Expert: D. Norkus - 9/4/2007

Question
Hello Dottie, I am of Jamaican and British citizenship and i am 15 years of age attending a prominent high school in Jamaica. I am interested in pursuing a career in aviation as an Airline or Cargo Pilot and I will be training for a Students License and then a Private Pilots License next year at Wings Jamaica Limited at a local airport. I know that a degree in aviation is a huge plus when applying for a job with a major airline. But, I am not aware of the right degree to be studied for my career choice though, please inform me of the best course/degree to have. Also, I know that you are a specialist with U.S. universities but i was wondering if you
know of any good aviation universities in any country located within the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, etc...). Any information that you have on these two questions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks In Advance,
Alexander Corrie - Kingston, Jamaica

Answer
Alexander

I am far from a "specialist with U.S. universities"! I hope you didn't get that from my profile. I really have very little knowledge about that subject. I can give general info about aviation universities here in the USA but I am certainly not an expert on that topic. Regarding aviation education in the UK, I can't help with that at all. I suggest getting that part of your question answered at this predominantly UK/European pilot forum- http://www.pprune.org

The airline career is another matter. As a career airline pilot I can address that quite well! However, I need to know WHERE you intend on pursuing your career. That will affect the answer greatly. In the USA, as long as you have a degree in any subject- it does not have to be aviation- you will be qualified. The airlines care more about your flight experience than what subject you majored in.

The airlines in Europe may be different. (Seeing as you have a UK passport, I'll assume you will go there.) From what I understand, some do not even requie a degree. According to the British Air Line Pilots Association/BAPA, airlines require a minimum of 5 GCSEs/S 5 Grades (A-C/1-3) (seven for British Airways) including English, maths and science, plus two good ‘A ’levels/three H Grades, preferably in math and physics.

Additionally, the airlines outside the USA have different methods of recruiting and often vastly different experience requirements. In the USA one must have several thousand flight hours to even be considered for a job while in the UK or Europe for example, they will recruit pilots to fly Boeings & Airbuses who barely meet regional airline hiring requirements here (about 300-500 flight hours).

Abroad major and national jet airlines recruit pilots via "direct entry" (highly qualified) or "cadet schemes" (zero or low experience). For those aspiring to be pilots with zero experience, self-sponsored cadet schemes are the way the industry is going. Few airlines will sponsor the candidate these days. Aspiring pilots will self-sponsor or take a loan and fund their flight training via a "cadet schemes" from Private Pilot all the way to their type rating (Airbus A320, B737 ect). They are then assisted with job placement.

Get more info about airline cadet schemes in Europe here-

Oxford Aviation Training (UK): http://www.oxfordaviation.net
Cabair Airline Sponsorship Schemes  http://www.cabair.com/sponsorship/index.htm
http://www.pilotsponsorship.com/
http://www.futureairlinepilot.com/sponsorship.html
http://www.pilotcareercentre.com
EasyJet pilot sponsorship-
http://www.easyjet.com/en/jobs/pilot/pil..

If you intend to go back to the UK and fly, I suggest reading this career resource guide-

"How to become an airline pilot" by the BAPA
http://www.balpa.org.uk/intranet/How-to-bec/How%20to%20become%20a%20pilot%20quar...

Additionally, the pprune.org site I mentioned has a wealth of info on their message forums. Do a search for anything you want to know about and I am sure the topic has been covered.

Hope this helps
Dottie