Expert: David A. NewMyer - 11/7/2009

Question
I want to have a career in the civil aviation industry, and I was hoping you could provide some more clarity to me about how I could go about reaching it. Currently I’m a freshman in business at pretty good university in the US. I don’t work in airplane service worker such as a pilot, flight attendant, or plane mechanic. I want to actually work with managing planes (It doesn’t matter if I’m the one selling (i.e. being a Boeing representative), buying (i.e. being an airline representative), putting up for lease (i.e. being an ILFC representative), OR leasing the plane), managing the staffing for the planes, OR even managing gate and airport operations. I love being able to do anyone of these things.
If I want to work in these fields should I be pursuing a degree in business or something else, and what should I do during college to prepare my and to give myself a better opportunity in getting one of these jobs?
Would it better to get these jobs if I got a degree in aerospace engineering and then went to get a MBA or should I get a degree in another field (and then possibly later get and MBA?)?
Thanks for your help.


Answer
Hi, Peter:

It is nice to hear from you and I will try to assist you with your questions.

First of all, yes, there is a degree entitled "Aviation Management" or "Aviation Administration" that is offered by over 60 universities and colleges in the USA that should help you achieve your career goals.

Second, there is a publication available out there entitled THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE that is available from the University Aviation Association at www.uaa.aero or by calling 334-844-2434....the cost is $19.95.  It will give you the contact information, organized by state, of each of the schools offering aviation management or aviation administration degrees.

Third, in choosing a school that offers the aviation management degree, make sure you go to a school that has a separate and distinct faculty for the aviation management program AND has at least one faculty member with the specialization (s) that you are interested in knowing more about (airlines, aircraft manufacturing/sales, etc).

Fourth, be aware that Southwest Airlines offers paid internships that allow you to work at their headquarters in Dallas for a semester to learn more about the airline industry....that would be a very good thing to do as an undergraduate in order to both get some work experience in the airline industry as well as to learn how airlines work.  Go to their website at www.southwest.com to learn more....

All the best to you, and, if you have further questions, please follow up with another question to me.

Thanks,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu