Is it a good career?
I visited ERAU (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University) early this year, where I was told that total course fees in the order of US$110,000 are typical. It's not a state-funded university so you'll end up paying exactly the same as a local student, it's just that you'll have to look elsewhere for any financial aid.
As for the shortsighted thing, basically I've worked in the aerospace industry since I left school at 18 (with a couple of gaps to do degrees - in aeronautics) at various times have been involved in military and civil flight testing, military and civil ground testing, aircraft design, certification, training, education, ferrying, air transport, maintenance, management, spacecraft design, writing about most of the above and a few other things. Every one of those jobs was fascinating and rewarding - so I don't believe that flying up the front of a big-jet is by any means the only rewarding job in this industry.
This is not to say that there's anything wrong with airline flying, it's just that there are very few jobs in this industry that I wouldn't rather be doing than, say, being an accountant or pharmacist.
Aviation and aerospace are fun in all flavours (although admittedly some jobs in it pay better than others, and all have their frustrations).
G
As for the shortsighted thing, basically I've worked in the aerospace industry since I left school at 18 (with a couple of gaps to do degrees - in aeronautics) at various times have been involved in military and civil flight testing, military and civil ground testing, aircraft design, certification, training, education, ferrying, air transport, maintenance, management, spacecraft design, writing about most of the above and a few other things. Every one of those jobs was fascinating and rewarding - so I don't believe that flying up the front of a big-jet is by any means the only rewarding job in this industry.
This is not to say that there's anything wrong with airline flying, it's just that there are very few jobs in this industry that I wouldn't rather be doing than, say, being an accountant or pharmacist.
Aviation and aerospace are fun in all flavours (although admittedly some jobs in it pay better than others, and all have their frustrations).
G
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Yeah i get what you mean. Although for me, the flying part is interesting, although i like tinkering with my motorbike lol.
I dont know, people always say have something to fall back on, incase of loss of medical etc. being a plumber, electrician...... some people may want a career to fall back on such as a chemist if the airline career doesnt fly.
I really do like flying, and it is my number 1 priority, but i would rather have a degree in something different, such as chemistry, now do you think that it would be frouned upon, i may be asked 'why do a degree in chemistry if you want to be a pilot'? I mean i like it better than physics, and will do better in it?
thanks again
I dont know, people always say have something to fall back on, incase of loss of medical etc. being a plumber, electrician...... some people may want a career to fall back on such as a chemist if the airline career doesnt fly.
I really do like flying, and it is my number 1 priority, but i would rather have a degree in something different, such as chemistry, now do you think that it would be frouned upon, i may be asked 'why do a degree in chemistry if you want to be a pilot'? I mean i like it better than physics, and will do better in it?
thanks again
As an ex-aircraft engineer and current airline pilot and I can confidently say that your choice of degree is immaterial if you then plan a career in commercial flying. An airline is only interested in whether you can pass the type-rating and line training in minimum time and represent the airline in a professional manner. A degree in aeronautical engineering will be quite hard in itself and, unless your heart is in it, soul destroying. Choose a degree course you are interested in and can stick with for 3 or 4 years. One thing won't impress an airline is a tendency to give up when the going gets tough.
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Ham P.....Were you an LAE mate? I'd like to know how airlines view LAEs who may be looking at becoming pilots in the future? Is it good, due to knowledge of the aircraft/systems, or is it bad....know too much? 
Thanks
Thanks
Wasn't an LAE but it doesn't really matter what you did before flying because it's all about how quickly and cheaply they can get you flying passengers. Regional airlines will be especially interested in how quickly they can promote you to the left-hand seat so hours are king.
As an aside, I've been involved in maintenance, flight trials, development work and airworthiness in the past before starting to fly commercially.
As an aside, I've been involved in maintenance, flight trials, development work and airworthiness in the past before starting to fly commercially.
Educated Hillbilly
Nothing wrong with a Chemistry degree, sensible move, but the obvious point you'll need to investigate is what sort of money will you earn as a chemistry graduate. I know there is a need to strike a balance between money and job interest, but realistically you will need to clear student debt and raise finance for flight training, so your degree choice will need to be based on expected income after graduation. Now, I believe there is a shortage of people studying chemistry which does suggest salaries for Chemistry graduates have the potential to be good. However alot of "lab research" jobs I have seen advertised tend to have quite low salaries.
As for Aero Engineering, the current shortage in my own technical field means the current contract rates are good, but I found prior to my contracting days working as a permanent staff engineer the pay was quite average.
