Expert: David A. NewMyer - 10/20/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hello-
I'm a senior at a H.S. in Springfield, IL.  I'm wanting to have a career as a pilot.  I would like to eventually become a commercial or cargo pilot.  I'm not sure of how to go into this career field?  I've been looking at colleges with aviation programs and I'm really looking into Carbondale University.  It's 3 1/2 hours away from my home so I could come home whenever needed.  I've heard they have a very good program and saw on their site that they have internships with many major airlines.

Can you help advise me on different schools with aviation programs and what I will need to know to become a pilot?  I requested information from SIUC and it came yesterday.  They sent me the aviation program information and it said it was $34k for flight fee's some plus tuition, book and other fees.  Is there a good amount of financial aid in this field?  Also, it looks like at SIUC, aviation flight is a 2 year degree, do they have four year degrees or is it even necessary?  Thanks so much and I'll be anxiously awaiting your response.

         -Brian
Answer -
Hi, Brian:

Thanks for your question.  I will try to assist!

First of all, I work at Southern Illinois University Carbodnale as the Department Chair for Aviation Management and Flight.  So, I do have a bias in favor of the SIUC program....

What you will need to know to become a pilot boils down to three things:

1.  EDUCATION:  A BS OR BA DEGREE IS BECOMING MORE OF A REQUIREMENT THESE DAYS, PARTICULARLY AT LARGER AIRLINES OR EMPLOYERS.  FOR EXAMPLE, 90% OF THE PILOTS HIRED AT LARGER AIRLINES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAD A BS OR BA DEGREE.  

2.  FLIGHT CERTIFICATIONS OR RATINGS:  You will need to earn the following Federal Aviation Administration flight certications or ratings:

Private Pilot Certificate--Can be earned with a minimum of 40 hours of flying with the US average at about 65 hours

Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine Ratings--an Instrument Rating can be earned at 125 hours of flying and a Commercial Certificate can take 190 to 250 hours of flying depending on the type of school you attend.  The multi engine rating takes 10 to 15 hours of flying in twin engine aircraft.

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certificate, preferably with the Instrument and Multi Engine Ratings.  This rating is earned for you to gain flight experience by teaching others to fly.  It also may lead to your first job in aviation.

3.  FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.  In general, many university flight programs have flight operations internships as a way to get your foot in the door with in a flight-related working environment with an airline.  SIUC has eight formal flight operations internship agreements with 8 separate airlines.

Typical flight jobs come at the following flight hours levels:

300 or above:  Flight Instructor

500 or above:  Charter pilot (500 hr minimum is normally required by insurance companies)

1000 or above (some less, some more), with 100 to 300 multi engine flight hours:  A job with a Regional airline

2500 or above:  A job flying a corporate or business jet for a charter company, a fractional ownership company or a corporate flight department.

4000 or above:  A job flying jets for a major or national airline including THE LARGER CARGO COMPANIES SUCH AS ATLAS, FEDEX, UPS AND OTHERS.

At SIUC, Aviation Flight is a 2 year AAS degree that feeds right into the BS in Aviation Management, a four year degree.  The philosophy here at SIUC is that our flight students not only need to know how to safely fly aircraft, they also need to know about the business side of the aviation industry.  This is needed to understand the turbulent nature of the industry and how to safely navigate that turbulence and have a good career in aviation.  As I noted above the four year degree, while not an absolute requirement, will be something close to required by the time you finish college.  So, I would get a four year degree if I were you in order to be competitive in the job market.

To find out more about aviation-oriented schools and universities, order the following publication: THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE from the University Aviation Association.  Their phone number is (334) 844-2434, their email address is uaa@auburn.edu and their website is www.uaa.aero  They take credit cards for such an order and the cost is around $25.

I would recommend that you check out the other nearby aviation programs at Parks college, St. Louis University; University of Illinois Champaign; and at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.  They all have respected programs.  I think that SIUC compares well to all of them, but, that is for you to decide.

Call or Email David Jaynes at the SIUC Aviation Flight program to set up a campus visit and tour of the aviation programs.  His email is djaynes@siu.edu and his phone number is (618) 453-9235, or you can contact me at newmyer@siu.edu or at (618) 453-8898.  We just had an Aviation Career Day during which we gave away introductory flights and also toured our facilities and the campus.  I am sorry you missed it!  But, come on down and we will do a mini-version of that career day for you.

Best wishes and let me know if you have any other questions,

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






Hello-
    Just looking for some more information on this field.  Is there much financial aid in this field dealing w/ the flight cost or is it just based on the student?  What kind of math is involved with aviation?  Is it basic algebra or does it cover geometry and other forms of math?  At SIUC, you said the Aviation Flight feeds right into the BS in Aviation Management.....Does that mean it's a total of four years of college or does that mean two years of flight plus four years of management?  Thanks so much!

         -Brian  

Answer
Brian,

Thanks for your follow up questions....

1.  There is some financial aid and scholarships specifically for aviation.  Check this website:

www.avscholars.com

Also, look into ordering THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP LISTING from the University Aviation Association.  Cost is about $20.  Order from the UAA at (334) 844-2434 or by email at uaa@auburn.edu or on the web at www.uaa.aero

2.  Math:  Most university aviation programs require college algebra and trig at a minimum and some require calculus.

3.  At SIUC, the Aviation Flight program is 60 semester hours and feeds right into the Aviation Management program for another 60 semester hours, so 120 semester hours, which makes BOTH programs doable in four years.  Sometimes one extra semester is added in so that a student can do an internship at an airline or other aviation employer.  But, it is set up so that Aviation Flight and Aviation Management can be completed in a total of four years.

I hope this helps,

David A. NewMyer