Aerospace/Aviation/Enquiry

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Expert: - 2/23/2009


Question
Hi Laura,

I am a Kenyan aged 22 and currently taking a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Plant Option at a college in Kenya. I would like to know if it's possible that I can have a job in Aviation Industry after graduation.

2/. Is there any organization that can give financial support (e.g. Scholarships, aid or grant) to students like me taking their courses outside US and not US citizens?

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Your's faithfully,
Edwin.

Answer
Hello Edwin,

Thank you for your question!
I think if you are studying mechanical engineering, you would have an excellent career ahead of you perhaps with an aircraft manufacturer such as Boeing, Raytheon or Cessna. Possibly you would be able to become an engineer with a company that manufactures aircraft parts such as Garmin. (I am not sure what the plant option you refer to with your degree actually means.) There are lots of careers in engineering where you can work with aircraft manufacturing and design. However I'm not in a field relating to aircraft engineering, so it's hard for me to provide more direction on this.
In regards to your second question, I have found a couple of websites that seem to be geared toward proving scholarships to international students wanting to study in the USA or abroad.
http://www.iefa.org/
http://www.edupass.org/finaid/databases.phtml
Maybe you have already heard of them, but perhaps they will be of use to you. Keep in mind the information the second website provides: don't pay money to apply for any scholarships.
I hope you will be able to find a good scholarship and/or grant to be able to continue your studies!
Laura

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Laura Laster

Expertise

I can help with questions about aviation disasters, aircraft operations especially general aviation and King Air information, aviation safety, and education questions on how to get into an aviation career. I can also answer general aviation questions as I am a commercial multi-engine pilot. I cannot answer questions about flight training or MBA schools in countries other than the USA or provide advice for non-US citizens interested in flight training. I cannot answer questions advising you what school to choose. I have no experience with aeronautical engineering so I cannot answer questions relating to engineering or schooling for aeronautical engineers. PLEASE don't ask me questions about any kind of engineering because it is outside my area of expertise, and I will NOT answer your question. I also cannot help you to choose a master's program for study as I do not have a master's degree in aviation. I cannot help with MBA advice.

Experience

I have been studying aviation disasters through doing my own research and a lot of reading since I was 13 or 14 years old. I am very interested in aviation safety and also am a commercial, multi-engine pilot. I am a dispatch manager at a private university working in their flight training department. I also have worked as an operations mamager at a small charter airline and was involved in getting the airline certificated under Part 121 rules. I was formerly a flight operations division manager for a company operating a large fleet of King Air aircraft (60) and so I have some business aviation experience as well as having flight instructed for one year after college. My operations manager job frequently involved coordinating international trips for aerial survey clients and hiring qualified pilots to fly aerial survey missions.

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science with Flight Management Concentration: LeTourneau University (2004) :: Dispatch Certificate: Sheffield School of Aeronautics (2010) :: Commercial Pilot: Single and Multi Engine Land, Instrument Rating :: Flight Instructor: Single, Multi and Instrument :: Ground Instructor: Basic and Advanced

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