Expert: David A. NewMyer - 5/8/2010

Question
im the student of aircraft maintenance engineering(mumbai).is there any other related course which i can do corresponding with this ame course.please guide me

Answer
Hi,

Thank you for your question, I will try to assist!

First of all, I am assuming that the aircraft maintenance engineering course that you are enrolled in is a course  that is focused on learning about the aviation maintenance technology aspects of aircraft, is that correct?

Second, I am assuming that you will be certificated in some way to work on aircraft as an aviation mainteance technologist?

If those answers are both correct, I would suggest that you consider the following options for further study after your aircraft maintnence engineering course:

1.  You might consider taking a bachelor's degree in aviation management.  This degree is normally designed to work with those with an interest in managing in the aviation workforce or doing management  support work in an aviation setting.  For example, someone who has both an aircraft maintenance engineering background AND an aviation management background could move up the chain of command in an aviation mainteance organization to supervise other aircraft maintenance engineering workers as a aviation maintenance engineering shop supervisor, shift supervisor, mainteance crew chief or as an overall aviation maintenance engineering center manager (after some experience in lower level management).  Sometimes, there are specialty degrees available in aviation management called "Aviation Maintenance Management" degrees.  I know that this latter degree is offered in the USA at several universities.  In India, I believe that the University of Energy and Petroleum Studies in Dehradun, India offers a degree that is close to an Aviation Management degee:  They offer a BBA in Aviation Operations and offer placements with such employers as Spicejet, Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines.  You might check their offerings at http://www.upes.ac.in

I believe that the combination of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering course with a B. S. in Aviation Management, BBA in Aviation Operations or a BS in Aviation Maintenance Management would be a very good "one + two" program that would make you very employable in the future in the aviation industry.

If you are interested in studying aviation in the USA, there is an excellent listing of aviation degree offerings available from the University Aviation Association at their website www.uaa.aero  The title of the publication is THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE and can be ordered from their website using a Visa or Master Card.

2.  Another option would be to pursue an Aviation or Aerospace Engineering degree, if you can find one that would build upon your technical background as an aviation maintenance engineering course graduate.  Today, many aerospace or aviation engineering degree graduates do not have the direct understanding of the operations and maintenance issues that you would have an understanding of as a graduate of an aircraft maintenance engineering course.  

3.  A third option would be to combine your aircraft maintenance engineering degree with a business or management degree program.  This will be the most difficult to do since the vast majority of business or management programs do not recognize aircraft maintenance engineering courses as a proper pre-requisite to a business or management degree program.  Therefore, they will take little or none of your aircraft maintenance engineering coursework as elective credit into their degree program.  (it is more likely that an aviation degree program will recognize your prior course work as an aircraft maintenance engineering program graduate).  

In any case, NOW is the time to get your schooling out of the way as it is forecast by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that there will be a shortage of qualified aviation maintenance, flight and other aviation professionals in the next three to five years.  So, whatever you do, get your qualifications in order in the next few years to be ready for the next hiring boom in aviation.

With all best wishes,

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