A friend was telling me over the phone, last night, that he thought a
"complete" degree would be a mandatory entry condition in Australia in
about ten years from now. In fact, only after the actuals managers
retire! It says a lot.
Closer to me... I was told on Friday that at least two (Delta, United) of
the five big US carriers require from applicants a bachelor's degree to
get in. Delta even went to court on that issue and won. Can anyone here
confirm this information, and maybe inform us on the status of the
others: NW, American, Continental.... ?
Jean LaRoche
Aero Innovation
Montreal
>Hi All,
>
>I think Piers is correct when he says that there are distinct national
>attitudes to pilot education.
>
>However, it is interesting to see which part of the community is responsible
>for these attitudes.
>
>When we (University of South Australia) started university pilot education in
>Australia the driving force was the our University. Some 15 years on the
>driving forces are the Universities (now about 10 or so offer Aviation
>Degrees)
>and the Student's perception that a degree is the best way to start a pilot
>career. The Airline Industry in Ausralia still does not require a degree for
>selection purposes and makes this point clear to students who contact them.
>Because of the lack of involvement and no clear outcome citeria for graduates
>from the Airline Industry, each university course has developed
>independently.
>This has produced a wide variety of university aviation courses in Australia.
>The University of South Australia offers Total Pilot Eduacation which
>includes
>both the flying and the academic studies. Other universities have decided to
>concentrate on the academic component and leave the flying to an external
>provider. The point I make is that it is not the Aviation Industry that is
>driving university pilot education in Australia, but rather the universities,
>and the prospective students and their parents.
>
>Steve Thatcher.