Expert: Matthew Smith - 3/26/2009

Question
what actually airport planning includes? how can a commerce student spot an opportunity in aviation?

Answer
Airport planning includes several fields of study and work.  It depends on what aspect of planning you wish to get into.

You said that you are a commerce student.  If you are good at statistics you could apply for a job with a consulting firm.  Your job would be to collect and analyze data and building models of projected growth at airports.  That growth could be in terms of operations, passenger enplaned, economic impact, environmental impact, etc. etc.

Also as a commerce student, you could look for a job working at an airport or working for a municipality that operates an airport.  That type of airport planning/development job is more like marketing the airport to potential real estate developers or airport tenants.  Your job would be to seek out potential builders, convince them to come to your airport and build a facility that fits with the Airport Master Plan.

There is obviously much more to airport planning than I have said here, but I have aimed my comments at your major in Commerce.  There is a clear connection between air transportation and commerce, and you can seek a job at an airport or airport consulting firm with confidence.  If you want to get more of a strictly aviation background before applying for such a job, I recommend looking at the open course website of MIT.
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
There are syllabi for several air transportation courses.

Also, if you want to learn more about the physical aspect of airport planning, Google the words "Advisory Circular 150 series" and you will find an FAA website with a PDF library full of documents about airport planning and development.  These are very practical documents that explain nearly everything you need to know.

If you feel the need for a degree in Airport Planning, I recommend either a program in Urban Planning or a Master of Public Administration at a school that also has a Transportation Certificate, such as Arizona State University.  University of Nebraska-Omaha has a 100% on-line MPA that is geared specifically toward airport management, and I think I remember them having a course or two in planning and development.  But before doing graduate studies, I recommend working in the field first.

Good luck!