what are the degrees you can take to be an airline pilot
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My opinion would be to get a degree.
As previous posters have mentioned, aviation does remain a very fickle industry. At the moment the airlines are recruiting from the schools to a high extent, however, there really can be no guarantee that this is going to continue. We could wake up tomorrow morning and find that another terrorist attack against aviation has occured or that the taxes on aviation have been raised significantly. There are many many reasons as to why the industry could collapse overnight.
I was once told, when considering what degree to study at University, that the most important choice is to choose a subject that appeals to you, and not one that you feel you have to do. The trouble with the pilot studies degree schemes is that the degree is strictly limiting - if you do the subject, you're almost narrowed down into what you can actually do with it.
Myself, I studied for a BA in History and Politics and really enjoyed my time at University as a result of studying a course that directly appealed to my interests. And as well as that, I now also have a back up position if the industry does cave in. One piece of advice that rings true though is that "all good pilots have a back up plan ready".
Just my thoughts on the subject,
Chris
As previous posters have mentioned, aviation does remain a very fickle industry. At the moment the airlines are recruiting from the schools to a high extent, however, there really can be no guarantee that this is going to continue. We could wake up tomorrow morning and find that another terrorist attack against aviation has occured or that the taxes on aviation have been raised significantly. There are many many reasons as to why the industry could collapse overnight.
I was once told, when considering what degree to study at University, that the most important choice is to choose a subject that appeals to you, and not one that you feel you have to do. The trouble with the pilot studies degree schemes is that the degree is strictly limiting - if you do the subject, you're almost narrowed down into what you can actually do with it.
Myself, I studied for a BA in History and Politics and really enjoyed my time at University as a result of studying a course that directly appealed to my interests. And as well as that, I now also have a back up position if the industry does cave in. One piece of advice that rings true though is that "all good pilots have a back up plan ready".
Just my thoughts on the subject,
Chris
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I think a aviation degree is totaly unnessary to be an airline pilot. It all comes down to how many flying hours you have and your experience in command of the aircraft. I am not saying don't do the degree but if you are hell bent on doing one. At least do it in a different field so if for some reason you loose your medical certificate you have a back up career available.
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If one decides to get a degree first, to what extent is it worth getting an aviation degree with pilot studies? Is this kind of degree viewed as a 'good' degree as per engineering or science degrees? Many people I see don't work in the field which they have a degree in as many other jobs only require a credible and respectable degree and I wonder if a very specialised one like aviation stands in the same line as the others.
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To no extent at all. In fact I would say it is worse, since the only industry in which it would be at all relevant is aviation, and if you can't get a flying job due to the common downturns in the industry, all other jobs will be harder to find!
My recommendation would be to get a real, academic degree, or don't do one at all. Those "degrees" are diplomas extended and renamed, not degrees in the traditional sense. These non-academic "degrees" give you no more employability than the same term of work experience could, they costs you money instead of paying you, and don't get you the contacts in the industry.
My recommendation would be to get a real, academic degree, or don't do one at all. Those "degrees" are diplomas extended and renamed, not degrees in the traditional sense. These non-academic "degrees" give you no more employability than the same term of work experience could, they costs you money instead of paying you, and don't get you the contacts in the industry.
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Great question! The short answer is none. There is not a specific degree that will give you an edge . . . With that said, I find it very interesting that in Europe a degree is not necessary to get a pilot job with a major airline. Here in the United States having a degree (regardless of specialty) is a requisite for many airlines.
Typically, the career path of many aspiring pilots in the U.S. is to complete a Bachelor’s degree and concurrently learn to fly. For others, getting as much flying time as early as possible is their main goal; completing a degree only after getting the flight credentials.
My career path was somewhat unorthodox because I went against the advice of the so called "experts." I started flying at 23, finished my ratings at 27 (I self- financed my entire career); I got my first flying job at 29 after obtaining all the flight instructor certificates (CFIAIM). After that I continued to flight instruct, flew night freight, charter, and international cargo. While doing all these, I started university courses via correspondence; kept flying cargo . . . And at 35 with about 7,000 hrs of flight time and a college degree, I got my dream job with a major U.S. airline. Today, I am a captain of B737's and enjoyed my distant learning experience so much that I decided to complete an MBA via on-line; only this time I’m doing it for personal satisfaction and not by necessity.
Good luck on your choices.
P
Typically, the career path of many aspiring pilots in the U.S. is to complete a Bachelor’s degree and concurrently learn to fly. For others, getting as much flying time as early as possible is their main goal; completing a degree only after getting the flight credentials.
My career path was somewhat unorthodox because I went against the advice of the so called "experts." I started flying at 23, finished my ratings at 27 (I self- financed my entire career); I got my first flying job at 29 after obtaining all the flight instructor certificates (CFIAIM). After that I continued to flight instruct, flew night freight, charter, and international cargo. While doing all these, I started university courses via correspondence; kept flying cargo . . . And at 35 with about 7,000 hrs of flight time and a college degree, I got my dream job with a major U.S. airline. Today, I am a captain of B737's and enjoyed my distant learning experience so much that I decided to complete an MBA via on-line; only this time I’m doing it for personal satisfaction and not by necessity.
Good luck on your choices.
