Expert: David A. NewMyer - 12/13/2005

Question
Im going back to college to be a pilot, ive already graduated as an aircraft maintenance tech.  Im looking at 2 colleges and i really need some input.  Im looking at University of North Dakota and Rocky Mountion college in Billings, Mt.  Im really wondering if going to the more known college of UND would give me a better chance of getting hired.    thanks Jake

Answer
Hi, Jake:

Thanks for your question.  I will try to assist.

The bottom line is that you will need to ask both schools about the placement activities and support that they give to their respective aviation student bodies.  My personal view is that it is NOT all about the name of the institution, but, rather, what they DO on your behalf to help you get placed.  For example, if you asked me what we did for you as a student at the institution where I work (Southern Illinois University Carbondale), I would say:

1.  We provide you with an excellent postsecondary aviation education that includes both the technical (aviation flight coursework leading to the FAA Commercial Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine ratings) and management (the
B. S. in Aviation Management is typically taken by 90%+ of all Aviation Flilght students since Aviation Flight is a two year degree).  This gives our students two degrees in four years, as well as two aviation-related majors.

2.  We provide excellent "bridge training" to the aviation industry for our aviation flight students including coursework in:

A.  Practicum in Air Carrier Operations, which is a multi engine flight time building course in which students are able to build from 20 to 40 hours of multi engine Pilot in Command (or PIC=) flight time.

B.  Turbine and Airline Operations course which provides students with line oriented flight training (or LOFT) training scenarios in a King Air 200/Beech 1900 Flight Training Device (FTD)....this allows students to work toward a turbine airline operations as a goal after graduation.

C.  Flight Management Systems (FMS) course, which allows students to learn how to program an electronic airline cockpit prior to take off and then operate it during flight.

3.  The university has, over the years, signed eight flight operations internship agreements with various airlines, six of which are still operational.  These internship agreements allow students to be placed into flight operations internships for a semester, or longer, gaining valuable airline work experience and, in many cases, qualifying the student for later consideration for hiring (assuming more flight time is built first).

4.  The university has one "bridge agreement" in place with one regional airline which allows us, given a minimum amount of flight experience on the part of the student (as signed off by me as the department chair) to be placed at a regional airline.

5.  The university offers one Aviation Career Fair each year in the fall, the last one of which was attended by 31 aviation employers.   These on-campus aviation career fairs allow students to interact and network with aviation employers, finding out what the employers are looking for in their job searches and also learning about job opportunities.

6.  For prospective students, SIUC offers two aviation career days a year, one working with American Airlines and one working with Corporate Aviation and General Aviation operators.  These career days for prospective students allow current students to network with aviation employers who come in for those events.

A list of career/hiring-related items similar to the above list of items can be provided by the personnel at each of the schools you are considering.  Just ask them for it and then compare the lists!

I hope that this helps.

Best wishes,

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