OK, this debate is becoming a tad more sensible.
JJ it really depends what you want to do.
Most of the big players have graduate entry programs where you get a taste of many Airline diciplines, the competition for these places is fierce, and on most there is an entry age limit, i have to say i am not 100% on salary, but wouldnt think it would be much more than 25K for starters.
If you are going down the route of going into an Ops Department of a big player in 3 years time, then I think most will agree that you have to start fairly near to the bottom, there are no shortage of graduates about in many ops departments, and staff with many, many years experience ahead of you in the pecking order, again 25K would be a reasonable figure to aim for as a Controller. Management would be a long way down the line.
There is of course the Option of going into a smaller carrier where progression may be quicker, and the money here in Management is getting better all the time.
I am sure you will by no means struggle to get a job, but from first hand experience i think your MSc is better suited to the first or third option, not the second, or with your expectations you will be sorely disapointed. Unfortunately the RAF will not teach you what a lot of Ops Managers have many, many years of experience in, that is reality.
In the Ops environment often experience and raw talent for what is a very specialist role will come before a degree, but then that solely depends on the individual.
I think what it also boils down to, is that don't expect the degree to give you any benefit over someone, with say 3 years Civil ops experience when you too are 3 years down the line with NO civilian experience.
I am interested to hear the opinions of others
TG
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: The Groover ]