of interest to other student pilots as well...

I've thought about this thing for quite a while now and while my heart tells me to go flying as quickly as possible... my brain seems to insist that having a degree might be advantageous some time in the future.


By going to university first, what you loose is
- 2 years worth of salary... and if you think about it, that's actually 2 yrs of a captain's salary
- 2 years on the seniority list
- The relative safety to have a contract as early as 20 months from now


What you gain is
- a Bachelor's degree (you can call yourself an engineer :})
- a lot of background knowledge & life experience
- a second qualification in these turbulent times for the aviation sector
- the chance to MAYBE assume further responsibilities beyond the flying job some time in the future (therein lies the main attractivity, I think)


OK, so what do you guys think?! The other option of course would be to get into the right seat as quickly as possible and think about distance learning etc in the future if one should ever be bored in the cockpit...)


I'd be grateful some pilot's opinions on this - because ultimately you guys know what matters for a cockpit career these days...


Thanks & best regards,
Holger

[rons22]

i am not a pro but if Lufhansa took you on, they will probably give you a job at the end too, so you don't really need engineering degree, just go and enjoy your career, fly around the world and have all the nice girls.

I'd strongly recommend degree to people less fortunate than you. For example, guys who have little money and do it modular route in little schools etc. As in these circumstances, employment chances afterwards are slim and not having a good backup plan is like shooting yourself in the foot.

[Emmett01]

Hi,,

Im just finihed a mech eng degree in Ireland, am am starting Cabair in sept,,, im only 22 and your only 20, so whats two or four years.... It is possible to be too young as well and airlines employ people who have gained life experiences... Experiences which you can gain at university for examlpe... Once your trained thats you tied down for life,,,, only 25 -30 days of a year....sad times....

Go to university for these reasons;;;

1 - If you loose your medical some time thoughout your carrer you will have a seconf career... (WHICH SOES HAPPEN TO PEOPLE SO DONT BE FOOLED)

2 - Much high chance of climbing the ladder more quickly

3- more people have degrees these days so you need to blow away to just A-Level people first...

4 - Your a more experienced person at the end,,, trust me...

5 - For the most IMPORTANT reson to... your in for a hell of a great time,,, all the partying to be done...


At the age of 20,,, your too young to be honest, and havnt enough experience,, prersides your robbing yourself of your twenties...

Choose a better degree that avaition electronics pick one more core to engineering,,,, avaition systems aint REAL engineering...

All the best with your training...

Emmett

[rayden1206]

I am now 28 Years old.

I have two university degrees (one In BSc Management and one BSc in Business Communication) and an MSc in Human resources management from LSE (London School of economics).

I have acquired a JAA frozen ATPL from a very very very cheap flight school. I went for some interviews as a pilot and finally I was NOT employed only as a pilot.

Now I also work as the HRM advisor of a medium size airline, responsible for all the First Officers and crews (except captains).

The good:

Business executives of the company and Captains respect me a lot and I have an advising position in the board of directors meeting.

My salary is 1200 Euro more than other F/Os.

I choose my days off, the flights (destination and time) I prefer myself.

The bad: I am working a lot (flying and managerial work).

and also most of the other First Officer dont like me at all since I have less flying experience, and since I am in charge for them, they have to refer to me for schedules- days off etc...

You dont have to finish two universities plus Msc... But you must have a degree....

Airlines are not only pilots. Executives-managers etc... are NOT pilots and they will not respect you in the short term being only a pilot with one year flying education (until you have thousants of hours of flying experience).

Also you have better prospects of getting a better place sooner than just beiing a pilot...

And you have better prospects of getting a job as a pilot....