Expert: David A. NewMyer - 3/15/2005

Question
Dear David,
Right now i am a Senior in High school and will graduate this summer. I have always wanted to be a pilot and still have that desire. Here's the thing though. I feel like I should get a degree in something else as well not just a pilots license. What are some of my options and what do you think of all this. Its a little confusing when there are so many things you can major in. I thought about getting a degree in engineering because I would love to learn how to design and build aircraft as well. Anyway please let me know what you think.
Sincerely,
David

Answer
David:

Very nice to hear from you.  I will try to assist with your questions.

You pose a very good question and I will approach the answer from several vantage points for you.

First of all, aviation is a field or discipline in and of itself, as is engineering, or business, or art, or history.  Therefore, the aviation field is represented by a large number of university and colllege aviation-related  degree offerings.  There is, in fact, a listing of universities and colleges that offer aviation degree programs entitled THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE and it is available from the University Aviation Association.  Their website is www.uaa.aero or you can email them at uaa@auburn.edu or call them at 334-844-2434 to order it.  The cost is around $25.

Second, if you pursue college work in aviation, you will obtain far more than "a pilot's license."  In fact, to be able to be minimally employable after college, you will need to obtain the following flight credentials from the Federal Aviation Administration, through the aviation university that you decide to attend:

The FAA Private Pilot Certificate, which allows you to fly as a pilot in command of the type of aircraft that you learn to fly (normally a single engine piston aircraft).

The FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine Ratings, which allows you to fly for hire (for money) in both low visibility conditions and in multi engine aircraft (normally, piston driven twin engine aircraft)

The FAA Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certificate, which will allow you to teach others to fly (and, thereby, earn flight time in the process).

Third, my belief is that, YES, you are correct:  You should not only learn to fly for a college degree but also do more.  Here at Southern Illinois University Carbondale where I work, our aviation curriculum delivers three main sets of information to you in a four years:

1. The typical general studies coursework that ANY college student will take:  English Composition, math, speech, science, social science, fine arts, humanities, multicultural studies, health, etc....41 semester hours total

2.  The flight course work noted above....up to 35 semester hours of coursework just learning to fly, plus additional coursework in things like Human Factors for Aviators, Reciprocating and Jet Aircraft Systems, etc.

3.  Aviation Management coursework in things like Fiscal Aspects of Aviation Management, Air Transport Labor Relations, Aviation Management Writing and Communication, Aviation Management Practices and Processes, Aviation Industry Regulation, Airline Management, General Aviation Operations, Legal Aspects of Aviation, Airport Management, Aviation Safety Management, etc.

When you graduate from SIUC, you have a two year degree in Aviation Flight and a four year degree in Aviation Management which are delivered in a total of four years.

To answer your question more directly about Engineering:  If you want to be an Aerospace Engineeer, that will require your full four year attention.  That is, it will be very difficult to both learn to fly aircraft (and earn the FAA certificates mentioned above) AND earn your Aerospace Engineering degree.  To do both will require more than four years of college work.  Why?  Again, because each is their own college or university discipline and both require a good amount of time to properly learn....and, by that I mean, if you are just going to get your FAA Private Pilot Certificate, that is one thing.  That you can do along with your Engineering degree.  But, if you want to fly commercially for a living, you will need to do much more than that (you will need to earn your Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi Engine and CFI-A).  In this instance, it will be extremely difficult if not impossible to manage to do both Aviation Flight and Aerospace Engineering in four years.

I hope that this information helps.  If you need more information, please email be another question via AllExperts.com

Sincerely,

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