Expert: David A. NewMyer - 12/16/2010

Question
Hello, I am a parent of a young man who wants nothing more than to become a helicopter pilot. He has finished his 1st semester at college and does not want to go back because he feels he needs to be spending his time and money focusing on his dreams. Not sure the best route to go due to finances. What helicopter school do you recommend and how is the best way to finance. Should he work and save money first or go in debt forever? Or are there grants for students?

Answer
Hi, Nancy:   (SEE ADDED POST SCRIPT BELOW THE REGULAR PART OF MY ANSWER).....

Thank you for your question, I will try to assist!  Also, I am sorry that I have been slow to respond---it was the end of the semester at the university where I work and I was busy getting final grades in!

With regard to helicopters vs. college:  I would recommend BOTH, together.  For example, there are universities and colleges out there that offer aviation degree programs that are fully accredited and recognized by the aviation industry.  There are some, such as Kansas State University in Salina and the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) which offer aviation pilot training in helicopters.  There are likely others, those are just the two that I am aware of. There is a good listing of colleges and universities avaialble from the University Aviation Association at www.uaa.aero  and this publication is entitled THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE. I believe the cost is $25 via their website. In addition, the university where I work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, offers a bachelor's degree program in Aviation Technologies with a Specialization in Helicopter Maintenance.  At first, that might not sound like a good way to go:  But, a helicopter is a very complex machine and a pilot who understands how they work and how they are maintained would be a much more valuable helicopter pilot than one who knows just how to fly them.  

With regard to WHY to go to a university to fly or work on helicopters:  There is no doubt that, in the competitive business of aviation, a person who is of college age today will absolutely need to have AT LEAST a baccalaureate degree to compete for aviation and flying jobs in the future.  Remember that all applicants who are trying to get flying jobs need three things:

1.  EDUCATION

2.  CERTIFICATION

3.  WORK EXPERIENCE

The first two above, education and certification, can be combined into one via a college aviation degree, specifically at a college or unversity that offers what your son wants.  No matter where you are, the third one, work experience flying helicopters, is, by far, the toughest one to achieve.  The vast majority of helicopter pilots in the USA achieve work experience via  the military.....and the U. S. Army is the largest military operator of helicopters among the military branches.  So, that is a bridge that your son will have to cross in the future:  How to gain experience flying helicopters.  When selecting a college or university aviation program, make it a priority to ask about placement services offered by each school and what their record is in terms of getting helicopter flying or related jobs for their graduates interested in that field.

Finally, with regard to finances;  Remember that a college degree can be subsidized by all kinds of scholarships, grants and loans.  Private helicopter schools are less likely to be able to line up such financial support. So, it is quite possible that you will be able to work through the college or univesity aviation progam of your choice to obtain much of the financing needed for such an education.  In addition, the University Aviation Association, as mentioned above, at www.uaa.aero  has a publication available entitled THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP LISTING and it lists over $1.2 million in aviation scholarships.....order your copy from the UAA to see what is available for you in terms of aviation scholarships, which are over and above the financial aid that a college or university would provide.

I hope that this helps!  Let me know if you have any additional questions via another question via AllExperts.com

Best wishes,

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

PS  ONE ADDITIONAL THOUGHT FOR YOU:  IN ADDITION TO ATTENDING A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY THAT OFFERS SOME SORT OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT TRAINING OR MAINTENANCE TRAINING (AS PART OF A COLLEGE AVIATION DEGREE), YOU MIGHT ALSO CHECK WITH THOSE PARTICULAR COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES ABOUT ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND/OR US AIR FORCE ROTC PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON THE CAMPUSES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.  IF YOUR SON IS INTERESTED IN PURSUING A COLLEGE ROUTE AND ALSO A MILITARY ROUTE, ROTC (OR A MARINE CORPS PLATOON LEADER CORP SLOT) MIGHT BE A WAY TO GO IN ORDER TO LAND A MILITARY SLOT RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE.  US AIR FORCE ROTC UNITS ARE FAIRLY COMMON AND, ON MANY CAMPUSES, OFFER THE BEST CHANCE FOR A PILOT SLOT.  HOWEVER, THE US AIR FORCE FLIES MORE AIRCRAFT THAN THEY DO HELICOPTERS, SO, YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT YOUR SON COULD END UP IN FIXED WING AIRCRAFT SINCE THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE ON THE TYPE OF FLIGHT SLOT THAT YOU GET OUT OF AN ROTC UNIT.