I have been browsing through these forums. And I have seen an awful lot of "Don't get an aviation degree."

Are you saying that an aviation degree is not worth anything? And suggesting that you get a different degree, but still do the flying?

I'm interested because I have quite a few college credit hours and a different degree might not be too terribly far off if I did that. And that would loosten up a lot of free money that I could use toward flight expenses. I'm only taking the classroom crap now because its required in the program.

I'd appreciate some input.

 

I think what most mean is that this is a very risky business. Most do not make it anywhere near the high paying jobs. Pay and work rules have diminished almost consistently for the last 20 years and the future looks like more of the same.

Be sure you understand what it means to start over in this field when you are 30, 40 or 50. MANY have had to do that very thing and more then just once.

 

The point that most on here are trying to make is that an aviation degree does not get you to an airline faster (in most cases), which effects your seniority. It also is usually not worth the money you put into it because you're putting all that money down to get a $20k job. To many, that doesn't make sense.

That said, you will get a more well rounded education. Its not just get your your certs as fast as possible. Its taking classes including ground schools, human factors, aviation economics, aviation physics, etc. None of these classes will make you any more qualified to become a professional pilot, but I find it strange when talking to pilots with no education on these topics that they don't understand the RLA, major-regional agreements, or any type of aerodynamics beyond lift makes a plane go up.

Its not to say that I'm an expert on any of these subjects, but I've at least been exposed to them and feel like I can at least hold my own in a discussion. To most people, this advantage just isn't worth the cost.

Lastly, learning effectively is largely based on a training program being able to teach you how you learn. You can love or hate regimented flight training. You could love or hate being in the exact same plane every flight. A 141 university program is much different than any 61 program with a syllabus (FBO 141) in most cases. I'd advise you to talk to many different pilots at each and who have graduated from each and see what they say.

Many think their way was best, but if you ask them why, you'll be able to match the program to your needs and desires to pick the right one for you.

 

Thanks. I am a 141 student currently. I'm mainly just wondering if a flight degree is useful to anything. Because I will get a CFII. I'm not particularly interested in working for the airlines. I used to work for Air Wisconsin as a ramper and all the pilots I talked to hated it. I'm just interested in any sort of job that I can get paid to fly around in planes all day.

 

Be careful with that statement. I mean this because, unless you've got a relatively specific plan, a job that just lets you fly around in planes all day:

1) May be very tough to get for a while
2) Probably does not pay enough to pay off your student loans

Just getting paid to fly does not feed your family and will probably leave you very unsatisfied professionally. Maybe I'm looking into what you said too much, but you really need to talk to pilots who have taken the route youre intending and find out what life is like for them.

 

If push comes to shove I can always marry a cougar =]

 

The cougars are drying up (literally and figuratively)

 

I agree with everyone else. I decided to get a degree in math and computer science as a fall back plan. Even still, I had my CFI by my sophomore year and instructed at the university until graduation. I'd say my route is the best way to go. I didn't have to pay for all the extra non-certificate classes that were, IMO, not worthwhile. I only took flying courses and graduated with no degree/certificate of completion in the school of aviation. But I did graduate with my CFI/CFII/MEI and about 500 hours.