is getting into aviation a good idea?
 

i am in my last year of school, and would like to persue my dream of becoming an airline pilot. To do so, i am planning on majoring in Flight Management in college. My question is, is it a good idea to do this major? Can i expect to get a regional job after building up my flight hours?

Thanks

Someone please pass the popcorn...... :eek:

Seriously, spend some time doing some reading on the forums, there a hundreds of posts that address your question and the related issues facing the industry.

The short answer is a resounding no.

I went to CWU, then left to join the Navy, got my degree from ERAU while on active duty, flew for 4 airlines and now furloughed from United Airlines. Here is what I learned....DO NOT GET AN AVIATION DEGREE. Does having an aviation degree help your chances in getting a regional job.........ABSOLUTELY NOT. Every airline that has a requirement just says 4-year degree. Most people I know dont have an aviation degree. It is almost a guarantee at some point you will get furloughed in your career. I can tell you an aviation degree will do nothing for you if that happens. Get a degree in something else so you have something to fall back on. You can still get your flight ratings and fly. My advice get an engineering degree. That will really help you out down the road. Imagine you get furloughed in 10 years or something and your degree is in aviation. How will that help you get a job if the airlines are not hiring like they are now? BUt if you had a degree in something else......I am sure you get the point.

I can vouch for this. I have two aviation degrees, both are worthless in the real world now that I'm furloughed. Thankfully I have a self taught I.T. background that's paying the bills in the mean time. DO NOT get an aviation specific degree.

What about an aviation maintenance degree? That's what I am thinking about doing.

That degree will put you in the same situation. If they airlines furlough pilots they are sure as heck furloughing maintenance guys. I mean you can obviously do what you want. Just remember most 121 airline pilots do not have an aviation specific degree. I was in your spot like 15 years ago and I really thought getting an aviation degree would help me get a job. I wish someone told me what I am others are telling you on here.

That would be a little better because you might be able to find a mechanic job at a local airport. Also because Mx is less glamorous than flying you probably won't see ridiculously high competition for ridiculously low-paying jobs. But you would need to finish your A&P.

Aerospace engineering would good too, the manufacturing cycles do not usually exactly match pilot hiring cycles.

If you are looking strictly for a backup degree, healthcare would be the way to go. That's going to be a boom industry for decades, and once you get qualified you could probably work part-time to maintain your currency. This would allow you to jump right into full-time if needed. Some IT specialties can also be maintained on the side (web page, database design, etc).

Like others have said, avoid the aviation management type degrees.

If you would like to pursue your dream of flying--------WAKE UP
Is it good to major in flight management? NO (do not have the word 'aviation' on your degree because it renders your degree 'inop', per the regs!

Can you get a regional job after building your flight hours? maybe, but alot of flight hours. More than 1,500 hours will get you your 20,000 bucks. The only problem with being a pilot is that you earn soo much money that you will not have enough banks/safe deposit boxes/vaults to store all of it in.

lol
youll regret not doing it more then doing it...just know you will be a slave

You may want to try a degree in some sort of health care or business administration.
You can still do your flight training on the side and have a good back up in the event of getting laid off or not finding any flying job after school.