The usefulness of helicopter-specific academic qualifications?

[Jay Bunning]

Hi,

 

I already have a UK degree (in an non-relevant subject), but I am considering the merit of a helicopter-specific academic qualification. I am hoping to start training at Guidance Helicopters, Prescott, AZ in late 2008 and I see they offer courses via Embry Riddle.

 

I may have to take a course to get an international F-1 visa (see my other post), but if I didn't have to, is it worth it from a career perspective? How more desirable is it to a potential employer of a pilot just starting his career?

 

The two courses they offer are:

 

Helicopter Operations and Safety (HOS) and Helicopter Flight (HeF)

 

http://www.erau.edu/pr/degrees/m-heli_flight.html

 

I don't understand the US academic system, so not too sure what a Minor means or what credit hours are. I assume when it says it consists of 18 credit hours of coursework, that he course is not just handing in 18 hours of work...

 

I have sent emails to Embry for more specific info, but any thoughts on getting helicopter-specific academic qualifications and their worth would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks for any help,

 

J

[K-38]

Hi,

 

I already have a UK degree (in an non-relevant subject), but I am considering the merit of a helicopter-specific academic qualification. I am hoping to start training at Guidance Helicopters, Prescott, AZ in late 2008 and I see they offer courses via Embry Riddle.

 

I may have to take a course to get an international F-1 visa (see my other post), but if I didn't have to, is it worth it from a career perspective? How more desirable is it to a potential employer of a pilot just starting his career?

 

The two courses they offer are:

 

Helicopter Operations and Safety (HOS) and Helicopter Flight (HeF)

 

http://www.erau.edu/pr/degrees/m-heli_flight.html

 

I don't understand the US academic system, so not too sure what a Minor means or what credit hours are. I assume when it says it consists of 18 credit hours of coursework, that he course is not just handing in 18 hours of work...

 

I have sent emails to Embry for more specific info, but any thoughts on getting helicopter-specific academic qualifications and their worth would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks for any help,

 

J

Hope this helps with some college basics. In the U.S. college system students as a general rule spend the first two years studying general education subjects to provide them with a base level of knowledge in all subject areas ie History, Math, Science, English, etc. For the next to years of college students select a Major in the field they want to go into. The students Major will be the their emphasis of study during their last two years of college leading to their degree. For example a major in economics, or a engineering major etc. Students also have the option to select a Minor. Therefore an example would be graduating with a major in economics, with a minor in communications etc. A "full load" of classes for a semester of college is considered 15 units you could have five three unit classes or any combination thereof. The number of units a class is relates to the perceived difficulty of the class so for example a 5 unit class would be more difficult and require more time/effort than a 2 unit class.

[apiaguy]

As a general rule, one credit hour is equal to one hour of lecture per week.

So 18 credits would be 18 hours of lecture per week. (that is alot of lecture and studying... very full time)

 

I don't believe you need helicopter specific academic anything to be more competitive in the job market. The only thing that will get you a job in the helicopter world would be hours and experience. Sure, if you have two identical candidates and one has this helicopter degree and the other doesn't have anything it might get him the job.. That said... if both individuals have a degree and one has a helicopter specific degree... I really doubt it would make a difference to the employer.

 

Skip the extra course work if you can.

[Jay Bunning]

As a general rule, one credit hour is equal to one hour of lecture per week.

So 18 credits would be 18 hours of lecture per week. (that is alot of lecture and studying... very full time)

 

I don't believe you need helicopter specific academic anything to be more competitive in the job market. The only thing that will get you a job in the helicopter world would be hours and experience. Sure, if you have two identical candidates and one has this helicopter degree and the other doesn't have anything it might get him the job.. That said... if both individuals have a degree and one has a helicopter specific degree... I really doubt it would make a difference to the employer.

 

Skip the extra course work if you can.

 

Thanks to both of you for the info. I realise now that those helicopter Minors have to be taken with a Major, which is 4 years in the US??! So that makes it much less attractive to me. Especially if you are right (and I had my own suspicions on that) - that it is all about experience and hours, not a theoretical degree....

 

Thanks guys.

 

J