Do you have a Degree, and do you feel it helped you into your flying job?
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Its ok, I understand that you cant fathom my reasoning and again that's ok.
But what if you decide after flying for x amount of years that you want to delve into the engineering side, aerodynamics and all the like. You then have the pathway open because of it.
However, I do notice you skipped completely over how I said that doing the degree allows me to get my CPL/CIR without having to pay cash or take a loan from a bank.
But what if you decide after flying for x amount of years that you want to delve into the engineering side, aerodynamics and all the like. You then have the pathway open because of it.
However, I do notice you skipped completely over how I said that doing the degree allows me to get my CPL/CIR without having to pay cash or take a loan from a bank.
Do I have a Degree? - Yes (Aviation)
Did it help me get my first job (GA)? - No.
Did it help me get my second/third/fourth job? - Probably Not.
Did it help me get my current job (airline) - I'd say Yes.
Did it help me get my first job (GA)? - No.
Did it help me get my second/third/fourth job? - Probably Not.
Did it help me get my current job (airline) - I'd say Yes.
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Do I have a Degree? Yes..BSc (Aviation)
Did it help me get my FIRST job? Yes..as it was a contract the Uni holds
Will it help me again in GA? Probably not..
Will it help me get into the Airlines? Maybe..time will tell
Just do what is right for you. Not everyone is the same and everyone has different reasons for doing what they do.
Did it help me get my FIRST job? Yes..as it was a contract the Uni holds
Will it help me again in GA? Probably not..
Will it help me get into the Airlines? Maybe..time will tell
Just do what is right for you. Not everyone is the same and everyone has different reasons for doing what they do.
. But it has certainly helped in getting a wide range of contacts for down the track!
Sprucegoose
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Do I have a degree? No
Has it stopped me from progressing in my career? No
Do I want a degree? Yes, definitely on my list of things to achieve!
Has it stopped me from progressing in my career? No
Do I want a degree? Yes, definitely on my list of things to achieve!
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I have a law degree and it helps me decipher the Regulations. Also gives me a certain respect from managment at pilot group meetings; I am the pilot representative in our company.
I have not practiced law for 15 years but maintain an interest in the industry. I still have a lot of lawyer friends and they often help with the tricky aspects of the laws relating to industrial actions;that ever changing.
When I joined the airline I now fly for they were impressed withe the fact I had a degree; I think. I feel it has been beneficial. I doubt I could go back to the Law now though.
My advice do a degree. It will help you develop as a person. Uni is fun but expensive now, it was free when I did it. Oh the good old days.
I have not practiced law for 15 years but maintain an interest in the industry. I still have a lot of lawyer friends and they often help with the tricky aspects of the laws relating to industrial actions;that ever changing.
When I joined the airline I now fly for they were impressed withe the fact I had a degree; I think. I feel it has been beneficial. I doubt I could go back to the Law now though.
My advice do a degree. It will help you develop as a person. Uni is fun but expensive now, it was free when I did it. Oh the good old days.
Wally!
LTNS.
Don't want to get you started........ but, you were in our thoughts a week or so ago - night IFR in the Bo with just a touch of ice for good measure!
Anti-thread drift = I have a degree!
Dr
LTNS.
Don't want to get you started........ but, you were in our thoughts a week or so ago - night IFR in the Bo with just a touch of ice for good measure!
Anti-thread drift = I have a degree!
Dr
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Have a degree and no it didn't help at all to get my current job.
My opinion? If you want a flying job and think that the piece of paper will get you ahead of others you are wrong. What the degree will do is put you in contact with people that are in the industry and this can be very helpful/insightful but it won't get you a job. You packing the car will get you the job.
You are better off doing a degree in another profession in case things go wrong.
My opinion? If you want a flying job and think that the piece of paper will get you ahead of others you are wrong. What the degree will do is put you in contact with people that are in the industry and this can be very helpful/insightful but it won't get you a job. You packing the car will get you the job.
You are better off doing a degree in another profession in case things go wrong.
Last edited by Mr. Hat; 17th Jun 2009 at 06:44.
