AboutDavid A. NewMyer Expertise I can answer questions about aviation industry employment, airports and airport planning and aviation industry regulation (overall regulation of the industry--who regulates what and why).
Experience
Past/Present clients Prepared airport master plan and environmental assessment reports for several Illinois Airports; prepared two separate airport systems plans for the Chicago area
Expert: David A. NewMyer Date: 7/9/2008 Subject: Aviation Employment
Question QUESTION: I am currently a Chief Flight Engineer and Chief of Operations in the Navy. I have led the Maintenace Control effort for 15 aircraft and 600 personnel. I am an Instructor Flight Engineer and have over 3500 Flight hours in multi turbo prop. I am completing my MAS from Embry Riddle. I am looking for direction on Employment. I will be retiring in 3 years to southern Illinois and am intersted in a career.
Respectfully
Travis
ANSWER: Hi, Travis:
Thank you for your question, I will try to assist.
First of all, the aviation industry in Southern Illinois is quite limited for someone with your background. The key aviation employer that might be interested in you (particularly if you have your Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Power Plant Mechanics License with Inspection Authorization) would be Midcoast Aviation at Bi-State Parks Airport in Cahokia, IL (right near St. Louis). Still in Southern Illinois, but, more in Southwestern Illinois.....Midcoast Aviation is a Maintenance Repair Organization that employs over 800 people and it's market niche is corporate/business jet aircraft. So, if I were you and your focus is on this part of the country, I would relocate so that you would be within commuting distance of Midcoast Aviation (so, you could live in Randolph County, for example, and commute to the northwest...live in a rural area, but, work near the city)......
Another option might be to live nearer to St. Louis and possibly work for Flight Safety International, which is a flight training company...especially if they still use any of the types of aircraft in their simulation business that you have flown.
Another option would be to actually fly for a living, depending on if you have pilot in command flight hours....that would be an option with corporate flight departments, etc.
So, there are some options, but, it will depend on how your qualifications match up with the companies in the area...and your interest in working for any of them.
I hope that this is of assistance. You are welcome to do a follow up question if you have any other areas you want to ask about.
Sincerely,
David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi David,
Thank you for your time and response. Do you think that it is possible to get into the aviation program at SIU. I do have an A&P License and will have my pilot license, a Masters in Aviation and a Bachelors in Work force education. I have property in Thompsonville, between Benton and West Frankfort, and I would like to stay in that area. If I can not get into SIU, I might consider teaching at a high school or working for the cival service. My goal here is to get into the aviation program at SIU. If there is some other education or certification I can get to help with that process please let me know. I have unlimited resources here in Jacksonville florida with education and certifications. Again thank you for your time.
Sincerely
ADC (AW/NAC/MTS) TRAVIS C. LOUDEN
FRCSE FLIGHT CHECK OPERATIONS LCPO
DSN 942-2101 X3
COM 904-542-2101 X3
Cell 904-304-5693
Home 904-282-9318
travis.louden@navy.mil
travislouden@yahoo.com
Answer Hi,
The key thing with getting on with SIUC in terms of teaching for us is obtaining some sort of teaching experience. I am not directly in charge of the hiring for the A and P program, which it sounds like you are most suited for. That contact would be John Cotter, the Interim Chair for the Department of Aviation Technologies at SIUC. You can contact him at jcotter@siu.edu
As far as teaching in the Aviation Management program at SIUC, we do have openings in our off campus program from time to time. The contact there is Dr. Judy Rawls at jrawls@siu.edu
As far as civil service with SIUC working as an A and P for the SIUC Aviation Flight program, the contact is Harry Delaney. If you are interested in that option, let me know and I will give you the contact information.
Another thought would be for you to apply to teach for the Embry Riddle off campus degree program there locally in Jacksonville. They have a need for instructors from time to time and I would assume that you know the local ERAU coordinator....ask that person if there are openings.
Best of luck to you and let me know if you have other questions.
