You interview at an airline and it's a toss up between a guy with an associates and you. You have a P.H.d. in aviation and did your thesis on CRM. So who do you think gets the job?

 

He wasn't a test pilot like the other guys so he decided to go the PHd route. He did orbital mechanics at MIT and that got him in.

Don't be a thousanduplet. Those are the guys with blonde hair, whiteened teeth, serengetti sunglasses on a lanyard. If you are offering the same as everyone else then how do you stand out?

 

I must admit, I suppose a PhD. would be one way to do it. So what now, kids will be lining up to add a Masters and a PhD. in aviation to get a $20,000 a year job?

Sorry, it just seems like taking advantage of gullibility to me. Even for someone significant flight time and career experience, a masters or PhD. in aviation seems much less valuable than an undergrad degree in aviation. If you want it to teach somewhere, get a masters in education, or engineering. If you are in the corporate world or management bound, a MBA would serve you much better.

Call me crazy, but I don't think when it comes down to the sim check and panel interview, that a PhD. in aviation is going to make much difference in who gets the job. Once you have five or ten thousand hours, multiple types, and years of real world experience - what is a PhD. in aviation going to add to that?

 

I bet G.F. will get this. The tall, skinny guy full of crap teaching international/domestic navigation there.

 

I dont think anyone likes G.F.

 

You are absolutely correct in terms of the WHERE. For instance, getting a Doctorate from the University of Phoenix doesn't carry as much prestige or "respect", if you will, as receiving one from say University of Miami or University of Florida.

As far as having a non-thesis Master's degree, again you are correct....because if your goal is to instruct or conduct research, at some schools. you must defend your thesis just as the disertation at the PhD level.

Yes, having the varied, yet extensive aviation flight experience is the equivalent of the PhD in flight.



atp

 

Purdue University recently went to a policy where all new professors within Aviation Technology are tenure-tracked and therefore must have a Ph.D or be enrolled in a Ph.D program with a Masters before they're eligible for hire. Of course, existing professors are grandfathered in but are "highly encouraged" to pursue Doctorate-level studies.

I personally think requiring such academic credentials in a field where professional experience is so much more pertinent than theory...but research is the name of the game these days ($$$) and "trade schools" within major universities are evidently being told to toe the line.

 

Yeah, I think the ideal aviation professor would have a masters in aero-engineering and airline or military flying experience. A professional academic is missing the operational aspect...aviation is as much votech as academic.

 

hhmmm...it may just be fun to go around saying

'trust me. im a doctor pilot.'

but then again i like my money...

 

Wow I cant believe how much that costs!! Crazy