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If you want to make a some money, learn something worthwhile that you'll use for the rest of your GA flying career then do an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering apprenticeship. Do four years or less (compentcy based), come out as a tradesman, 3/4's of the way to an airframe and engine licence and far more knowledgeable than the rest of the 150/200 hour pilots out there.
More importantly, you'll make contacts in the industry and should be able to walk straight into a flying job if you're decent in the hangar. You wont have the problems that the newbies had (starting hot fuel injected engines) as you've had plenty of experience before hand.
More so, if work slows down and the rest of the drivers are being put off and there is a maintenance hangar on the side, roll out the toolbox again and you wont be surviving on centrelink payments.
Worth a look in.
More importantly, you'll make contacts in the industry and should be able to walk straight into a flying job if you're decent in the hangar. You wont have the problems that the newbies had (starting hot fuel injected engines) as you've had plenty of experience before hand.
More so, if work slows down and the rest of the drivers are being put off and there is a maintenance hangar on the side, roll out the toolbox again and you wont be surviving on centrelink payments.
Worth a look in.
Last edited by no oil pressure; 17th Jun 2009 at 10:31.
I don't have a degree and I don't think that it helps with line flying.
If you want to be a manager at some time during your career do it part time, after you get the flying job that you want. The company that you work for might even pay for it.
Hours for age is still the most important criteria for getting a job in aviation.
If you want to be a manager at some time during your career do it part time, after you get the flying job that you want. The company that you work for might even pay for it.
Hours for age is still the most important criteria for getting a job in aviation.
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Do I have a Degree? Yes..BSc (Aviation)
Did it help me get my FIRST job? Nope
Will it help me again in GA? Doubt it..
Does it make my current job easier? Yup
Will it help me get into the Airlines? Probably..time will tell
Do I regret spending three years studying for the Degree? Not one little bit
If you want a Degree, get a Degree. But if you don't, don't bother even starting it because you will not finish it...there has to be strong motivation.
Did it help me get my FIRST job? Nope
Will it help me again in GA? Doubt it..
Does it make my current job easier? Yup
Will it help me get into the Airlines? Probably..time will tell
Do I regret spending three years studying for the Degree? Not one little bit
If you want a Degree, get a Degree. But if you don't, don't bother even starting it because you will not finish it...there has to be strong motivation.
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I left my degree of my application when applying to LCC's recently because I was advised by the crewing company that was recruiting that (and I quote) "people with degrees expect too much in the way of wages and corporate standards"
Go figure.
Go figure.
I don't have a degree but plan on getting one. I personally don't think a degree helps you the slightest bit in getting an aviation job in this country.
If you have candidate A and candidate B both going for an airline job and candidate A has a degree (in whatever) and candidate B doesn't, then I really don't think it will make a difference unless in the unlikely case both candidates are identical in thier sim ride and they have identical personalities. As these are the qualites from which airline pilots get chosen, not a degree.
If you are going to get a degree for whatever reason don't get an aviation one. Unless you want to be some aviation management type then this may help but these days you would probably benefit more with an accounting degree.
The only reason I can see for getting a degree is to have a backup qualification incase you lose your medical or can no longer fly for whatever reason. Thats why I plan on getting one in a different field in the near future.
If you have candidate A and candidate B both going for an airline job and candidate A has a degree (in whatever) and candidate B doesn't, then I really don't think it will make a difference unless in the unlikely case both candidates are identical in thier sim ride and they have identical personalities. As these are the qualites from which airline pilots get chosen, not a degree.
If you are going to get a degree for whatever reason don't get an aviation one. Unless you want to be some aviation management type then this may help but these days you would probably benefit more with an accounting degree.
The only reason I can see for getting a degree is to have a backup qualification incase you lose your medical or can no longer fly for whatever reason. Thats why I plan on getting one in a different field in the near future.
Just finished a degree through UNSW (Masters Sci & Tech - Aviation). It was not a planned strategy as to 'why do a degree' but rather an "evolving strategy" - see what happens. Ansett had fallen over and I was a 30 something year old SO with QF. I felt I needed to do something to compete if I was out of a job again.
