Originally Posted by
AboveTheRuin
I'm sorry, but have I ever suggested that an Aviation Degree is worthless?
However, I do believe that a degree in any Field, other than what it is meant for can possibly result in most likely nothing more than a fancy piece of paper to hang on your wall. It goes both ways...
...How many students do you know that have gone to University just because it's the next step, with no real idea why they are there in the first place. Sadly, I think that number constitutes a large percent.
Now potentially that candidate, who wakes up one morning and decided it would be cool to be a pilot takes a little training and a few hours later has the advantage over the candidate who knew that is what they wanted to do since day one, and has been working for that all along.
...that just doesn't seem to add up to me.
Seems that this whole four year blanket degree requirement, could shoot us all in the foot down the road if we are not careful with the parameters, and other considered valuable factors that make good aviators.
ATR
Hey I lke your Avatar but I disagree with most of what you are saying.
Many of us don't know what we want to do and going to college is a way to find out what we want to do. And getting a degree in Math, Aviation, English, Physics, Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Pre-Med, Astronomy, or whatever is never a waste of time AND they contribute directly to your basic foundation as a well rounded pilot. A good pilot, whether military or civilian needs to have a good solid educational foundation. Without it, you are just a technician.
In today's part 121 flying, you need to be more than just a technician. You need the ability to decipher mounds of FARs, Company contracts, Union contracts, keep up with new aviation technology, front line diplomat who can converse with domestic and international passengers from all over the world on all topics, among other things.
A 4 year degree requirement is a step in the right direction and a college degree does not have to be in Aviation to make you a better pilot. Otherwise the military would only select candidates with Aviation degree, and as we all know that most certainly NOT the case. If anything opposite is true. Military do not like candidates to come in with a lot of preconceived notion of what flying should be.