Im really confused

[danishroy]

hey guys, i want to become a airline pilot. But i am really confused wether i should go to college and do a aviation diploma program or just go to flight school and do a diploma in some other field. Is the aviation diploma worth it and if so which college do you recomend. Will the aviation diploma be even worth anything? Any opinions would be helpfull. Thanks

[paydaymayday]

Be careful what you wish for, know what you're getting in to, et cetera et cetera.

Merry Christmas, et cetera et cetera.

[Invertago]

Go get your CPL done with floats or an instructor rating and focus 100% on that. Once you have the CPL floats/instructor bit on your license, spend the next 4 summers working as a pilot and fall and winter time do the college student bit. Then, you'll have a 4 year degree and 4 summers of pilot work experience and you can chase full time work as a 1000hr or more pilot who has enough time to avoid some winter layoffs. Floats / Instructing would have been a great summer job between school, its what I wish I did anyhow.

[loopa]

You have a long way to the airlines, and the right kind of experience and flight time beats a 4 year degree in basket weaving.

Educate yourself because you want to, not because an airline requires you too; then you're just a victim. Even pilot's have gotten on board at Air Canada and such with no degree's. In the states it's a different story; getting a degree has become as easy as 1 2 3... pick up the phone and call this number.... no high school diploma needed. So they need something to set apart the idiots from the complete idiots if you get what I mean.


Good Luck

[SAR_YQQ]

Don't disregard the benefit of a Degree. That piece of paper will set you above any other applicant without one. There will be plenty of 1500hr ATPL applicants, it is what else you have to offer that will give your file more points. Degree, military, turbine, etc - all of these add up.

[Tango01]

Become a doctor (CAME) and then you can charge over $100 for a so called "medical" With that kind of money, you can then buy your own airplane and fly for fun. Oh yeah, I also forgot, you get to live a good life too.

[danishroy]

Okai thanks guys especially invertago I am probably looking at doing at what you said. I know its gona take time and a lot of patience and money but I'm willing to go through with this

[Airtids]

Go get your CPL done with floats or an instructor rating and focus 100% on that. Once you have the CPL floats/instructor bit on your license, spend the next 4 summers working as a pilot and fall and winter time do the college student bit. Then, you'll have a 4 year degree and 4 summers of pilot work experience and you can chase full time work as a 1000hr or more pilot who has enough time to avoid some winter layoffs. Floats / Instructing would have been a great summer job between school, its what I wish I did anyhow.

+1

[loopa]

Don't disregard the benefit of a Degree. That piece of paper will set you above any other applicant without one. There will be plenty of 1500hr ATPL applicants, it is what else you have to offer that will give your file more points. Degree, military, turbine, etc - all of these add up.

You're right about not disregarding the benefit of a degree... but it's not as significant as you make it seem.

Basically, it all adds up to the pointing system in scoring you the interview and I wish I could say "trust me" and it being effective, but trust me... if you have the experience acquainted for the job, your points in the matrix system will add up to a higher value.

Ex: You're applying for a job that involves flying ATR72's...

Have you had ATR experience? If yes? that puts you on top of the other applicants with 1500 hrs and a degree... How about experience working with glass, EFIS, EICAS systems? Again, more valuable than learning how to tie a basket together. And the million dollar question, do you have any connections? Maybe somebody walk in your resume? Somebody is the chief pilot's brother in law... maybe you know the Chief Pilot's wife... I can't say enough on how requirements become a matter of general standard as soon as you know of a KEY PERSON within a company... When times were good, a friend of mine got on board with Air Canada at 1800 hours... he had the right connections.

Either way, before getting to the airlines, you have most likely flown a type such as a B1900, PC12, King Air, Jetstream or something of the sort. These are all valuable as bit by bit, the important experience levels will be acquired in concert for that airline job.

Out of all airlines in Canada, Air Canada is the one of the only airlines that values a large chunk of their points towards a degree or post secondary. Good or bad? You be the judge. In my opinion it's bad, in somebody else's opinion it's good. There will always be a conflict of interest on this topic. So we all have to agree to disagree.

The most important thing is not what I or SAR_QQ or anybody else tells you; the important concept lies in you knowing exactly what you're shooting for, having a plan of action, and executing upon it. Just like any plan, it needs flexibility. So if your goal is ACA, start plugging away on the degree, yes you will most likely need it. Is your goal Air Transat or WestJet? They seem to value the individual, pilotage, and right fit experience over degree's. I'd like to assume that Air Canada does too, but maybe not to the same extent as I would like to see, but that's a personal opinion.


Best of luck to you DUDE

[mcrit]

Get the degree first, in something that does not depend on aviation (I'd suggest a co-op engineering program where you can work your way through to help pay for it). Then get a job and use the money from that to pay for your ratings (you can get them all done in ~18 months even working full time). This will give you something to fall back on when (please note that thereis no 'if' involved) the industry goes through a down turn.
I would avoid University flight programs like the plague. All the ones I know of contract out their flight training to a regular flight school (which means you're not getting anything special by way of flight training) and give you a degree that isn't of much use. Don't get a throw away degree, (general arts etc...), get one that is going to lead you to employment (that's why I suggested engineering).
If you really have your heart set on doing an aviation program do it at one of the established colleges. Confed has produced some really good pilots and has a great reputation. Most of their instructors have bush experience. Sault has a good reputation (I've always been impressed with the guys/gals I've met from there). Seneca has it's high points, but it does have a reputation for producing some difficult to work with grads (which is to say that going there may close a few doors to you, while opening others). There are other flight colleges (Mount Royal, MFC) but I don't know too much about how them. Either way I'd go with those programs over any of the university programs that I've seen (UWO and UW). The notable exception to this ERAU.

[Shiny Side Up]

hey guys, i want to become a airline pilot.

I have to ask why you want to become one? In that train of thought, have you researched what other career paths the pilot career may take you to?

[LousyFisherman]

Go get your CPL done with floats or an instructor rating and focus 100% on that. Once you have the CPL floats/instructor bit on your license, spend the next 4 summers working as a pilot and fall and winter time do the college student bit. Then, you'll have a 4 year degree and 4 summers of pilot work experience and you can chase full time work as a 1000hr or more pilot who has enough time to avoid some winter layoffs. Floats / Instructing would have been a great summer job between school, its what I wish I did anyhow.

+1

But like payday and Shiny I am really confused as to why you would want to work as an airline pilot.

Good Luck
LF

[paydaymayday]

But like payday and Shiny I am really confused as to why you would want to work as an airline pilot.

Good Luck
LF

Haven't you heard? Airline pilots shit sunshine, sparkles, and rainbows. They never have to work and make millions of dollars a month.

[Pugster]

[/quote]
Haven't you heard? Airline pilots shit sunshine, sparkles, and rainbows. They never have to work and make millions of dollars a month.[/quote]

Ahhh...that explains the glow coming from the bowl this morning .

It's definitely a different world than the bush where you just shit bricks every day, or don't shit at all because your butt is still clenched from the day before .

Kidding...kidding...

As far as the degree goes - it makes little difference come resume time, but it can help in the interview. It's never a bad thing to get a degree...but it may not forward your career as much as some would say.

[LousyFisherman]

I would take Invertago's path but take a non-aviation degree or trade.

Air Cadets if I was half as smart as I thought I was.

Pilot as above with an engineering/computer/science degree or with a mechanics/electrical/plumbing/carpentry ticket.

All/any education is good. More is better than less.

danishroy, spend some time reading the forums, especially the airline ones.

Worth what you paid for it
from a wanna-be amateur bush pilot

LF