Expert: David A. NewMyer - 7/31/2010

Question
QUESTION: I wanna do my MSc programme in Human factors and safety assessment. I want to have some clear idea about the course. What would be my career if I choose this particular course? How would be my employment after my MSc.
Is this field particularly for aeronautical or is it a multi-dimensional field??
Please help me in telling me about the details thet I need.

If this course is not suitable for me, my second choice is Air Transport and Management. How would this be like??

And finally would technical side would give me more income or management sides and safety sides??

ANSWER: Hi, Vinay:

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

First of all, an MSc programme in Human Factors and Safety Assessment sounds like a generic degree program---does it have much aviation content or is it more generally applied toward aviation in general?  To apply it to the aviation field might require that you have some sort of technical/opereational aviation background (such as in flight training or airframe & powerplant mechanic/maintenance or in air traffic control).  In this field you will study the principals of human factors in the safety of operations and you will likely study past accidents and incidents where human factors are known to have been a factor in the accident or incident being studied.  The reason for having a prior technical/operational background in aviation is that such experience will be invaluable to you in understanding the Human Factors that aviation personnel face in their respective positions in aviation.  And, in return, as a safety professional, you will be accorded more respect if you have a technical/operational background as you study and learn more about human factors and safety assessment in aviation.  (it will also help you learn the field better and faster).

An MSC in Air Transport and Management is more of an applied management field where you study such topics as aviation industry regulation and law; airport management; airline management; air transport labor relations; aviation finance; air traffic control; airport planning and the like.  The perspective in the classes is more about understanding how the air transport field is managed (using case studies of airlines, airports and aviation businesses), both good and bad (successful and unsuccessful).

As far as money is concerned, the TOP end of air transport management, should you reach that level in your career, probably has more potential in the long run.  Both fields should pay well starting out.

I hope that this helps you.  If you have addtional questions, please ask me another question via AllExperts.com

Sincerely,

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


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for your advice sir. I have applied for Cranfield University U.K for the course AIR TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT.
The modules of the course are
Modules

The six core modules are listed below:

   * Air Transport Fundamentals
   * Management Fundamentals
   * Quantitative and Research Methods
   * Airline Economics and Finance
   * Airline Operations
   * Airline Marketing

Optional modules (choose one from the following):

   * Air Transport Engineering – Maintenance Operations
   * Airline Fleet Planning
   * Airport Business Management
   * Safety Management
or the website is http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe/postgraduatestudy/airtransport/page8362.html
Is this course good and after completion of the course can I expect to make some good money??
Waiting for your reply.

ANSWER: Hi,

Thank you for the follow up question!

Yes, certainly, the Cranfield program is well-known and is one that is respected throughout the industry.  So, it is good, and of high quality.

As for the money you might make coming from such a program:  If I were you, I would be more concerned about choosing a direction (including the optional module shown above) that you are INTERESTED IN and one that you will thrive in.  If you show great interest in something and show that you are willing to learn and grow in that field, the good money will follow.

Sincerley,

David A. NewMyer

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Sir,
Thanks for your suggestion. I am looking for Airport business management or Safety management that are available in the modules. For me, You would be the best person to suggest one for me from those electives.
         I have applied for Cranfield University and yet to hear from them. So I do not want to take risk by just applying to one University. I am now looking to apply for the Universities in USA like Florida Inst of Tech, Central Missouri University, Middle Tennessee University, University of North Dacota, Arizona State University because the modules in the aviation courses at these Universities look very broad to settle in the industry. I would like to hear from you regarding my application and career in the industry.
Thanking You,
Yours Truly,
K. Vinay Kumar.

Answer
HI, Vinay:

All of the Universities that you have listed from the USA offer reputable master's degrees in aviation.  Each university does specialize in a particular aspect of aviation within its master's degree, for example:

Florida Institute of Technology:  Airport Development OR Aviation Human Factors OR Aviation Safety OR Human Factors in Aeronautics

Central Missouri University:  Aviation Safety

Middle Tennessee State University: Aviation Administration OR Aerospace Education

University of North Dakota:  Aviation (overall)

Arizona State University:  Master of Science in Technology with an emphasis on Aviation Management and Human Factors

There are others in the USA as well, including:

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University:  Aviation MBA (and others)

Dowling College, Oakdale, NY:  Aviation MBA

Southhern Illinois University Carbondale (where I work):  Master of Public Administration in Aviation Administration

University of Nebraska at Omaha:  Same as Southern Illinois

There are others listed at www.uaa.aero

Therefore, you have lots of choices!  You might want to narrow down what it is within aviation that you like and that you want to study and THEN apply for admission to one of these programs!

All of the best to you,

David A. NewMyer