Expert: David A. NewMyer - 4/7/2008

Question
sir,
im a 12grader and am confused about my future my father is a pilot and i also am intrested in aviation, my father supports my decision to take aviation as my career but insists me on taking a degree first due to the increase in no. of pilots.I want to know if aeronautical engineering would be a right option for me and if it can help me in some way to get into nasa which i've not yet spoken to my father about because i know its not easy to get into nasa.please help!!

Answer
Hi,

Thank you for your question....I will try to assist!

First of all, in order to get into aviation as a pilot is very different from getting into aviation with NASA.  Being a pilot does not necessarily require an engineering degree....working for NASA will usually require an engineering degree.  So, you will have to decide what your direction is going to be:  If you really want to work for NASA, then, you will have to think about an engineering degree.

Second, if you choose an AVIATION degree as an option, that would allow you to FLY as part of your college career.  There is an excellent resource out there called THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE, which is a listing of all of the colleges and universities that offer aviation in the USA and in some nations around the world.  This guide is available from the University Aviation Association at www.uaa.aero or by calling them at 334-844-2434.

Third in order to fly for an airline, you will need:

1.  Federal Aviation Administration certification as a pilot:  Private Pilot Certificate; Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi engine Ratings and a Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certificate which would allow you to build flight time by teaching others to fly.

2.  Flight experience....usually 500 to 1000 hours of total flight time to be hired by a regional airline.  Of that, something like 50 to 200 hours of time must be multi engine flight time....

I hope that this information is of help to you.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale