Why college? More than 90 percent of airline pilots for the largest jet carriers have a college degree. The best flying jobs with the best pay in corporate aviation go to aviators with a college education. Although most recruiters for the legacy airlines will tell you that the name of the school or course of study does not make a significant difference, a degree does indicate that the individual is trainable and can remain committed to a long-range goal. And grades do matter.
So, what steers an aspiring aviation professional toward one academic institution over another? We talked with a few collegians across the landscape to get an idea of what factors played a role in their decision-making processes.
Henry Kicera |
Henry Kicera should have been a helicopter pilot, based upon his early fascination with things flyable. Although he can't quite remember, his mother insists that he would launch "swing maple seed pods" from his hands as a youngster and watch them spin to the ground with a motion not unlike that of a Robinson R22.
Kicera transitioned to airplanes at age 12 when he received some flying lessons for his birthday. By 16, he was a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol and took full advantage of its many resources for young aviators. In the summer of 2000, thanks to a collaborative effort between CAP, Jacksonville University, and what is now the Delta Connection Academy, he participated in an aviation career encampment at JU that added another 15 hours to his logbook.
With a flight scholarship from the CAP, cash generated from a variety of part-time jobs, and a supportive mom and pop, he earned his private pilot certificate during his senior year in high school. About then, he began the task of selecting an aviation college.
"I started searching with an open mind in my last year of high school," says Kicera. "My first consideration was flyable weather. I wanted to get into the sky often and not be sidelined for days due to conditions. So, naturally, I began scouting schools in the South. Because of my previous encampment experience at JU, I took a real hard look at the university.
"This might sound a little trite, but I was aiming for a good liberal arts education in addition to flight training. Jacksonville University has a solid reputation in both. I looked for a chance to experience diversity and get a well rounded education. I needed opportunities for experiencing the arts, hanging out at the beach with pals, and connecting with the total college experience. Once I enrolled, I was able to head over to the school cafeteria to join friends who are dance, history, or business majors. I could not see myself just hanging out with pilot types. That is just too restrictive.
"Cost was a huge factor. I looked for schools where I could earn a scholarship, and JU served me well. A good chunk of my tuition was paid for.
"I will admit that Jacksonville University's relationship with Delta Connection Academy played a role in my decision. Students who become flight instructors at JU actually work for DCA and have the same opportunities, including guaranteed airline interviews and Delta travel benefits, as those working fulltime at DCA's Sanford [Florida] facility.
"The clincher for me, though, was just the atmosphere at JU. The flight program is relatively small and personal. Students and faculty have close relationships with each other."
After completing the four-year program, earning a degree, and serving as a DCA CFI at the JU campus, Kicera recently was hired by Comair Airlines as a first officer. Would he do it all again? "Without a doubt!"
Kerryn Schneider |
When she was 7 years old, Kerryn Schneider would curl up in her bed at night and gaze upward through the skylight in her room. She did not try to trace the many creatures of the Milky Way. She would, instead, rivet her sight onto those wonderful winged machines on approach to the Allentown, Pennsylvania, airport. It was the beginning of an eternal infatuation. What really sealed the deal for her, however, was a project in her junior year of high school in which she shadowed a private pilot to get a glimpse of general aviation. Once she grasped the yoke and nursed that Piper Cherokee through a few paces, there was no turning back.
When Schneider began to mine the Internet for information about aviation colleges, she says, "I looked at a lot of schools, especially those in Florida. Although my week at a Daniel Webster College aviation career camp in 2003 where I got a taste of campus life did much to influence my decision, I truly wanted to fly in an area where I could get a full dose of weather, ranging from sunny to gloomy, low overcast days. I wanted the challenge of dealing with icing and executing instrument approaches in actual conditions. Another factor is location. Honestly, I wanted to be close to family--but not that close.
"I am really keen about DWC's 'hard block' scheduling. I have a set schedule weekly where I am guaranteed dual instruction time. Unlike some schools where it is 'first come--first served,' I know that I am locked into a predictable routine week to week and that eliminates so much stress.
"Daniel Webster also provides glider flight training as part of the flight curriculum. This does so much for understanding micro-meteorology, lift, and glide. The Cessna 172 and Piper fleets all have Garmin GPS equipment, which is so great!
"The social life is fabulous. The school's Student Activities Board arranges and subsidizes shows, concerts, outings, and ski trips. Plus, DWC has a fulltime Career Resource Center that develops internships and assists in job placement.
