Education: What A Levels and Degree (if any)?!(Apr '09)
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Yeah, i agree with the above post. I just about completed my degree in Aeronautical Eng. and through the recent selection process i attended at Agusta Wesland, they mentioned that they also had a shortage of avionics applicants.
A word of note to ppl considering Aero-eng, its not as specialised on aircraft as you think. Inustry dont know where to put you as its so broad, touching on ALL areas and hence i am fighting my guts out to even be conisdered for avionics (since it isnt an avionis degree - i was only exposed to 3 relevent modules in my entire 3 years!)
A word of note to ppl considering Aero-eng, its not as specialised on aircraft as you think. Inustry dont know where to put you as its so broad, touching on ALL areas and hence i am fighting my guts out to even be conisdered for avionics (since it isnt an avionis degree - i was only exposed to 3 relevent modules in my entire 3 years!)
Educated Hillbilly
Well the term aero degree does need to be elaborated, aeronautical engineering degrees are not that broad, if you studied an aeronautical engineering degree approved by RAes and also the IMech it is recognised essentially as the same way as a mechanical engineering degree (I would like to point at at my university those that failed aeronautical engineering were allowed to transfer to the mechanical engineering degree; hence suggesting the straight mechanical degree was slightly less demanding). Hence as an aeronautical graduate you would expect to be offered a chance to move into flight dynamics, aerodynamics/CFD, Stress/FEA analysis etc.
It is true you can direct your degree towards certain areas by the modules you select.
That makes sense that you wouldn't expect to be accepted for avionics, it is the same as a mechanical engineer applying to work as an Electronic engineering position. Ironically the specialisations that you may end up working with under the banner of "mechanical" engineering (e.g. Stress, CFD etc) you may well have only studied about three modules relevant to the specialisation. It is certainly true most of your knowledge will be acquired while workings.
It is quite common for aeronautical graduates to move into software engineering, what you must remember is a software update for an aircraft system will come out every two years, a major avionics upgrade can be expected every five years, a new airframe about every thirty years, hence you can understand why avionics and system specialist are more in demand than "mechanical" trades.
It is true you can direct your degree towards certain areas by the modules you select.
That makes sense that you wouldn't expect to be accepted for avionics, it is the same as a mechanical engineer applying to work as an Electronic engineering position. Ironically the specialisations that you may end up working with under the banner of "mechanical" engineering (e.g. Stress, CFD etc) you may well have only studied about three modules relevant to the specialisation. It is certainly true most of your knowledge will be acquired while workings.
It is quite common for aeronautical graduates to move into software engineering, what you must remember is a software update for an aircraft system will come out every two years, a major avionics upgrade can be expected every five years, a new airframe about every thirty years, hence you can understand why avionics and system specialist are more in demand than "mechanical" trades.
Last edited by portsharbourflyer; 22nd Jun 2007 at 20:12.
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No degree
I dont want to go to university because there is nothing in university i want to do.
I want to be a pilot.
I'm in my last year of A levels (A2) and i have decided to take a gap year to work, get some money, get a PPL, do volunteer work, and, hopefully, do the marathon des Sables. I may have to take an extra year out to do this.
After i finish doing all of this i will start my training to be a Commercial pilot.
I was wondering if this is a good plan and what would employers think when they see i've done all of this.
cheers.
I want to be a pilot.
I'm in my last year of A levels (A2) and i have decided to take a gap year to work, get some money, get a PPL, do volunteer work, and, hopefully, do the marathon des Sables. I may have to take an extra year out to do this.
After i finish doing all of this i will start my training to be a Commercial pilot.
I was wondering if this is a good plan and what would employers think when they see i've done all of this.
cheers.
Last edited by a.smith01; 28th Sep 2007 at 17:32.
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Yes 6 of them (at least)
A handful of vocational degrees are also essential (Law, Medicine and Dentistry a must).
On top of this, if you wish to get a even a look in with certain low-cost carriers, a Masters on you CV will just about get you through the 1st interview door.
Without the above and a back catalogue of A*'s at GCSE as well as proof that your were a school prefect you have absolutely no chance.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards
CR
PS. if this seems like a tall order, you may wish to have a wee look at the numerous threads regarding Further/Higher Education and aviation careers.
A handful of vocational degrees are also essential (Law, Medicine and Dentistry a must).
On top of this, if you wish to get a even a look in with certain low-cost carriers, a Masters on you CV will just about get you through the 1st interview door.
Without the above and a back catalogue of A*'s at GCSE as well as proof that your were a school prefect you have absolutely no chance.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards
CR
PS. if this seems like a tall order, you may wish to have a wee look at the numerous threads regarding Further/Higher Education and aviation careers.
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Smithy my man,
My point, rather than to confuse, was to suggest there are a multitude threads on this topic, a few on this page.
Dentistry, along with the other qualifications mentioned above, are by no means neccessary. There are many pilots out there without A-levels, although they tend to be a reasonable measure of ones commitment to learn (by modern standards). This is a must.
