What did you do???
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Midlands, Nr Stafford, England
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What did you do???
I was just wondering what all you civil aviation pilots took at University degree e.t.c or at A-Levels/College.
I am doing Physics,Biology,History and Geography would be VERY interested what most of you pilots took at this time ??
Any help
SPRINGBOK <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
I am doing Physics,Biology,History and Geography would be VERY interested what most of you pilots took at this time ??
Any help
SPRINGBOK <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Death Cruiser Flight Crew
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Vaucluse, France.
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pure Mathematics, Physics at "A" and English Language, French and Geography at "O" in my case. I subsequently came to the conclusion that none of the CAA exams taxed me beyond "O" level standard. I've heard a lot of people with university degrees complain that the job lacks intellectual stimulation and hence rapidly becomes boring!
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: No Fixed Abode
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I actually droped out of hight school worked got money got a cpl worked some more did c.i.r. worked some more did my atpl worked some more did a maths and physics correspondence corse and hay presto airline pilot .
I wouldnt recomend doing it my way but it shows that u definatly dont need a degree if you dont want one .
I wouldnt recomend doing it my way but it shows that u definatly dont need a degree if you dont want one .
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lets all face it, over half the degrees aren't worth the paper they are written on. Lets think, how about Beckham Studies- will that be a BA or BSc? I'm sure anyone with Beckham Studies will get their command earlier! How about a degree in Tourism and Leisure, we know everyone loves a trip down to the sports centre.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did a three year British Airways engineering apprenticeship. Hands on experience on 747's, 757's, 767's, Concorde....and getting paid for it too!! Pity the entire intake was shat on afterwards...posted to nightshift jobs we had no chance of tranfering from for twenty years! (Well I did anyway...i resigned to go flying!)
This was RELEVENT education, unlike all this pure mathematics bollox and such like!!!
This was RELEVENT education, unlike all this pure mathematics bollox and such like!!!
stings like a bee
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Buckinghamshire England
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As an ATCO GALHI`s comment struck a chord. ATC is a very practical job which doesn`t require mega brain power yet NATS employs many graduates of all sorts of disciplines.
Nothing wrong with that, especially in these days of controller shortages, except a few years down the line many of them complain of not being challenged intellectually. Because the career structure is flat, as it should be, i.e. mainly working ATCOs, not that many managers, some I know have become quite despondent about their long term prospects. This I find worrying as when people cease to be challenged, complacency and errors can start creeping in.
Nothing wrong with that, especially in these days of controller shortages, except a few years down the line many of them complain of not being challenged intellectually. Because the career structure is flat, as it should be, i.e. mainly working ATCOs, not that many managers, some I know have become quite despondent about their long term prospects. This I find worrying as when people cease to be challenged, complacency and errors can start creeping in.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Egcc
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
None. 6 'O'levels. ATPL's were a memory test, many of the younger guys on the course with degrees found them very hard, that's not me blowing my trumpet, just fact. Desire and motivation are the greatest factors in determining success.
PP
PP
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: UK Manchester
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
pete you say the atpl exams were a memory test.can i ask in which way do you mean that
1. you allready knew the stuff so it was all in there somewhere..ie naturally gifted?
2. or have you worked in the aviation industry before to know it all???
love too hear how you breezed through them
1. you allready knew the stuff so it was all in there somewhere..ie naturally gifted?
2. or have you worked in the aviation industry before to know it all???
love too hear how you breezed through them
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Egcc
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PIE
What I meant was that you could learn all the subjects inside out and still be left floundering on many of the CAA's questions. I found that learning the subjects and understanding them as best I could coupled with 'familiarity' of the quetion technique through plenty of past papers worked for me. It all came down to cramming as much info in as possible over the relatively short timescale, it was the sheer quantity required that made them tricky. I don't have a degree but would hazard a guess that no degree requires such a broad subject base with as many exams crammed back to back, all of which you are trying to do as quickly as possible due to cost........ The point I am trying to make is that having a degree won't necessarily make them easier, it appears to be a completely different form of study.
I took Guildhall's groundschool courses for both Navs and Techs and studied bloody hard all through and after. I dropped one first time round (Met Theory) and got 93% in the resit, so no, I never knew the stuff before and certainly didn't, and don't know it all. As for 'breezing' through them, infact quite the contrary due to factors outside my control, it's all here <a href="http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=010430" target="_blank">http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=010430</a>
Hope that answers your question fully
PP
What I meant was that you could learn all the subjects inside out and still be left floundering on many of the CAA's questions. I found that learning the subjects and understanding them as best I could coupled with 'familiarity' of the quetion technique through plenty of past papers worked for me. It all came down to cramming as much info in as possible over the relatively short timescale, it was the sheer quantity required that made them tricky. I don't have a degree but would hazard a guess that no degree requires such a broad subject base with as many exams crammed back to back, all of which you are trying to do as quickly as possible due to cost........ The point I am trying to make is that having a degree won't necessarily make them easier, it appears to be a completely different form of study.
I took Guildhall's groundschool courses for both Navs and Techs and studied bloody hard all through and after. I dropped one first time round (Met Theory) and got 93% in the resit, so no, I never knew the stuff before and certainly didn't, and don't know it all. As for 'breezing' through them, infact quite the contrary due to factors outside my control, it's all here <a href="http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=010430" target="_blank">http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=010430</a>
Hope that answers your question fully
PP
INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Join Date: Dec 1998
Location: Europe
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Took O-levels and A-levels (Double Maths, Physics, Economics and General Studies) I don't have a degree. Never wanted to go to Uni cause I don't like studying and I didn't need a degree to be an airline Pilot. Anyway ATPL's are tougher than a degree but at least it was part of something I really wanted to do. You don't need a degree but you may need it for airline pilot selection. Airlines can ask or look for whatever they want and nowadays A-levels seem to be the minimum. Pilots don't need to be a genius. But it's of course nice to have a degree to fall back on. Personally I just couldn't get through a Uni degree if I started it. Too impatient to get in to flight training and get the job I really wanted.
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Middle East / UK
Age: 45
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have no degree. Eight Scottish Standard Grades at level 1 and 2. Also four Scottish Higher Grades in, English, Chemistry, Physics and Geography. Now flying B757s.
Eff Oh.
Eff Oh.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did the usual school thing! Got 8 GSCE's but no A Levels. Did the work thing saved some money and now I fly as a career. Get into the flying young. It will benefit you more than a degree. I started when I was 12!