Hey now... we actually might be on to something as far as using those "worthless" Aviation Degrees after all!

 

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

 

Sorry ATR, I wasn't quoting you specifically as to saying that, just the general consensus here is that aviation degrees ARE worthless. I have one and am glad for it. While I want another degree in ADDITION to it, I would not want to replace it or wish to have not done it in the first place.

 

I strongly disagree with you. I think that the standards to become a pilot are practically non-existent. There are no filters. This was done intentionally to bring our pay down. They have flooded the market with pilots that have no business being in an airliner cockpit. It was unheard of going from 0 flight time to the cockpit of an airliner in less than 2 years until about 10 years ago. I feel that a degree is a filter that should be MANDATORY in order to fly ANY airliner. I feel to make this a reality, there would have to be a grandfather clause. More hoops to jump through decreases supply which increases our negotiating position. Unfortunately, our over-supply of pilots is so great that it will take years for things to balance themselves out. It makes me laugh how many college drop-outs feel good about themselves because they completed pilot training. A degree takes more work, determination, and commitment to get than pilot licenses.

 

I got the 4 year degree and the licenses all at the same time. Of the two, the four year degree required much more effort and dedication than the flight training.

It will probably never become a legal requirement to have a four year degree, but many companies like Delta will still elect to only interview candidates that have one. Even companies that don't require a degree to interview are still likely to select candidates for interviews with college degrees before they select those without.

 

+1 thank you, you need it for a major airline, even if its in painting walls, if it is a ba from a real college it will make or break almost all big flying jobs

 

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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.

 

I'm sorry, but the majority of us knew we wanted to be Airline Pilots, so we took the advice of every Airline Pilot we met and started with getting a degree. You rolled the dice...maybe that will play out well for you, but that doesn't mean it should be the norm. For argument's sake, why require a GED? Answer is the same as requiring a degree. I have flown with plenty of outstanding pilots without degrees...none of them pound their chests about it (as you do), nearly all regret not getting it done sooner.

 

I'll add my worthless two cents on this subject.

So often, threads on this board devolve into discussions about higher pay and how to achieve it. When Congress first proposed the ATP rule, many supported it because they believed it would increase pay. I think that is debatable, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

On the other hand, I think the discussion about a four year degree is quite interesting. I have one and, in my opinion, it is the one qualification that can improve pay scales. In general, the higher the education earned, the better the pay. That's a generality, but if high schoolers with 1000 hours are the scorn of high pay, here is a real way to keep them from undercutting the wages.

How often do you run across a guy who graduated high school, spent time at ER or Comair flight training, and is excited just to get a pay check? There's the problem, in my opinion. A four year degree makes the task more difficult, but also more rewarding. Earning both a four year degree in something like business and earning MECL and a CFI shows dedication and a willingness to see things through.

Of course, I am bias, but I think this is something all airlines should require.