Useless Aviation Degrees
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Useless Aviation Degrees
I firmly believe that aviation degrees are virtually useless to those who aspire to be pilots.
Firstly, if you are going to do a degree, do something which is recognised outside aviation. For example, business, economics, law etc. At least this way you will be able to get another job if aviation doesnt work out as planned.
Secondly, after 3 years you will come out with 200 hours, a degree which is not accepted outside aviation, and a huge HECS debt. Better to spend the HECS on an instructors rating/type rating. And use the 3 other years getting hours.
Thirdly, I believe that nobody who employs pilots in aviation is going to be impressed by an aviation degree over flight experience. And if they are impressed by a degree, then see point 1.
Lastly, if you really want a degree. Wait till you get an airline job, and then study something worthwhile part-time.
Im a big fan of degrees. I started an aviation degree, and soon realised it was irrelevant and worthless. I did the flight training as quickly as possible, got a job, and have now completed a Bachelor of Business. I firmly believe this is a much better way to to things.
I would like to hear contrary opinions, expecially from those who are involved with these degrees, and those who hire pilots.
cheers
Firstly, if you are going to do a degree, do something which is recognised outside aviation. For example, business, economics, law etc. At least this way you will be able to get another job if aviation doesnt work out as planned.
Secondly, after 3 years you will come out with 200 hours, a degree which is not accepted outside aviation, and a huge HECS debt. Better to spend the HECS on an instructors rating/type rating. And use the 3 other years getting hours.
Thirdly, I believe that nobody who employs pilots in aviation is going to be impressed by an aviation degree over flight experience. And if they are impressed by a degree, then see point 1.
Lastly, if you really want a degree. Wait till you get an airline job, and then study something worthwhile part-time.
Im a big fan of degrees. I started an aviation degree, and soon realised it was irrelevant and worthless. I did the flight training as quickly as possible, got a job, and have now completed a Bachelor of Business. I firmly believe this is a much better way to to things.
I would like to hear contrary opinions, expecially from those who are involved with these degrees, and those who hire pilots.
cheers
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Maybe when you get that big flying gig on a 210 in some god foresaken community, you can put your fancy business degree to use and run seminars for the locals on good business strategies and how the rising ozzie dollar is going to affect the cost of goanna....
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Maybe if you want to go into management, or that kind of thing, but I dont think its that important, I certainly dont look at whether you have a degree or not when I'm hiring guys and girls to fly bugsmashers.
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I agree, what use is an Aviation Degree to you if you lose your medical.
Do something as a backup that you can enjoy/make a bundle of money out of, or can use succesfully if your aviation dream has fallen in the crapper.
After a few yrs in GA, who knows, you may WANT to do something different!
This might be the alkyhol speaking...
Do something as a backup that you can enjoy/make a bundle of money out of, or can use succesfully if your aviation dream has fallen in the crapper.
After a few yrs in GA, who knows, you may WANT to do something different!
This might be the alkyhol speaking...
Props are for boats!
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I dont think so. Alot of Carriers around the World look favourably on Degress. BA, CX, QF, EK to name a few not to mention in the US and CANADA,you will severely disadvantaged for not having as is most Opportunities in the Middle East its a aprerequisite.
I wish I did one.
Sheep
I wish I did one.
Sheep
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To: 'giddy up' - Im not sure if that sarcasm was directed to me or in general, but thats why I wrote........
"wait till you get an AIRLINE job, and THEN study something worthwhile".
But you did make a good point without knowing it. Your reply would fit equally well to those who do the Aviation Degrees, and backs up my assertion about wasting your time studying, rather than building hours.
Just in case that was directed at me - Im not flying a C210, Im a Saab captain, and got my command with 2500 hours TT on the basis of my ability (not my degree!!).
To 'sheep guts' - I agree with your point. These carriers are more likely to have recruitment staff that recognise the value of a degree. Not for the crap that was actually studied, but rather for the indication of basic intelligence, ability to learn, and intellectual proactivity.
cheers
"wait till you get an AIRLINE job, and THEN study something worthwhile".
But you did make a good point without knowing it. Your reply would fit equally well to those who do the Aviation Degrees, and backs up my assertion about wasting your time studying, rather than building hours.
Just in case that was directed at me - Im not flying a C210, Im a Saab captain, and got my command with 2500 hours TT on the basis of my ability (not my degree!!).
To 'sheep guts' - I agree with your point. These carriers are more likely to have recruitment staff that recognise the value of a degree. Not for the crap that was actually studied, but rather for the indication of basic intelligence, ability to learn, and intellectual proactivity.
cheers
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dittos bateman, they're nearly essential these days to get an airline job, but they teach you nothing about flying. I've posted this before, but my understanding, in the US anyway, is that airlines rankings in the Fortune500 list is corelated to the number of personnel with bach/mast/phd's. That's the conspiracy theory anyway.
I just think it is unfortunate to disadvantage those who chose another post-secondary school path, all for the sake of ...well whatever it is.
I just think it is unfortunate to disadvantage those who chose another post-secondary school path, all for the sake of ...well whatever it is.
I'd tend to agree with Bateman...
A BAv for a new CPL ain't going to secure a job and does have little recognition outside aviation.
