Expert: David A. NewMyer - 3/22/2008

Question
Dear David A. NewMyer,

I'm a high school junior planning on becoming a commercial airline pilot.  So far I have earned a private pilot certificate in August 2007.  Right now I'm building up cross country flight time in preparation for an instrument rating.  I've also been looking at colleges that have aviation programs geared toward becoming a professional pilot.  However, when I was looking at North Dakota's aviation program I found out that if you obtain an instrument rating outside of the school you still have to take the entire instrument rating course over again.  Now that I found this out I'm deciding whether I should start taking the instrument rating course this year, at my FBO, and eventually earn the rest of my certificates and ratings at the FBO as well. Also if I did this I would still attend a four year university but just get a major in something other than aviation.  Or I could put my plans of earning an instrument rating this year on halt and wait until I attend a university and major in aviation.  I'm wondering which way you would recommend.  Also if I did earn all my certificates at an FBO would that decrease my chances of eventually getting hired at an airline as a pilot?  In other words does it look better for the airlines to see a pilot candidate with a flight training background at a university than at an FBO?

Thank for your time,

Eric

Answer
Hi, Eric:

It is nice to hear from you.  I will try to help with your questions.

First of all, the requirement at UND is fairly common across aviation programs in the nation.  The reason for this is that a university, regardless of the major (aviation or psychology) wants you to take the major coursework at THEIR university in order for you to get THEIR degree.  If you take a third or a half of a degree at a non-university location like an FBO, regardless of the quality of flight training received, it would be almost deceptive for the university to say that the aviation degree earned was from that university.

With regard to your question about whether an airline would hire you if you got your flight training at an FBO or a university:  The answer is either IF the quality of flight training is good.  In other words, as long as you believe that the quality of flight training is good at the location you are going to, then, you should be fine.  The advantage of going to a university aviation program is that you will normally be trained to a common standard (most but not all larger university flight training programs are Pilot Schools under FAR Part 141)....and, you will earn a degree while you are doing your flight training.  The degree is the real advantage since it is a measure of your trainability and your ability to adapt and learn in theoretical as well as applied learning environments.  Also, having a degree makes you, in general, more marketable than if you do not have a degree.

A compromise that I can suggest for you is this:

Do your flight training up through your Commercial, Instrument and Multi Engine Land training at the local FBO but do the Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certificate at the university of your choice.  What this does is that, assuming you complete the CFI (A) at the university successfully, they will likely hire you to do CFI work at that school....and, having done the CFI there, you will know their procedures, etc.   Here at the university where I work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, this is something that several students have been able to work out to their advantage.  Clearly, we would rather that they trained at SIUC.  However, some students are able to get rather far in their flight training while in high school and we do not want to tell them to stop and wait for us!!!!  Also, if you are able to come into a university and get your CFI in your first or second semester, you will have at least three years to flight instruct and build flight time.  Here at SIUC, this is all possible to do within the B. S. Degree in Aviation Management...and, you are able to earn college credit toward your major by teaching others to fly (via an internship).  This route is likely available at other universities, just ask them.

But, on the issue of flight training at an FBO somehow hurting your chances with an airline:  Right now, the airlines (especially regional airlines) are so short of pilots that they will not care where you were trained as long as you have good pilot skills.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Best wishes to you,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu