An aviation degree is only worthless if you allow it to be worthless.

 

While I have spent a large amount of money on my education I have not gone into debt yet. When I get out of school I will be just like everyone here was excited and "Looking through the rose colored glasses" While i may have a great outlook I also know the realities of the industry. I know that there aren't many jobs out there. I know that they are going to pump their requirements up to 1500TT. Also I know that there is legislation for holders of an aviation 4 year degree to have that TT reduced to 750. That is enough of a reason for me to completely suggest that getting an aviation degree is probably not a horrible choice. Also I feel that there would be less of an issue if there wasn't a horrible recession going on right now. Those CFI jobs where you built time like none other have been disappearing like crazy because no one is learning to fly right now. Airlines are championing callbacks of 12 pilots. There will be a pilot shortage the time line for it has not been set yet. I am skeptical about the scope clauses. because I think you are on the right track but what about the airlines like Alaska, Southwest, Jetblue and Airtran? They are Large carriers who are defined as Legacy. would they then become regional? I think that the scope clause for the Big 5 might change but I don't think the Pilot groups of the other "Legacy's" would go for it.

 

We still have Vietnam era pilots flying?



2010-1973= 37 years ago

 

That can be said for any degree. I've always been amused by those who go to college with no idea what they want to do or major in, but that's me.

You can graduate College with a gpa of 3.0+ and not known a damn thing about your field. You can graduate with an aviation degree without knowing what an Ops Specs is because not one class or one professor exposed the student to what it means to the carrier and it's pilots. The only way you get that kind of education is by asking questions, exploring resources and interning or getting into the field wherever you can before you graduate.

And I think that goes for any degree vs the real field.

 

That's something myself and a few other alums have been fighting for with Purdue alumni - to have more real-world topics discussed in the new curriculum with students vs. 4 semesters worth of 727 systems classes that an airline would teach in 2 40-hour weeks.

I think a contributing factor to this is at many universities, faculty don't have much industry experience...especially in the last 10-15 years. One reason for this is many universities want aviation faculty to have M.S. degrees if not Ph.Ds...and there simply aren't that many folks out there that have a strong professional/operational background with those academic credentials that want to teach.

Yes, it does...

 

Not for long. 25 + 37 = 62

 

will there ever be a shortage? Simple answer - NO. There never has been and there never will be. There are thousands of guys on the street, think about it.

 

Everything you said is true. I have learned a ton from doing a internship. at school there is such a separation from the in depth maintenance and flying sides. We learn about op specs but they just cover them briefly during a lecture. I have learned a ton of information from Reading an airline FOM. Also I have gained a lot of knowledge on compliance, opspecs, and stc mods. School gives you the tools to understand these things better when you get formally exposed to them.

 

yeah but that can dry up pretty quick if the airlines even get back to where they were when 65 went into effect.

 

When I started flying a few years ago, the same pessimistic people were touting the doom and gloom, woe is me crap. Like you, it was my dream to become a professional pilot. I put the negativity behind me, and pursed my dream while also keeping the finances in check.

Three years ago I quit my engineering job and moved down to south FL to begin my new life as a flight instructor. It was a scary decision, but it was also one of the happiest days of my life. Now I'm flying a citation for a corporate operator, and am loving it!

I have zero regrets about getting into aviation, and feel VERY lucky to have worked in the "real world" first. You will find that a lot of pilots that have only made their living as pilots are some of the most bitter and vocal mouthpieces on these boards. While sometimes they have valid complaints, often times they are just whiny people that have no clue how good they have it. Those of us that have worked in office jobs, hating everyday at work, have a different perspective. Anyway, good luck to you... Pursue you dream, don't get into a ton of debt, and enjoy your life. Good luck!