Ironically it was after finishing pilot training I became a contractor and consequently doubled my income (along with four fold increase in debt), however in the Aero industry I have found that contracting is the only way of getting decent pay, downside is the lack of job security.
However the recent appearance of low cost aerospace design / stress offices in India is posing a possible threat to the long term future of the design and analysis industry in this country. The engineering side can be as boom and bust as the flying side, so a second career outside the aviation industry has some advatages.
As for Aero Engineering, the current shortage in my own technical field means the current contract rates are good, but I found prior to my contracting days working as a permanent staff engineer the pay was quite average.
Ironically it was after finishing pilot training I became a contractor and consequently doubled my income (along with four fold increase in debt), however in the Aero industry I have found that contracting is the only way of getting decent pay, downside is the lack of job security.
However the recent appearance of low cost aerospace design / stress offices in India is posing a possible threat to the long term future of the design and analysis industry in this country. The engineering side can be as boom and bust as the flying side, so a second career outside the aviation industry has some advatages.
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You might want to consider Chemical Engineering too if you have an interest in chemistry but are looking for something a bit more practical.
I have seen published tables in newspapers and magazines which say that Chemical Engineering has the highest average wages out of all the engineering disciplines but i have no idea what the employment prospects are like in that field for new graduates.
Alot of accountancy and finance companies have been actively recruiting science and engineering graduates recently too for their numeracy skills.
Based on my own experiences i would echo Ham-Phisted's earlier remarks. Find a course you will enjoy because any of the science based degree courses can be a tough slog and if you want to do well you will have to put in alot of hours. Concentrate on finding a course you will enjoy and excel at rather than worrying about the scope for employment.
I have seen published tables in newspapers and magazines which say that Chemical Engineering has the highest average wages out of all the engineering disciplines but i have no idea what the employment prospects are like in that field for new graduates.
Alot of accountancy and finance companies have been actively recruiting science and engineering graduates recently too for their numeracy skills.
Based on my own experiences i would echo Ham-Phisted's earlier remarks. Find a course you will enjoy because any of the science based degree courses can be a tough slog and if you want to do well you will have to put in alot of hours. Concentrate on finding a course you will enjoy and excel at rather than worrying about the scope for employment.
Cunning Artificer
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Its all very well to have a career to fall back on but a degree won't necessarily get you a career several years down the line should you need to fall back on it. After graduating you're expected to accumulate experience. Think about it like this: who might employ an unemployed former pilot who just happens to have a degree in chemistry?
Our former Director of Personnel had a degree in chemistry but went into public administration and got into the airline business by accident. One of the general management trainees in our graduate trainee scheme started at uni doing media studies, then switched to hotel management. She didn't get selected for what she studied but how she performed. In my own case, I'm a reformed Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with a degree in accounting & finance of all things. Aeroplanes are much more fun than banks, I might add...
If you want to be a pilot, be a pilot. Check that you can pass the medical as Ghengis suggested, then throw everything body and soul into what you really want to do. If it all turns bad, you can do the degree later.
Our former Director of Personnel had a degree in chemistry but went into public administration and got into the airline business by accident. One of the general management trainees in our graduate trainee scheme started at uni doing media studies, then switched to hotel management. She didn't get selected for what she studied but how she performed. In my own case, I'm a reformed Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with a degree in accounting & finance of all things. Aeroplanes are much more fun than banks, I might add...
If you want to be a pilot, be a pilot. Check that you can pass the medical as Ghengis suggested, then throw everything body and soul into what you really want to do. If it all turns bad, you can do the degree later.
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yup
Yes, chemical engineering is well paid, can be over 100k, althogh my chemistry tutor knows an analytical chemist earning 120k PA, and is 29(working for a major drug company). Its definatly a good career, and the main reason i was thinking about it because i like chemistry, am good at it, and its an incredibly academic degree.
Educated Hillbilly
"Train as a pilot first do a degree later if you need to".
Sorry but if you acquire the kind of debts most people do after pilot training, you will not be able to afford to do a degree after doing pilot training (assuming the worst case of losing medical prior to getting a flying job).
Danny, the chemical engineering is a sound plan, that should help pay for the type rating.
Sorry but if you acquire the kind of debts most people do after pilot training, you will not be able to afford to do a degree after doing pilot training (assuming the worst case of losing medical prior to getting a flying job).
Danny, the chemical engineering is a sound plan, that should help pay for the type rating.
