On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 01:08:20 GMT, "G. Sylvester"
wrote:


I got into a discussion with an non-pilot MD comparing
a professional degree versus flying.

snip
So the big question, compared to a your profession, how does flying
VFR and IFR compare with regards to training, proficiency, continued
training, mental challenge and anything else that comes to mind? No
need to convince me but more to convince the non-pilot. In particular
I'd like to hear from the professions that require advanced degrees.

You don't have to get as far as the advanced degrees.
As someone else already said, aviation is a technical field.

Look at it this way.
PPL Ground school: one term, one class.
Practical experience to get ready to test: about the equivalent in
hours of one class, one term.
Instrument rating: An additional class one term for flight and one
class for books.

Overall: 4 one term classes.
I would liken flying more as an art than mechanical endeavor though.
True, there are those who will never get beyond the mechanical phase
of flying, but to those who do it is like music.

However, going beyond the basic private with the instrument rating
takes more learning and more time. If your add up the flying hours
required to reach ATP (and get a job) it's probably close to the same
as getting a bachelors degree.

Continued training is a fact of life in many professions so I'd not
set aviation apart in that respect.

As far as flying IFR Vs my job: With only me and maybe my wife and/or
a couple of passengers my decisions and competency affect only them
and maybe a few people on the ground if I really screw up.

As a project manager in industry and although primarily a computer
jockey, the ramifications of a mistake in process control or quality
control could affect thousands of individuals. Some mistakes could
result in the evacuation of many people from their homes.

The same is true for many of the Chemical and Electrical Engineers I
worked with. I've seen things go amiss where the engineers were
truely happy a particular plant was out in the country.

As far as individual responsibility and pressure, I'd rate flying in
solid IMC no different than going into work through rush hour traffic
during a storm. Actually, I don't think I'd rate single pilot IMC as
any where near that stressful.

I have never felt any undue pressure flying in IMC (except as a
student). Possibly as I had some very thorough instructors and lots
of time in actual right down to minimums prior to taking the PTS to
get the rating, I feel much more comfortable than many.

I much prefer to fly cross country IFR now days as it makes things
much simpler. Of course I still pick the smaller airports as my choice
for destinations. It puts me up higher and *generally* out of the see
and avoid crowd in high density areas. Of course it never takes away
that responsibility.

So, to directly answer the question: Only going through the PPL with
the instrument rating is no where near as time consuming or difficult
on an overall basis than getting a Bachelor of Science degree, let
alone Masters or PHD. BUT this is sorta the proverbial, Apples to
Oranges comparison.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Gerald Sylvester