"I guess what really grabbed me is just the friendliness of the place," the sophomore said. "The faculty and even the college president have an 'open door' policy. I can just pop in and chat with the prez about my studies and progress; to share some ideas and suggestions. It's really neat to have that kind of relationship."
Ryan Galis |
When Ryan Galis said his first word, it wasn't "mama" or "dada." It was "airplane"--an infant's first indicator of a lifelong relationship with machines that fly.
It was only natural that Galis gravitated toward aviation as a career goal. His father flies the Boeing 757 and 767 for USAirways, and his mother served as a ramp worker for Air Wisconsin and a flight attendant for American, and now is a customer service agent for Delta.
The flying hook was set when dad, a CFI, introduced Ryan to a Cessna 150, which he soloed on his sixteenth birthday. By the time Galis finished high school, he had earned his private pilot certificate.
During his sophomore year of high school, Galis and his family began to explore the many academic options available and toured a number of well-known institutions. Eventually, University of Illinois was first choice. Why?
"There were several factors in my decision," says Galis. "I wanted a big school and all that it offers. I really wanted to avoid becoming one-dimensional and just pal around with guys that eat, sleep, and breathe flying. I looked to develop relationships with my fellow students with diverse interests and backgrounds. Plus, the opportunities for social life and recreation are just huge at the University of Illinois.
"Although it wasn't a major factor, I just liked the way U of I looked. The layout of the campus and building architecture is impressive. I felt good just being there. The flight program is what really sold me. The Institute of Aviation has a superbly maintained fleet of single- and multiengine Piper aircraft and a handful of Frasca simulators. Equipment availability is never a problem. But, it is the cordial and chummy atmosphere that is a hit with me. Everyone, from the CFIs to senior faculty, go out of their way to make the students feel right at home. Genuine bonds of friendship develop in this kind of atmosphere, and that's important to me.
"Academically, I think the Institute of Aviation is tops. The professional pilot track is also unique in that it is a two-year program, which allows a student to earn a second major in the remaining two years of a four-year college career. Plus, UI is the only college that offers a bachelor of science in human factors while still allowing you to earn all of your [pilot] ratings.
"One great bonus for students is the annual Aviation Career Fair. I was a chairman of this year's event, which brought in over 30 exhibitors and more than 350 participants. Many of the companies that participated conducted interviews and offered jobs in the industry the very next day."
A junior, Galis has earned his commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating, and is completing his flight instructor certificate; he'll begin instructing in the spring.
Shaun Gerber |
Shaun Gerber is the only member of his family to be bitten by the flying bug. It happened when Gerber was tinkering with radio-controlled airplanes as a student in middle school.
As soon as Gerber started his senior year in high school, and with mentoring from a teacher who also was an airline pilot and designated pilot examiner, he began his search for a good college with an aviation program.
Gerber says, "First, I wanted the full college experience. I wanted those four years to be more meaningful than just learning to fly an airplane. Of course, I could have signed up with one of the major academies and earned all the ratings, but I really looked forward to sports, lots of social interaction through campus clubs and fraternities, and extracurricular activities. I became a member of Purdue's National Intercollegiate Flying Association team; participated in a number of navigation, landing, and preflight events; and also served as a coach in some of the ground school tasks."
Why Purdue? "Candidly," says Gerber, "I wanted a school that is recognizable in a resume or application as a top-notch academic institution. Names like Notre Dame, Stanford, Harvard, and Purdue, I think, really stand out to a prospective employer and need no introduction. Because of its reputation, Purdue has engineered internship and ab-initio relationships with a number of airlines and is well-connected with big-time players in the National Business Aviation Association.
"Being from Fort Wayne, I also was able to take advantage of the in-state tuition cost--a phenomenal savings. The training and equipment are super. Purdue has Piper Warriors, Arrows, and Seminoles. A great feature is that everyone gets experience flying the school's two King Air 200s on genuine Part 91 cross-country passenger-carrying trips."
For some students, like Gerber, right-seat time in the school's Beechjet is an added bonus. And students who want to earn a flight instructor certificate can do so in the sophomore year, and spend the next two years instructing. In this way, the average Purdue grad has more than 400 hours of flight time at graduation.
Gerber graduated in May 2006 and was hired by a Birmingham, Alabama-based charter company to fly business jets.
Joe Loreny |
Joe Lorenz never experienced an epiphany in which he realized he must forsake all other ambitions and fly. Ever since he can remember, getting airborne was as natural as eating and breathing, thanks to his dad--an ambitious and successful hot air balloon pilot. With "Little Joe" in tow during the early years, Lorenz senior would take his son to hot air balloon rallies and competitions all over the country, and even internationally. Young Joe never saw himself as a doctor, firefighter, or entrepreneur. The vision was flying or nothing.
