Q. I’ve always wanted to become a professional pilot. I wasted a lot of student loans on a previous college and I’m still paying those back. It will be hard for me to join a live class. I found Utah Valley University online. It has an online professional pilot program. Does AOPA recommend online studies to become a pilot or co-pilot? —Sam from Salinas, California
A. Congrats, Sam, for proving you’re never too old for a fresh start. If you earned a degree in anything, you tremendously enhanced your chances of being hired into the best flying jobs. Pilot recruiters generally don’t care what your major is, as long as you have a degree in something. There is a wise strategy that earning a degree in an area other than aviation is smart for that fallback position in case a furlough or some unforeseen circumstance takes you off the flight deck.
For anyone aiming for a degree, particularly those whose lifestyle and economic status prohibit fulltime campus life, earning a degree online is a wise choice. AOPA does not recommend any particular online program but there are many to choose from. Utah Valley is one; others include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Mountain State University, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. See AOPA’s aviation college directory (December 2010 Flight Training) for more options.
An online degree, which is just as good as earning one on campus, is a different animal, and you should prepare yourself for a unique mode of learning. Fran Howard, an author and expert on adult learning, has these useful strategies:
1. Set a study schedule. Online learning requires more discipline and a study regimen is recommended. Expect to spend nine to 12 hours per week studying for each three-credit course.
2. Create a learning environment. Dedicate a special place in your home free from distractions that you can call your own.
3. Update technology. Get the latest tools that you can afford like high-speed Internet, a good printer, a fast and able computer, and even an iPad.
4. Exploit the online environment. Join professional forums and network. Online learners can connect with people with similar interests all around the world.
Finally, I note that you mention “pilot or co-pilot.” Wrong, my friend! All professional pilot organizations have one thing in common: They hire captains. You may be in the right seat for awhile, but you need to aim for and prepare yourself for the left side. A degree is but one step toward that goal.
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