The degree has helped already, more than I expected. The assignments often meant interviewing people who would later hire me in management. Management jobs came up (I took leave of absence from QF to fly in a smaller airline) and people thought the degree must mean I know something (ha ha) so I got the job. This has then led to progression in the flying side (Line Training/TRI) and all of a sudden other opportunities have opened up. This is way more than I expected from the degree.
But that's not all...The other surprising thing is the people I have met through the degree. I may have been exceptionally lucky, but many of the facilitators are either current airline or ex airline managers. It is quite a small community in the Uni/airline world. I feel part of it, which again is way more than I expected.
The Units at UNSW are very interesting. As some of the posters have highlighted, it is not necessary for flying. However the subjects (in the degree I did) are very far from a waste of time for any pilot, airline or other. They are relevant and taught (facilitated) by experts of industry, not just teachers. These are people that have held the highest posts in there departments (and still do in some cases).
I can't recommend UNSW highly enough (I hope it doesn't change).
The degree has helped already, more than I expected. The assignments often meant interviewing people who would later hire me in management. Management jobs came up (I took leave of absence from QF to fly in a smaller airline) and people thought the degree must mean I know something (ha ha) so I got the job. This has then led to progression in the flying side (Line Training/TRI) and all of a sudden other opportunities have opened up. This is way more than I expected from the degree.
But that's not all...The other surprising thing is the people I have met through the degree. I may have been exceptionally lucky, but many of the facilitators are either current airline or ex airline managers. It is quite a small community in the Uni/airline world. I feel part of it, which again is way more than I expected.
The Units at UNSW are very interesting. As some of the posters have highlighted, it is not necessary for flying. However the subjects (in the degree I did) are very far from a waste of time for any pilot, airline or other. They are relevant and taught (facilitated) by experts of industry, not just teachers. These are people that have held the highest posts in there departments (and still do in some cases).
I can't recommend UNSW highly enough (I hope it doesn't change).
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Do I have a degree - Yes
Did it help me get a flying job - No
Why? Piloting is a trade, not a profession.
Because piloting is a trade, within the 'profession' of aviation, you do not need a degree, especially when you are starting out.
However, I totally agree with Kellykelpie, that later in your career, when you have already logged the type of flight time required for another flying job, the qualification and the connections can only help you with a career in management etc, but that's not really about piloting anymore, is it?
From someone who lost their airline job in March, every job site around the world only requires two things: B737, A320 etc Endorsement, and over 500 hrs on type, (plus the ability to work anywhere in the world, be there tomorrow at your own cost, and pay for your own accomodation etc).
Did it help me get a flying job - No
Why? Piloting is a trade, not a profession.
Because piloting is a trade, within the 'profession' of aviation, you do not need a degree, especially when you are starting out.
However, I totally agree with Kellykelpie, that later in your career, when you have already logged the type of flight time required for another flying job, the qualification and the connections can only help you with a career in management etc, but that's not really about piloting anymore, is it?
From someone who lost their airline job in March, every job site around the world only requires two things: B737, A320 etc Endorsement, and over 500 hrs on type, (plus the ability to work anywhere in the world, be there tomorrow at your own cost, and pay for your own accomodation etc).
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Jazzy, to be fair, you should also ask the same question to the ex-pilots who didn't continue with an aviation career through one reason or another. Many pilots will continue in aviation until their retirement. If you ask these career pilots, many think they could get a management position if their aviation career went belly up. It is extremely unlikely even with a degree.
Many other pilots will seek alternative employment at some stage during their working lives. I know a few people who left aviation for other endeavours. From what I've seen, a degree provides much brighter alternatives even 15 or 20 years after graduation. It might take a while to start moving forward again, but a degree is like insurance or a safety net. Yea, it might take a little more investment to begin with, but it'll be better than gold if you ever need it. If nothing else, it gets you access to a better educated future spouse and you might need the support one day.
Many other pilots will seek alternative employment at some stage during their working lives. I know a few people who left aviation for other endeavours. From what I've seen, a degree provides much brighter alternatives even 15 or 20 years after graduation. It might take a while to start moving forward again, but a degree is like insurance or a safety net. Yea, it might take a little more investment to begin with, but it'll be better than gold if you ever need it. If nothing else, it gets you access to a better educated future spouse and you might need the support one day.