Aerospace/Aviation/job opportunities

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Expert: - 7/11/2008


Question
I am taking aerospace engineering(bachelor degree) at USM,Malaysia.There are few prof. said no future in this course,it is hardly to work in related field after we graduated.I am confused whether I did the wrong choice or not?

Answer
Hi,

It is nice to hear from you, I will try to assist!

I can understand why some professors would say that there is not a future in aviation or aerospace due to the high prices of fuel, etc.  But, the industry has always faced difficult times in the past (it is a very cyclical industry, with ups and downs every five to ten years) and has come out fine in the past.  The problem is that aerospace engineering jobs are highly centralized in terms of being focused on those nations that have major aerospace manufacturing, or aerospace support manufacturing, or aviation operations going on.  I do not know the specific situation in Malaysia, but, I do know that the airline traffic of the world has been growing substantially and that much of this growth will continue in spite of high fuel prices, especially in Asia.

So, I do not think you have made the wrong choice.  It might be true that you will have to look harder for a job, but, keep working hard and it will come to you.

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer

Aerospace/Aviation

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David 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

I have worked in aviation since the late 1960s, primarily in airports, airport planning and in aviation education. I have done major research in aviation employment and in graduate education in aviation.

Organizations
University Aviation Association since 1982 (President, 2009-2010)

Publications
Collegiate Aviation Review Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education and Research Journal of Air Transportation ATEA Journal SIU Press

Education/Credentials
B. S. in History and Government, University of Redlands, California, 1969 M. A. in Political Science (Metropolitan Studies), Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, 1971 M. S. in Transportation, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1974 Ph.D. in Education (Education Aministration and Higher Education), Southern Illinois University Carbonale, 1987

Awards and Honors
United Airlines William Wheatley Award from the University Aviation Association, 1994 for excellence in Post Secondary Aviation Education Sorensen Award for Excellence in Research, University Aviation Association, 2008

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

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