Crisis management unfortunately is valid, its what to do when one of your aircraft gives it massive amounts over Vmo into hard stuff.

Its a speciallity all in its self how to deal with the logistics of engineering , operations,media ,relatives and goverment agencys. Its not something you could teach an undergrad in the space of a year with a couple of hours a week. If they even had the gumption to even comprehend what the person was on about. And unless the person teaching the subject had actually been involved in such an event they would be talking theory ****e.

Realistically as a pilot you won't go near it apart from telling your family that if you do bite the big one you will be in a sealed coffin and if they hear things rolling around inside the coffin at the funeral don't ask any questions cause your mum won't like the answers.

And psychology its what ever the latest profile is with crew. The old days of an alpha sticking up for whats right is changing to a more compliant to mangment farking you around and doing as your told.

I might add neither of those topics could in any way shape or form be counted as science

Any thing with human resources in it will be in my experence be universally hated by any chief pilot. They are the bane of there lives.

And marketing your being payed to fly the bloody thing not sell tickets on it.

This. Also consider a degree that is in an area that you find relevant to your interests (other than aviation). Also consider that if you are hell bent on becoming a commercial pilot, then degrees such as medicine and law are not the way to go, as some have suggested :=.

Linguisitics isn't such a bad choice because if something was to happen to your health, then it would only take an extra year to complete a masters in education and then employed as a language teacher.

It's always an awkward question for a hopeful to answer - what will you do if you don't get this job? Time and time again I've heard of people explain how it is their destiny to be a pilot, their dream, their future. I even had one friend who told them he didn't think he could face life if he didn't get his Qantas Cadetship at the age of 18. All of these guys were shown the door, which they thought was sadistic and wrong and they airline's loss. That said, those who entered the interview and said "well I am an MD, and I spent 7 years on that, and now I'm here..." or, alternatively, have a list of 5 degrees changes in 5 semesters can be said to show little staying power.

The aviation degree (i.e. one that goes from ab-initio to ATPL's frozen, plus management subjects) can be said to suit your real die-hard, where you life is the industry but not just as a pilot. If you live and breathe aviation and want a degree as a backup if your dreams come true/medical goes bye-bye/whatever, ask yourself - if it all goes wrong for you, do you want to still be in the job where you work to support the guys in white and black living your dream, or would you rather be far from it all? It's different for everyone, and not an easy one to answer.

Best of luck, and remember, whilst in your head being a pilot might be the be all and end all a) don't tell the recruiter that cause they might want to see a little diversity/someone who won't have their way with their boeing, and b) if it all goes bad open your mind to other things.

Which course?
 

Choose a course that interests you outside aviation. The one you mentioned would put you in a good position. This has a number of benefits, say you lose your medical, you would still have opportunities to land another good job. That's only one scenario!

You want to look attractive to employers outside aviation. There's a lot to be said for "life experience" on a CV. Perhaps get a good job after graduating and save for flying with your pay? Just a thought. It's what I'm doing

Cheers

Possibly not, linguistics is a very different topic to modern languages. That latter is what's needed for a language teacher.

G

Mad Jock: What does "proberly" mean??!!

My mistake. I didn't think about the two as distinct branches.

I don't want to sound like I'm undermining anything you're saying, but I would be extremely surprised if there was a MD within the ranks of an airline. That said, I do know two doctors that have PPLs and fly as a hobby, but to say one would go to med school, do post-grad studies and then come out and say 'I only did this so I could raise my chances for an airline gig' would be....weird. Medical students tend to go into medical careers. It's one of the reasons why an interview is in place - to make sure that the student has the right aptitude etc etc. Seven years would also be extremely unlikely to attain a MD.

Its means I am a degree educated engineer pro pilot that doesn't have a spell checker fitted to his browser.

And I might add there would be no way I would pass the BSc option way to much essay work with those wooly subjects.

Wrong again I'm afraid!

Two pilots in bmi group alone and both aero-med specialists having done their GP time. One is the Company doctor - and he still flies the line!

HWB

I know a couple of gas pushers that do long haul. And push gas down route as a locum. The is a CX Captain according to gossip has it, doubles his take home with his layover vet work in HK on horses.

You have everything on the line from ex building labourer to Phd in what ever you like.

The medical types have a really tasty line in locum work on there days off.

I guess I was wrong then, but I did say I would be surprised, never did say that it wasn't possible because it is. I just thought it wouldn't be efficient to get a MD (which is a very high recognition in medicine in Australia, perhaps it is just the base level for medical graduates in other countries?) and also have a career as a pilot.

So to the threat starter, if medicine is an area that interests, go for it I guess. Just be weary of the time it may take you. For instance and roughly speaking, a medicine degree will take seven years (sometimes five or six), a MD will take an additional year if you elect to do so, a PhD would take three years. This is all before you have begun your internship which is usually two years... Could be different in other countries.

IMHO, I think there would be better avenues but each to their own. Regardless, if you do decide to get a tertiary education, choose an area of study you will enjoy.

Thanks Mad Jock from another degree educated pro pilot (graduated 1970) I think your postings would definitely be improved with a spellchecker AND a grammer checker!

Genghis - On a related matter, do you happen to know if any of the UK universities offer a distance learning program for aerospace engineering degree programs? I recall you discussing this in a thread before a long time ago.

Alternatively do you have any opinion with regards to how respected a degree from Embry Riddle would be in the uk? I have been in touch with them before and they definately do offer international distance learning.

Thanks,

Mark

In general, airlines aren't interested either in your degree or your ambitions to join the ranks of management. You are being recruited as a pilot, not a manager. The elements of management you need as a pilot are contained within your on-the-job training (CRM etc).

If your long-term ambitions stretch to joining airline management, you'd be far better advised to forget about being a pilot and concentrate on a degree in accountancy or law, then get an MBA while working your way up through the legal, commercial or HR departments of your target airline.

The days when pilots ran airlines, or even had significant influence within airlines, are long gone.

Scroggs

not going to happen its the re-reading bit that gets to be a bit of an issue when the words start moving and thats without a beer

(1) Not yet, but it looks like OU is within a year or so of having a combination of modules with a good chance of getting RAeS accreditation - and they already have IMechE accreditation (as of this year).

(2) Moderately - we all know they're there and probably a good thing, but there are so few ERAU graduates in the UK that there's no real track record.

G

The best degrees for aviation are......
 

Physics first, and Maths second. End of.

Why? 'Cos when you can't get a flying job, YOU WILL get a job with either of these. They:

ooze 'hardness'
yell 'Numerate!'
are analytical and logical.

All degree awarding bodies will make claims about their degrees. A degree in Aviation Studies will not open doors in many places.

CG

If you are talking about these subjects at A-levels, you have just contradicted yourself!