Griffith Bachelor of Aviation

[PyroTek]

Now it is known by most regulars that I am training for my GFPT at the moment.
I have found that Griffith University has a Bachelor of Aviation course available. We are thinking about it at the moment (WilliamOK and I)
Bachelor of Aviation

My question to you all, is:

a) Are there any advantages about this course?
b) Will a potential employer care if you wave a piece of paper saying you have a degree on it?
c) Are there any disadvantages to this course?
d) Will it put me in good steed with the aviation community?
e) Will it take more money out of my pocket than I really intended?

Thanks
Pyro

-puts up potential flame shield-

[jbr76]

Pyrotek,

How far are you into your GFPT?

[PyroTek]

just starting Circuits.
This is something i'd be considering doing from the start of next year onwards. (I would probably be finished my GFPT by then)

[VH-FTS]

From my experience and what I've heard on the grapevine:

a) Are there any advantages about this course?

A degree in Science. You are 'forced' to complete your training and not let it drag on.

b) Will a potential employer care if you wave a piece of paper saying you have a degree on it?

Airlines, maybe. Anyone else, not really. Any degree is never a waste of time.

c) Are there any disadvantages to this course?

I can't think of any. Friends that have done the course haven't said anything negative. But they are in no better position than myself and I didn't do the course.

However, I believe you can only do the flying with a couple of training organisations. I am pretty sure RQAC are involved, but Redcliffe Aero Club are not.

d) Will it put me in good steed with the aviation community?

Rumour has it Qantas/QLink will be wanting all of the successful graduates who started this year onwards.

e) Will it take more money out of my pocket than I really intended?

Yes, but that shouldn't bother you because either your parents will pay or the government will (HECS or fee help or whatever it is called).


Take what I say with a grain of salt.

[VH-FTS]

also the above poster said you have to do it with an "approved organisation". not true at all, even thought it says it on the griffith website and its grilled into you. the only thing griffith gets out of it if you do it with an 'approved organisation' is that they get a small % of all your flying training costs. its nothing more then a deal to make griffith some money, and at the same time, give the local training schools some business

Good to hear it hasn't gone that way. Are they planning to 'tighten the screws' and only allow approved organisations to conduct the flight training in the future?

[atminimums]

currently 3rd year in aviation @ griffith..

Good to hear it hasn't gone that way. Are they planning to 'tighten the screws' and only allow approved organisations to conduct the flight training in the future?

Dont think so, but if your are planning on going for the Q cadetship, then yeh, it has to be approved.

I did my PPL training before the cadetship started up, and it was with a flight school in NSW.. No problems what so ever

Its been a great course so far.. Met alot of people, good lecturers and good subjects. Enjoy

[mr.tos]

the main reason for me doing the course, was for a 'back up' option if something where to go wrong with me in the future i.e. medical not renewed due health reasons etc. you can master in other aviation areas once uve completed the 3yr degree

If that is the case, you would have been a lot better off doing a degree in another discipline. Then if you did lose your license for whatever reason, you could walk straight into a relatively high paid job.

[PyroTek]

so in this case, with everyone's divine judgment, of course the course would be a positive, and a way to get my training done, but would everyone agree its a better way to get my aviation training done? or not as good?

[Aussie]

Not meaning to Highjack the thread Pyro, but, How does it look for someone wanting to do the degree, who is qualified and flying for an airline already?

DO they credit anything towards the course? Or still full 3 yrs?

Cheers

[PyroTek]

Originally Posted by Aussie

How does it look for someone wanting to do the degree, who is qualified and flying for an airline already?

Sorry, can you please rephrase that?
It might be because i'm tired, or the question is 'odd' in how it is expressed...

[SkyScanner]

you get a really good insight into the workings of the aviation industry. how rules are made, who makes them, who updates them, how the airports are designed, the technology being used, how air routes are made, safety, aircraft performance etc etc...

IMHO this does not help you with your career as much as you think. The airlines want to see that you are making an extra effort after school, so a degree of some sort would be more appropriate. It doesn't mean you have to study it full time. As mr.tos said, you are better off having an education in a different field, given that if there is a downturn in aviation, there may not be many jobs out there. The graduates from degrees such as accounting, law, engineering are desperately sort after at the moment.

[Dragun]

weezythef

iagree wif ur post and all that cos degres r a wast of time & if you wana b a pilet than you could get 1000s off hours and expirince counts way more than eduction in my books anyway.my too cents

Pyrotek - you should listin to this guy

[PyroTek]

HAHAH!
I almost fell off my chair.

Mhm, but yeah, to be honest, no offence, To be completely honest, people with grammar like that have little credibility, IMO.

I reckon I will decide depending on what I feel is best, possibly when i get my senior certificate.

[Hawksley]

the message we got from the qantas rep and bates (course convenor) was that in the next few years as of this year qantas will be opening up alot more positions for their cadetship for griffith aviation students. so its a much better chance than 10%.

[PyroTek]

yeah i understand it doesn't guarantee a position in QF or VB or J* etc. but would it put me a step up on other candidates going for the same job as me in the future?

And how much of it is actually to do with flying etc.? (as opposed to general physics not to do completely with flying)

[PyroTek]

I believe that if you have the minimum requirements then a degree would place you a step above a person with the same endo's, ratings, and hours as you.
Am I right guys?

[PyroTek]

well its not long till i'm 18, so thats not a matter..
I'm just thinking, i'm going to either have to work and train constantly and attempt to get my CPL like that, or do this degree, adn still have to pay my training...

Is it possible to take out loans?

[PyroTek]

rep: i regret to say:
these training organisations all say that you must forward the money for training to the relevant flying school, not eligible for hecs.

[j3pipercub]

WEEZYTHEF!!!

You're slagging off the degree saying it won't help you get a job etc etc etc and when I do a search on your forum contrbutions, you're asking whether or not Coastjet is a good MECIR school and 'hoping to get your CPL done by may'. So now I ask you this question as calmly as possible:

HOW THE F#CK WOULD YOU KNOW?

You haven't even left flying school, let alone been in the industry for any decent amount of time (Read: at least four years is considered a decent time). Please, you aren't in the position to even comment on whether or not a degree will help with your career, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A LICENSE YET SPROG!

Pyro, I did the degree, It was hard, but it actually covered all of the ATPL subjects in the three years. It makes life a whole lot easier when you sit the ATPL cyberexams cos the Uni stuff is harder but more in depth. You make friends and contacts in the course that give you a network when you finish that is very useful. I got my first turbine job through this network and subsequently helped two other uni friends get in with the same company.

If I had my time over, I would have still done the course, the lessons you learn and the insight into the entire aviation industry were invaluable.

Aussie, in answer to your q. I believe you get 3 semesters worth of credit for having over 1500 hours and an ATPL

j3

[PyroTek]

mm, always wondered about weezythef's credibility.
I'll keep that in mind, j3, was it full time? or were you able to do a job while you did the course to pay off your training?
I reckon doing all the ATPL subjects would put you ahead too ey?

Dan