P
Last edited by aviatorpepe; 9th Jul 2007 at 01:24.
Those "degrees" are diplomas extended and renamed, not degrees in the traditional sense.
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then go to university, study aeronautical engineering, physics, avionics; one of those sort of degrees, whilst working towards your cpl/FI/ATPL(f)
My thoughts on the whole subject is similar to barbour112. A full blown degree, with a PPL on the side, has to be more worthwhile than an aviation technology degree (for example) in the overall scheme of things. I myself (as many others) realised I wanted to fly from a very young age and have applied myself to now be in the position as a PPL holder with 100hours entering my final year of a BEng degree, including a year out working at GE Aviation.
Not saying that an Aviation Tech with Pilot Studies is less appealing to airlines etc, but it does contain less content degree wise, and with so many students taking up the course each year then its logical to say thats its all about standing out from the crowd that little bit more.
...........then again because of when i started the degree then I miss the 'top-up fees'. The "Would I start a degree now?" question would have to be, well, a No.
Last edited by mattkcraven; 9th Jul 2007 at 10:49.
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I've just been accepted onto the FTE/GB scheme. It's the only scheme I applied to so I can't speak for others, but there were quite a few guys who made it to the final stage who had an aviation based degree.
I got a 1:1 in Aviation Tech with Pilot Studies at Leeds and I got the feeling that the degree defiantly helped my application.
I can assure you, it’s not an extended diploma
I got a 1:1 in Aviation Tech with Pilot Studies at Leeds and I got the feeling that the degree defiantly helped my application.
I can assure you, it’s not an extended diploma
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Paying for rent/house; plus bills; plus food; now heres the good bit: university, all with what? a flight instructors wage?
Why go to university, if he doesn't want to study any particular subject? Given the question we are responding to, he obviously doesn't. Why study "...aeronautical engineering, physics, avionics..."? They are of no significant help to becoming a pilot, which is the case in point.
Groundloop
It appears you have little idea of what a traditional, academic degree looks like. Every course in these subjects emphasises study in a different way from school, with far more emphasis on self study, culminating in some element of original research, with a major project or a dissertation, depending on the nature of the subject. Having lived with students of non-academic courses at a "new university" these courses are very different from mine. They were far more like college courses.
I cannot see any relevance to the external examiners, if the external approver has also redefined the degree.
TTango
If it is not simply a diploma, then what original research did you carry out in your degree?
Groundloop
It appears you have little idea of what a traditional, academic degree looks like. Every course in these subjects emphasises study in a different way from school, with far more emphasis on self study, culminating in some element of original research, with a major project or a dissertation, depending on the nature of the subject. Having lived with students of non-academic courses at a "new university" these courses are very different from mine. They were far more like college courses.
It appears you have little idea of what a traditional, academic degree looks like. Every course in these subjects emphasises study in a different way from school, with far more emphasis on self study, culminating in some element of original research, with a major project or a dissertation, depending on the nature of the subject. Having lived with students of non-academic courses at a "new university" these courses are very different from mine. They were far more like college courses.
As a senior university lecturer with over 28 years experience (not at a "new university") I probably know a bit more about traditional academic degrees than you!
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Well then perhaps you could suggest what original research can be done on surfing studies. TTango doesn't feel like saying what he did on "pilot studies".
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Hahaha, but yes I was talking about such "degrees" as the course run down in Newquay at what was probably a perfectly good college or polytechnic and has been "promoted" to a poor university. Pure snobbery, loooking down on education because it is not a degree, so having to turn what was a perfectly good course into a pseudo-degree.
Snobbery had noting to do it. It was political.
The Government had an aim to have over 50% of school leavers go to university. Solution - create lots of universities from existing polys and colleges. Result - immediately thousands more university students.
However, this is slightly off thread now.
The Government had an aim to have over 50% of school leavers go to university. Solution - create lots of universities from existing polys and colleges. Result - immediately thousands more university students.
However, this is slightly off thread now.
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Actually, I don't think it is off thread. A lot of people (and I must include myself here, which is why I am so insistent) just do degrees because it is expected, they don't consider not doing one. It is political, although I think that snobbery about vocational and on-the-job training compared to degrees plays a large part in that politics, but it has affected a lot of people's attitudes to their own lives. It does not always help them make the right choices.
As it happens I think I made the right choice, and I got a lot out of it, including skills I used in the work I used to do. What I didn't get is anything that significantly helped me in getting a flying job. The fact that I have a hard science degree, so am numerate, helps me in the air and made the groundschool easier to pass, but my A-levels probably gave me most ofthat and the degree was not worth the small benefit!
As it happens I think I made the right choice, and I got a lot out of it, including skills I used in the work I used to do. What I didn't get is anything that significantly helped me in getting a flying job. The fact that I have a hard science degree, so am numerate, helps me in the air and made the groundschool easier to pass, but my A-levels probably gave me most ofthat and the degree was not worth the small benefit!
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TTango doesn't feel like saying what he did on "pilot studies"
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So it's an engineering degree? If it isn't then I can't see how you could come far enough to work on original study in aviation technology. If so, why not do an engineering degree? What help is this in becoming a pilot, apart from a very expensive, time-consuming way of achieving a PPL?