Career In Avaiation - What's the best way?

[Ds3]

Completely agree with Pace there. A degree is vital if it is a prerequisite to a specific career choice, such as aero-eng. Otherwise, a degree is a great way to end up with a lot of debt for very little improvement in employment prospects.

Three years industry experience working in your chosen field can, in many cases, be infinitely more valuable than a degree. Certainly when I'm recruiting in to my field I value and experienced candidate significantly higher than one with a degree that may not even be relevant.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Originally Posted by Pilot.Lyons

Wow G thats a bit harsh, you surprise me with that comment! Maybe it was a genuine typing error? We allmake them from tome to time

Maybe. However, I've done two aero-eng degrees and taught on these courses at several universities. I've seen too many students drift into an aero-eng degree because it seemed like a good idea at the time but had no passion for the subject or genuine interest in aerospace engineering as a subject. A lot will drop out at the end of their first year *only* £15k or so in debt, but a great many more graduate through some native ability to pass examinations but little other real subject knowledge or understanding. The majority of the rest thankfully will fortunately just go and do non-jobs such as accountancy or IT where they can do little damage. I talked with one recently.

But basically yes, I'm harsh to anybody who thinks that if all else fails, maybe they'll go and study aerospace engineering. It's certainly a silly (£50k in debt and 3+ years) "en-route" for somebody whose only interest is becoming a pilot. If somebody wants to be a pilot, really wants to be a pilot, then a backup qualification that allows them to make short term money is useful, but an engineering degree is a massive and pointless distraction.

Very simply, pilots should want to be pilots, aerospace engineers should want to be aerospace engineers. Don't study one to become the other at least not to a high level. Self study of aero-eng for interest, or a PPL for an engineer, are certainly healthy. But £50k and 3 years worth?

G

[Lance Murdoch]

A difficult question to answer because there is no right or wrong answer. One route that may work well for one individual may be disastrous for another so all you can do is solicit as many opinions and experiences as possible and make a decision.

Unless its what you really want to do I would not apply for the R.A.F. There are a lot of very good candidates competing for a small number of places therefore they can pick and choose who they take.

With regards to university there are degrees and there are degrees. Do not go for the easy and fashionable subjects. If its easy then by definition anyone can do it so your obtaining that degree does not really prove anything. A maths/science based degree from a good university will show that you have a high level of numeracy and literacy as well as teach you to think logically. These are all skills that are useful in aviation as well as many other fields. Above all choose a subject that will interest you.

I decided to pursue a well paid career in a job that interests me and use the money that I would have paid for airline training to fly for leisure.

[Pilot.Lyons]

Originally Posted by Genghis the Engineer

Originally Posted by Pilot.Lyons

Wow G thats a bit harsh, you surprise me with that comment! Maybe it was a genuine typing error? We allmake them from tome to time

Maybe. However, I've done two aero-eng degrees and taught on these courses at several universities. I've seen too many students drift into an aero-eng degree because it seemed like a good idea at the time but had no passion for the subject or genuine interest in aerospace engineering as a subject. A lot will drop out at the end of their first year *only* £15k or so in debt, but a great many more graduate through some native ability to pass examinations but little other real subject knowledge or understanding. The majority of the rest thankfully will fortunately just go and do non-jobs such as accountancy or IT where they can do little damage. I talked with one recently.

But basically yes, I'm harsh to anybody who thinks that if all else fails, maybe they'll go and study aerospace engineering. It's certainly a silly (£50k in debt and 3+ years) "en-route" for somebody whose only interest is becoming a pilot. If somebody wants to be a pilot, really wants to be a pilot, then a backup qualification that allows them to make short term money is useful, but an engineering degree is a massive and pointless distraction.

Very simply, pilots should want to be pilots, aerospace engineers should want to be aerospace engineers. Don't study one to become the other at least not to a high level. Self study of aero-eng for interest, or a PPL for an engineer, are certainly healthy. But £50k and 3 years worth?

G

I totally agree with you G

[thing]

Just to reiterate what others have said I would forget about the RAF. Being involved in the periphery as it were I know that you wouldn't stand a cat in hells chance at interview if you thought of the RAF as a last chance saloon, obviously you wouldn't say that but it would shine through like a searchlight. Selection boards are't made up of idiots and they can afford to be incredibly choosy these days.

[Saab Dastard]

non-jobs such as accountancy or IT where they can do little damage.

Oi, G, less of the disparaging remarks about IT - you'll be having a go at Apple Macs and iphones next! Remember where you are...

SD

[cockney steve]

Oi, G, less of the disparaging remarks about IT

Of my 3 kids, 2 are in IT !!!! Both ducked Uni and were self-taught, neither has been out of work involuntarily, neither stayed at Uni. when they realised they actually knew more and had a deeper understanding than their "tutors" both on good salaries, one local, married , own house and car...other in London, single and back since January from a 6-month holiday riding a bike down the length of the Andes!

Daughter did a masters in Astrophysics and went on to a doctorate in Particle physics...she had a fascinating time , visited many countries on symposiums with CERN and designed chips for "Atlas" experiment in the Large Hadron Collider.....wonderful for contacts, buggerall use for a job!

walked straight into a consultancy -post (IT and Project -Management)
currently seconded to MOD ...her firm ONLY take on Graduates.

here's the thing....she's on terrific money , but the boys were earning for about 6 years before she started and in that time, they have both established themselves in the industry.

A"fluffy" subject is a total waste of time and money and I know of no employer outside of fluffy arty farty stuff , who gives any credence whatsoever to such degrees....on the contrary, it marks your card as a follower,skiver and liability.
A good, solid degree can mark you as a person of self-discipline, intelligence, and initiative,with a good work ethic.

No. 2 son is "thinking" about doing a degree, just to prove he can!...he sees no financial advantage and not much of a challenge.

Just my take on things!

[Genghis the Engineer]

No. 2 son is "thinking" about doing a degree, just to prove he can!...he sees no financial advantage and not much of a challenge.

Much the same reason that I did my CPL


I don't dispute that IT people are well paid - but, well, it's not aviation is it.

G

[abgd]

Perhaps it's not quite the definition of IT you had in mind, but bad programming has caused a whole host of spectacular disasters.

Software Bugs - Software Glitches
RISKS-LIST: RISKS-FORUM Digest

I used to write drug prescriptions for patients using a computer system that under certain circumstances would sneakily change the name on the top of the script when you printed it out, and that sometimes omitted medicines at random.

[Pilot.Lyons]

I think common sense will get you through life a lot easier than a degree..

As for my children?

Well one is starting infants next month and the other has just said dada at 5 months old....

And they dont have degrees

😄