Have a search, weigh it up, and crack on my friend.
Kind Regards
CR
My point, rather than to confuse, was to suggest there are a multitude threads on this topic, a few on this page.
Dentistry, along with the other qualifications mentioned above, are by no means neccessary. There are many pilots out there without A-levels, although they tend to be a reasonable measure of ones commitment to learn (by modern standards). This is a must.
Have a search, weigh it up, and crack on my friend.
Kind Regards
CR
PPRuNe Handmaiden
You don't need A levels to hold an ATPL but you certainly need them to be competitive when you're low houred or chasing sponsorship/cadetship.
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Yes 6 of them (at least)
A handful of vocational degrees are also essential (Law, Medicine and Dentistry a must).
On top of this, if you wish to get a even a look in with certain low-cost carriers, a Masters on you CV will just about get you through the 1st interview door.
Without the above and a back catalogue of A*'s at GCSE as well as proof that your were a school prefect you have absolutely no chance.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards
CR
PS. if this seems like a tall order, you may wish to have a wee look at the numerous threads regarding Further/Higher Education and aviation careers.
CR
A handful of vocational degrees are also essential (Law, Medicine and Dentistry a must).
On top of this, if you wish to get a even a look in with certain low-cost carriers, a Masters on you CV will just about get you through the 1st interview door.
Without the above and a back catalogue of A*'s at GCSE as well as proof that your were a school prefect you have absolutely no chance.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards
CR
PS. if this seems like a tall order, you may wish to have a wee look at the numerous threads regarding Further/Higher Education and aviation careers.
CR
What on gods earth are you smoking?
I wouldn't listen to him he is either messing around or on something...
Most places will only accept a levels on the application, min is normally 2 C's at a level. Play safe and do 3. ICT is a good one to get as you need to look to the future (and its easy to get an A)
Best bet is to do 2 years of a levels, resit any GCSE's that you may of messed up and during your school time do 1 lesson a week towards your PPL and you'll have it easily in the 2 years.
Then in theory you have the best of both worlds and a better chance of getting a carreer in aviation!
good luck with it, Nathan.
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Wild Dart,
Am I to assume you did not immediately see that this was complete and utter sarcasm to the Nth degree?
Any sane person would have seen fairly quickly that my answer was in jest at some newcomers complete inability to search the forum for answers that are readily available.
So no, I have not been smoking, although I will take your words of wisdom into consideration before posting anything vaguely sarcastic again. I have obviously grossly overestimated the intelligence of the few people reading this thread, and their ability to grasp the most gobsmackingly obvoius sarcy(slang) remark I have made to date.
Regards
CR
Wild Dart, whilst we're you're here, what might you suggest a few of the boys on my course do, they don't have A-levels, Eeeek, back to college for them i suppose (sarcasm), but their spelling is, at least, on the good side(jibe).
Am I to assume you did not immediately see that this was complete and utter sarcasm to the Nth degree?
Any sane person would have seen fairly quickly that my answer was in jest at some newcomers complete inability to search the forum for answers that are readily available.
So no, I have not been smoking, although I will take your words of wisdom into consideration before posting anything vaguely sarcastic again. I have obviously grossly overestimated the intelligence of the few people reading this thread, and their ability to grasp the most gobsmackingly obvoius sarcy(slang) remark I have made to date.
Regards
CR
Wild Dart, whilst we're you're here, what might you suggest a few of the boys on my course do, they don't have A-levels, Eeeek, back to college for them i suppose (sarcasm), but their spelling is, at least, on the good side(jibe).
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Wild Dart,
Am I to assume you did not immediately see that this was complete and utter sarcasm to the Nth degree?
Any sane person would have seen fairly quickly that my answer was in jest at some newcomers complete inability to search the forum for answers that are readily available.
So no, I have not been smoking, although I will take your words of wisdom into consideration before posting anything vaguely sarcastic again. I have obviously grossly overestimated the intelligence of the few people reading this thread, and their ability to grasp the most gobsmackingly obvoius sarcy(slang) remark I have made to date.
Regards
CR
Wild Dart, whilst we're you're here, what might you suggest a few of the boys on my course do, they don't have A-levels, Eeeek, back to college for them i suppose (sarcasm), but their spelling is, at least, on the good side(jibe).
Am I to assume you did not immediately see that this was complete and utter sarcasm to the Nth degree?
Any sane person would have seen fairly quickly that my answer was in jest at some newcomers complete inability to search the forum for answers that are readily available.
So no, I have not been smoking, although I will take your words of wisdom into consideration before posting anything vaguely sarcastic again. I have obviously grossly overestimated the intelligence of the few people reading this thread, and their ability to grasp the most gobsmackingly obvoius sarcy(slang) remark I have made to date.
Regards
CR
Wild Dart, whilst we're you're here, what might you suggest a few of the boys on my course do, they don't have A-levels, Eeeek, back to college for them i suppose (sarcasm), but their spelling is, at least, on the good side(jibe).
