Aviation College program eyed at U of Windsor

[DanWEC]

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Pilot+d ... story.html

Being originally from Windsor, I hope all the best for the local economy at all times, but the article is steeped in the standard lines about high demand for pilots due to retirement, etc.

However- this one is disturbing:

While Western University, the University of Waterloo and Seneca College offer similar programs, Houston said there are more applicants than there are spots available.

Suddenly there are not enough freshly graduated pilots out there? Obviously.... my phone was ringing off the hook with lucrative offers as soon as I received my qualifications. Oh wait... never mind. That's every other job. Aviation requires you to live like a pauper and drive across the country begging people to hire you while you prove yourself for peanuts. (and KD!)

Many top universities restrict graduating numbers in many fields to keep supply and demand in check, and to allow the talent pool to be among the best it can be. Why is aviation so different?

[CanadianEh]

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Pilot+d ... story.html

Being originally from Windsor, I hope all the best for the local economy at all times, but the article is steeped in the standard lines about high demand for pilots due to retirement, etc.

However- this one is disturbing:

While Western University, the University of Waterloo and Seneca College offer similar programs, Houston said there are more applicants than there are spots available.

Suddenly there are not enough freshly graduated pilots out there? Obviously.... my phone was ringing off the hook with lucrative offers as soon as I received my qualifications. Oh wait... never mind. That's every other job. Aviation requires you to live like a pauper and drive across the country begging people to hire you while you prove yourself for peanuts. (and KD!)

Many top universities restrict graduating numbers in many fields to keep supply and demand in check, and to allow the talent pool to be among the best it can be. Why is aviation so different?

By my 3rd year in the Western program, the attrition was almost 50%. Out of the 15 left there were 4 ROTP pilots with guaranteed jobs upon graduation. Those with the false notions of what the career really entailed were weeded out. Just because lots of people apply doesn't mean anything, there's just a gap between reality and what the FTUs are saying. I think that the instant gratification requirement of my generation coupled with the deteriorating conditions of profession will see a decrease in people pursuing aviation as a career... whether they figure that out before dishing out $xx,xxx for training is a different story.

[BTyyj]

Many top universities restrict graduating numbers in many fields to keep supply and demand in check, and to allow the talent pool to be among the best it can be. Why is aviation so different?

I ask this question all the time.

...whether they figure that out before dishing out $xx,xxx for training is a different story.

More like $xxx, xxx if the university isn't in your home town.

Any idea what program Windsor will be offering in conjunction with the flight training? I wish there was an engineering/aviation program, where it was engineering during the winter and flight training during the summer, with an engineering coop at the end to pay off the flight training.

[costermonger]

Having more applicants than places in a program is hardly surprising in Ontario; if you've got three hypothetical schools with 40 spots and 100 people total who wish to enter one of those programs each year, many of those 100 prospective students will apply to all three of the programs - doesn't cost you any more to apply to three than it does to one. So each school can get many more applications than they have spots in their program, yet the real demand for that type of education is actually less than the supply.

I have no idea whether or not there's a significant number of students being turned away from university aviation programs (that they'd otherwise get into) because they're full.. But I doubt it. "More applicants than spots" is often used as a way to mislead people, in my opinion.

Just because lots of people apply doesn't mean anything, there's just a gap between reality and what the FTUs are saying.

I remember one info session I did a few years ago where I described (as my employer expected me to) the challenges and real working/lifestyle conditions you could expect as a pilot to a group of prospective university students and their parents. After half an hour of trying to get across that you really need to think about this before you jump in feet first, I was approached by a young man and his parents, who asked me what it would cost to just buy the required hours to get a job at Air Canada or Westjet.

I'm sure there are FTUs that still sell their product using smoke and mirrors, but my experience is that many, many people are just uninterested in the truth. They're far too sold on the idea of walking through a terminal with a hat and bars.