However any degree no matter what it is shows a persons ability to acquire and use knowledge. There will be at some point during any career where having a degree will distinguish you from someone else whether its a BAv or not...however you could suggest that a pilot doing a BAv is putting all his eggs in one basket so to speak. I would recommend doing a degree outside of aviation in business/economics or management...not one of the airy fairy feel good degrees like psychology/arts etc
Even if you are a dedicated and committed pilot that only wants to fly, with the competition around these days a useful degree will either distinguish you from the mob or give you something to fall back on if things dont work out.
ATPL and MBA
A BAv for a new CPL ain't going to secure a job and does have little recognition outside aviation.
However any degree no matter what it is shows a persons ability to acquire and use knowledge. There will be at some point during any career where having a degree will distinguish you from someone else whether its a BAv or not...however you could suggest that a pilot doing a BAv is putting all his eggs in one basket so to speak. I would recommend doing a degree outside of aviation in business/economics or management...not one of the airy fairy feel good degrees like psychology/arts etc
Even if you are a dedicated and committed pilot that only wants to fly, with the competition around these days a useful degree will either distinguish you from the mob or give you something to fall back on if things dont work out.
ATPL and MBA
hehe...i guess it comes down to peoples perceptions doesn't it...glad i got a response to that bit because I was intentionally trying to wind someone up...like I said 'any degree no matter what it is shows ability...'
and by the way it's 'know' not 'no'
and by the way it's 'know' not 'no'
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Degree or a diploma in anything, the point is all they want to see is that you can apply yourself.
Very simple indeed
Smart money however would be on doing something outside of aviation to cover your ass just incase you are unable to fly one day.
Still in NZ, employers would rather see that you have all your ATPL's and then go and do some other study.
Very simple indeed
Smart money however would be on doing something outside of aviation to cover your ass just incase you are unable to fly one day.
Still in NZ, employers would rather see that you have all your ATPL's and then go and do some other study.
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Degree or a diploma in anything, the point is all they want to see is that you can apply yourself.
I don't agree however that if you fail your medical your degree becomes 'useless' , when I look through career magazines and papers most of the recruiters would like to see that you have a qualification higher than bursary etc.
If you for instance provided a copy of your c.v and it said for example that you had completed ue and the had obtained some pilot licences and say the job was for a position with an advertising agency they wouldnt take much notice of the fact that you had achieved such licences. However if you took in your cv and they saw you had a degree even if not totally relevant to the position that you are applying for , it shows you have a achieved a higher level of education and commitment in preparing yourself for the workforce( through there non aviation eyes)
There is nothing stopping you once you have achieved a degree to doing another years study while in GA and adding diffrent qualifications to that degree ie say for instance you get a Bachelor aviation or whathaveyou you could add some advertising papers to it , or some accounting papers to it , or some management papers to it , some medical papers , the list goes on ....
In my opinion there are plenty of advantages to having a degree in avaition.
I also would like to hear some more thoughts about this issue.
FB
I chose an aviation degree because I solely wanted to work in the aviation industry. Obviously flying is my primary goal, but if for some reason I lose my medical or cannot fly for some other reason, I still wish to remain in the industry in some capacity. Nothing else interests me in the slightest.
The course I did had a wide range of subjects, like airline management/economics, engineering, human factors/CRM and touched on other topics like Air Traffic Control and Risk Management.
As far as I'm concerned it gave me a good (but sometimes brief) overview of the entire industry through academic studies, as well as allowing me to complete my flying training in a structured manner at the same time.
If you think you might one day work outside aviation, then sure, a business/marketing/economics/engineering or whatever degree is for you. I might add that these degrees may also help you get a job in aviation, the only problem being that you might have specialised in one particular field.
TL
The course I did had a wide range of subjects, like airline management/economics, engineering, human factors/CRM and touched on other topics like Air Traffic Control and Risk Management.
As far as I'm concerned it gave me a good (but sometimes brief) overview of the entire industry through academic studies, as well as allowing me to complete my flying training in a structured manner at the same time.
If you think you might one day work outside aviation, then sure, a business/marketing/economics/engineering or whatever degree is for you. I might add that these degrees may also help you get a job in aviation, the only problem being that you might have specialised in one particular field.
TL
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Flyboy correct, that aviation degree dosen't become useless however it is a very narrow field in which you can now find employment.
All I'm trying to say is that a business or management degree would give you many more options. When and if you ever decide to get into management (by choice or due loss of medical) the aviation degree is not as much use as one of the above.
Don't take it the wrong way I'm not knocking anybody, if you have a degree aviation or not you have obviously worked hard to get it
All I'm trying to say is that a business or management degree would give you many more options. When and if you ever decide to get into management (by choice or due loss of medical) the aviation degree is not as much use as one of the above.
Don't take it the wrong way I'm not knocking anybody, if you have a degree aviation or not you have obviously worked hard to get it
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Only speaking for myself here, but when I did my Bachelor of Aviation course the only things I learnt were how to drink and how to manage time, especially around exam time when I'd rather be drinking. Without that degree, however, I wouldn't have been able to get into the Masters of Aviation Management course that I am currently doing - and find excellent... and am learning heaps of stuff that interests me greatly.
I think Bachelor of Aviation courses definately do have their place in our industry, and are just another step along what is hopefully a long career for all of us.
I think Bachelor of Aviation courses definately do have their place in our industry, and are just another step along what is hopefully a long career for all of us.