56 replies to this topic

[aeroscout]

There's no place like home -Dorothy Gale- (As told by L. Frank Baum)

[Francis Meyrick]

 

I go to the library.

 

It's where the local writers group meets.

 

@ avbug

 

what on earth did the local writers do to deserve that...?

 

 

[Airhead]

On the rare occasion that I get a call back from a resume I have sent out they usually ask what my plans are with my B.S. degree that I am working on.

 

"Are you looking to go into management?" is the usual question.

[eagle5]

By enrolling in our schools college program you will qualify for the funding nessessary to pay for flight training and thus keep our cfis flying so they can eventually build enough time to finally get a "semi liveable" wage job. So please go to college!

[Boatpix]

I still haven't heard a company ask me if a pilot had a college degree.  How many hours is what I hear.  "Can he fly" is what i hear.    Recruiters and speakers at seminars will ask about college degrees and promote them when they don't have one themselves   I have the same degree as Frank Robinson, my wife has a Master's degree in Business (MBA) and my chief pilot has a Doctorate also known as a PhD.  The last 100 people that have been hired haven't even been asked that question.  The chief pilot was hired ten years ago because he reported he weighed 130 pounds and he was a flight instructor for 40 years (I figured he knew more than me as I only started in 1986).    I have formerly been  involved in college flight programs but the money goes to the college and this dilutes the payment of your money for the hours that you need to the overhead of the college and not your logbook.   At every seminar there is a college employee, student or person writing a college paper telling you that the college stuff gives you what it takes to get the job that requires thousands without those thousands of hours.  The people doing the hiring completely disagree.  You need the hours.  Not a degree.  If you think I am wrong be the named sponsor of HAI job fairs etc.like I have and talk to the college proponents  and then  talk to those doing the hiring like I have with my access.  You need hours.  Same as it was in 1986 when I started flying.   

[avbug]

 

 

what on earth did the local writers do to deserve that...?

 

 

 

Nothing.  They were blessed.

[ospreydriver]

There's always the fact that the aviation business is fickle. Having a degree makes for better back-up options.

[kjackson81]

In my opinion, I think that good training and networking will get you the results you need. The reason why 4-year degrees work is you get to know so many people and start a good, solid network.  I took a training course from FlyHAA and got to know some good people that lead me to a great job. (http://www.flyhaa.co...raining_courses)

 

 

It's what you know but also who you know. My training gave me the skills needed, my connections got me a great job.

 

[BCBOATER]

Here is my perspective from an employers point of view.
Your degree will not impress me at all...with the possible exception of speaking several languages. Why? Simple, you can be an asset talking to people who speak little or no English that come wanting to go sight seeing etc.
Otherwise get a degree in something you can fall back on if your career as a pilot never takes off.

[ARM_Coder]

I knew pilots both with and without a degree, and IMO they fly about the same.

 

Well, in my case, the EE degree kept me away from flying for 25 years.

[Boatpix]

I have a degree.  Never asked a pilot if he has a degree.  First thing I ask them is how many hours and what ratings they have.   I jump in a cab or an Uber and I ask them where they are from and how long have they worked.  If the pilot or driver has a degree he will usually tell you that.  

[Rich1]

I can only relate the story of a very young married couple who approached me in the days following our local "aviation day" event. I could tell that the young lady specifically was jazzed with the idea of becoming a helicopter pilot. She was specifically interested whether she should continue on to complete her college degree in education or business, or if she should simply borrow money to complete her fixed wing and helicopter ratings in hopes of securing a paid position as a helicopter pilot.

I shared that having had both a professional career with college degree(s) as well as having had my own businesses, that if ultimately she wanted to be both a pilot as well as eventually own her own aircraft she would be smart to complete her college degree.

Once she understood that in aviation, especially if you want to be an owner, is about having discretionary cash available, and when she understood that even having become a helicopter pilot professionally, it would only take one health event to potentially cost her the medical certificate and career, having a back up plan for a back up profession, vocational or professional, is a very smart idea.

Just my thin nickel...for what little it still buys you downtown

Edited by Rich1, 05 June 2016 - 10:06.

[AS350 pilot]

I didn't read through the entire thread but did take the survey. In the utility and fire industry having a college degree isn't going to help your chances for advancement. Maybe having a degree could serve as a "backup plan" but so could many other skills. Some of the most intelligent managers I've worked for in the industry never went to college.

[President Trump]

A college degree is valuable after being in the industry and realizing you made the biggest career mistake of your life by becoming a helicopter pilot. Lol

[Boatpix]

I'm still of the opinion that it's hours and ratings and no one is asking if you have a college degree to fill a helicopter position.

[takefootoff]

Thought I saw a trend with lucrative high, time postings that require a bachelor degree.

Lockheed, Dyncorp...government contracts.

[RegularDude]

I have an MPA...I wish I had spent that money on a vertical reference course instead. It would have been a better use of those funds. Unless you aspire to leave the flight deck and pursue a management position, I think it’s a poor use of money and time. I see the majority of helicopter flying as more of a trade...and flying 767s as more of a profession.

Besides, with all of these rotor transition programs offered by the regionals sucking up military pilots and the end of the GI Bill for helicopter training, the helicopter industry is gonna be in a serious world of hurt. If anything, the requirements will only get lower. Requiring a four-year degree would be suicide for a helicopter operator.