Advice needed here
 

I am currently a cadet pilot and a few months back finished off my GCAA ATPL's. I was very excited as any of you can imagine to join the flight deck. Sadly, when I started to fly my performance was not great and I was advised to change my field in order for me to save money and time.

What aviation course can anyone here recommend that I can start and succeed in using my ATPL knowledge. I am thinking of studying Aeronautical Engineering. Will my ATPL knowledge help me to succeed in this course?

Also how difficult is this course? I am an average student so I may find it hard. Also, does this course involve a lot of a computer based knowledge like studying java, c+ and other computer languages?

Thanks for your help!

Firstly, could I suggest just going back into your original post and changing the title to make it a bit more informative.


Secondly, if you are a poor student, you are going to have a serious issue with an aeronautical engineering degree. It is 3-5 years of very hard work, and the maths in particular is extremely demanding. Yes, having done ATPL writtens will help you, but is far from essential. And yes, there will be some programming - what packages and how much will vary between universities.

Third - how many people's opinions is it that you don't have the skills to be a pilot? Just because you didn't do well with one or two instructors does not necessarily mean that you can't do well in a flying career. I was chopped from RAF flying because my instructor decided that I was useless. I now have a CPL, and test pilot and instructors qualifications.


That all aside have you considered possibly training as a dispatcher? This will use your ATPL knowledge but does not require the hard academics that an aero-eng degree would do.

Or there are some fascinating military flying roles - have a look at the recruiting brochures for your country's air force, which don't require pilot skills. WSOs, loadmasters, fighter controllers...

If it's just the complexity of big aeroplanes that you have trouble with, have you looked at light aircraft instruction?, commercial balloon flying? There are many roles out there which are professional flying, but not airline flying.

G

Genghis, as is frequently the case, has pretty much summed it up nicely.

Do not be fooled by the course title of "Aerospace Engineering", a more accurate name would be something like "A shed load of maths, some more maths, a bit of sustainable theory to keep the hippies happy, some more maths, some physics, and some more of something that someone says is maths but is more like the definition of confusing".

Certainly, your ATPLs will help you understand a few parts of a related degree, but the amount of the degree you actually know from ATPLs is around about 3%. Everything else is much more difficult (in terms of theory) and distinct (in terms of breadth of knowledge).

Computer programming will play a part in several modules over the course of an engineering degree.

I was certainly not a prize student, I found my course extremely tough at times. I passed, with a rather pleasant grade, because I was committed to the course as I knew it was vital if I were to get to where I wanted to be. I think if I had done it on a whim I would have dropped out as quite a few others did.

Otherwise, take GtE's words. They cover everything else I was thinking of saying.