Geeeeeeeezuuuuuuuus...... is this a bloody ladies magazine forum? your all a pack of bitches!
I can't stand this attitude in aviation! bag the newbie! The university aviation programs are perfectly fine for people who want a degree as well as a CPL, MECIR, ATPL's etc. I can't believe half the dribble posted in reply to this genuine question! Help the kid out and pull your heads in.
The days of flying a 206 in the bush to get into the airlines are numbered!! Deal with it, fairly soon there will be new recruits going straight to the airlines after the new MPL licence coming into play... and geeeez aren't you ladies going to be pissed off about these "kids' getting right hand seats with out spending time in the "bush" and earning double what you earned when you got your first job!
I say clap clap, Elliot mate, continue on your uni-degree, get your CPL, ATPL's and MECIR. Walk out of there with your 200 hours and a degree.
You'll piss in a job over a standard CPL providing you can back up all those qualifications with a solid professional can do attitude and decent flying skills. Any employer (apart from jackaroo's and the bush tucker man in central australia) will care about a degree and airlines highly regard it as it shows the ability to commit to a 3 year course. Airlines want commitment and are looking for professional operators to act as part of a multi crew and structured environment, your not going to be taking off overloaded on a dirt strip, on a 42C day. So be don't let people tell you that you need that experience and your less of a pilot because you don't have it. That's not saying you wouldn't develop some interesting experiences and skills in the bush, but airline flying is different.
As far as programs for airlines go, by the time you finish your degree there will be many programs that will put you into the right seat of a regional turbo prop or jet, just look at R-E-X, Mac-air and Q Link, all have programs that train low hour OPERATORS how to operate there aircraft and work effectively in a multi-crew environment. You'll have plenty of opportunities and the days of old school GA are numbered, with minimums so low, if you want to go to an airline you'll be able to take part in there bridging courses and walk straight into it. Even Q-a-n-t-a-s mainline have a min of 500 hours? thats nothing.... you can get that in your first year after your CPL
So chin up mate, don't take anyone else's **** and no doubt we'll hear your name over the PA system of an A380/747 or 73 in about 3-4 years.