Nathan
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It goes without saying that with the amount of low hour boys and girls applying for the few jobs out there, the filtering process has to start somewhere. I am about to finish my grounds school (BGS) and have been looking at the next step in depth, to the extent that I was lucky to have lunch with the chief pilot of a Euro Low Cost. He made it clear that any CV’s without A-Levels or a Degree where thrown in the bin, this of course applies to us wannabe’s only. Even GCAT require A-Levels for the majority of type rating course (Airline sponsored), as do most other schemes. Of course, it all depends what you are aiming for, if you are happy flying a Caravan or would prefer to fly the nice shiny jets, the more competitive you are, the better.
Richard
Richard
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A-levels are a good thing, they reflect an individuals abilty to acheive what is still a fairly basic level of education.
Did I do 3 A-levels? Sort of, I did 6 AS levels, I thought, ' I can get the same number of UCAS points, but have fun learning about more than one subject'. ( and the exams are a doddle)
Fact is, what on earth is anybody going to do between finishing their GCSE's and turning, oh, I'd say 20(ish), the minimum age at which most airlines will even look at you? Probably nothing more beneficial than getting a few good grades at college.
As for the degree, who knows, it may come down to the person sifting through your 2 page life story on any given day, of all the boys I know in jobs, none of them have a degree between them.
I don't have one, and would not for one second even consider going back for one, that guy with a business studies or sociology 1st is just as likely to choke at interview as anybody else who hasn't got the metal to get through.
This debate has gone on for ever, in numerous threads, and to that end has probably answered every possible eventuality arising from every possible question.
So, my little darlings, get rid of your L-plates, do your pass plus, have a crack at some A-levels (or equivalent) and then we'll take it from there.
Regards
CR
ie. Yes, A-levels would be a good idea, if only because if you aren't at college you may be sniffing glue by the swings in a stolen Burberry coat
Did I do 3 A-levels? Sort of, I did 6 AS levels, I thought, ' I can get the same number of UCAS points, but have fun learning about more than one subject'. ( and the exams are a doddle)
Fact is, what on earth is anybody going to do between finishing their GCSE's and turning, oh, I'd say 20(ish), the minimum age at which most airlines will even look at you? Probably nothing more beneficial than getting a few good grades at college.
As for the degree, who knows, it may come down to the person sifting through your 2 page life story on any given day, of all the boys I know in jobs, none of them have a degree between them.
I don't have one, and would not for one second even consider going back for one, that guy with a business studies or sociology 1st is just as likely to choke at interview as anybody else who hasn't got the metal to get through.
This debate has gone on for ever, in numerous threads, and to that end has probably answered every possible eventuality arising from every possible question.
So, my little darlings, get rid of your L-plates, do your pass plus, have a crack at some A-levels (or equivalent) and then we'll take it from there.
Regards
CR
ie. Yes, A-levels would be a good idea, if only because if you aren't at college you may be sniffing glue by the swings in a stolen Burberry coat
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You don't need A-Levels or a degree to be a pilot.
But if you want to keep up with the competition that will most definitely be around you when you're doing groundschool, and indeed applying for the airline jobs - a decent educational background is an absolute must.
I've just finished groundschool at OAT. Purely, as an indication of the type of competition I might be up against, there are only 3 people without a degree and only 1 without A-Levels (out of 20 people)
So it stands to reason that if you're all reasonably bright people and you all do your flying training to a similar standard, how does an airline start the sifting process? I think it's rather obvious.
It is becoming more and more common, if not already the "standard", that a minimum of 2-A Levels and a degree is a basic requirement for any would-be pilot looking to secure a position in today's market.
Sure, they'll be plenty of folk that get their airline job without a degree and indeed probably without A-Levels but realistically, a young person, looking at what they should do at the age of 17/18 seriously needs to consider going to college, getting some A-Levels, then going to University, doing a degree they enjoy, learning a few life skills, maturing a bit - and then start looking at the flying career.
But if you want to keep up with the competition that will most definitely be around you when you're doing groundschool, and indeed applying for the airline jobs - a decent educational background is an absolute must.
I've just finished groundschool at OAT. Purely, as an indication of the type of competition I might be up against, there are only 3 people without a degree and only 1 without A-Levels (out of 20 people)
So it stands to reason that if you're all reasonably bright people and you all do your flying training to a similar standard, how does an airline start the sifting process? I think it's rather obvious.
It is becoming more and more common, if not already the "standard", that a minimum of 2-A Levels and a degree is a basic requirement for any would-be pilot looking to secure a position in today's market.
Sure, they'll be plenty of folk that get their airline job without a degree and indeed probably without A-Levels but realistically, a young person, looking at what they should do at the age of 17/18 seriously needs to consider going to college, getting some A-Levels, then going to University, doing a degree they enjoy, learning a few life skills, maturing a bit - and then start looking at the flying career.