It was in the sophomore year of high school that Lorenz started the search for colleges. "I visited several schools in Michigan, my home state, and down in Florida," he says. "I had a bias toward Traverse City because I have an uncle living there, and I spent a lot of time in the area growing up. Because of this, I had a good feel for Northwestern Michigan College right off the bat.
"Honestly, the primary reason I came to NMC is cost, pure and simple. I could earn a four-year degree and all of my ratings for a lot less than the name-brand schools. I am talking tens of thousands of dollars over time. But I had other reasons, too.
"I made a conscious decision not to put all of my eggs in one basket. NMC has given me the ability to place an emphasis on business courses as well as professional flight. It just seems to make sense to me that having a fallback position is almost an essential strategy for anyone thinking about a flying career.
"What is so very cool and what sets NMC apart from a lot schools is the chance to use school airplanes on long trips. Instead of building up time on cross-countries going to Lansing, Detroit, and Grand Rapids time after time, we can blast off for Maine to build up cross-country experience and pick up a lobster. Some NMC students actually earned most of their instrument ratings in cross-countries to Florida. Plus, we get to fly the school Queen Air on some of these trips.
"NMC is a small school. You don't see much advertising. But, that small and cozy atmosphere really suits me. When I see the department chairman, I don't say Hello, Mr. Buttleman.' I say, 'Hey, Bob.' It's that way with everybody around here.
"I have to tell you the one factor that is a real turn-on is the environment," the college junior said. "Traverse City is on Grand Traverse Bay with miles of shoreline, trees, and hills. It's a lot better than flying over Iowa for four years! But, being close to water, we get a lot of IFR weather, and that is experience you can't get in Arizona or Florida."
Susan Mongeon |
This is not a routine tale of a high-schooler smitten with the idea of piloting an aircraft for a living. At 27, Susan Mongeon was a bit of a late bloomer. In 1999 while surrounded by a fleet of Air Force A-10 Warthogs when serving as a parachute rigger for their crews at a base in Italy, her conversion was life-changing. "Experiencing the incredible power of the Warthog day after day and appreciating how those airplanes were playing a significant role in liberating oppressed people during the Kosovo conflict, I knew that flying was something I had to do."
When she was reassigned to Germany in 2000, Mongeon started accumulating college credits through Embry-Riddle's online courses. Returning to Arizona in 2002, she opted to continue her education at ERAU's Prescott campus.
"This is probably an offbeat reason for enrolling in a college, but I was fortunate enough to earn a volleyball scholarship at Embry-Riddle. This, plus another scholarship, meant that my degree was virtually paid for. I was only responsible for flight fees plus room and board. That is one of the fabulous features of this school, whether Daytona Beach or Prescott. Many scholarships are available.
"Of course, having been born and raised in Arizona, Embry-Riddle brought me home. I really missed my family after being away in the service for six years.
"But there is more to this. Once I started classes, I became really impressed with the quality of education. The faculty is seasoned by the industry. My professors have been NASA engineers, airline and professional pilots, and military aviators. My physics teacher was an F-4 and F-100 pilot, for example. And each of these educators is so dedicated to seeing their students achieve success.
"ERAU's resources are outstanding. The school recently installed an Airbus simulator. The airplanes on the flight line are modern and in great shape. And you just can't beat the flying weather in Arizona. Not only do you have 'clear and a million' almost every day, operating out of a field at 5,050 [feet] msl gives you a real appreciation for aircraft performance limitations.
"Perhaps the most unique aspect of this university is the common thread with all of the students. The entire school population, whether specializing in flight, engineering, global security, or human factors, are linked to aviation. "I've seen a lot from my perspective, and I can't recommend ERAU highly enough."
Mongeon has graduated from Embry-Riddle and is working on her flight instructor certificate; she then plans to instruct at the Prescott campus.
So, there you have it: a number of "thought starters" for aspiring professional pilots on their way to an aviation college or university. Think it through carefully, as these young people have done. You want to make a decision that will keep you smiling, just like these students did.
Wayne Phillips is an airline transport pilot with a Boeing 737 type rating. He is a B-737 instructor and operates the Airline Training Orientation Program in association with Continental Airlines. He is an aviation safety consultant in Michigan and speaker for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.
Illustration by Eric Yang
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