Expert: David A. NewMyer - 12/30/2008

Question
Hi!
i work for the german airforce, currently in new mexico, for 6 years as an engine mechanic on jet-engines.
this year i was able to get the A&P mechanic-license from the FAA. my active duty time will be over in about one year and then i will be able to work on my education.

i am thinking about to study at a local Embry-Riddle-university (with a student-visa) to get a bachelor degree of professional aeronautics because i am interested in aviations and i was told that i will get about 40 or more credits just for the A&P license and my trainings at the airforce.

my main problem is that i donīt really know which jobs and careers i will be able to do with that degree.
and the average wages would be interesting too.
i did many hours of research online in the last days but did not get satisfying results. it seemed to me that thereīs a wide range of possibilities but i was not able to find a specific list of jobs i could do.
i was told that airport management is a usual career, but
what do i have to expect under that title?
i think that i would prefer working on a smaller airport for general aviation instead of a large commercial airport
because i donīt like their stressed, anonymous appearance.


can you provide these informations or informative web-pages to me?


thanks a lot.

sincerly
Joern

Answer
Hi,

Nice to hear from you, I will try to assist!

The A and P license from the FAA is worth up to 60 hours of college credit, depending on where you decide to go to school.  In some schools, it is considered the equivalent of an Associate of Applied Science degree (which is worth at least 60 semester hours of credit).

In checking on your degree options, make sure you consult THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE which is available from the University Aviation Association for about $25 US.  It will list at least 100 university and college aviation degree programs that you can choose from.  Contact UAA at www.uaa.aero and you can order the publication from them directly from their website.

Some schools to check in your review of options would be Embry Riddle, Arizona State, Cal State Los Angeles, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (which has both on campus and off campus programs) and others.

The options that you have in terms of using a Bachelor of Professional Aeronautics AND your A and P licences are many, including:

Working directly as an aviation technician for:

An Airline
A corporate flight department
A general aviation fixed based operator

Or, you can work in a number of "aircraft product support" jobs in the aviation manufacturing sector (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Textron, and many others....in those jobs they want the bachelors degree and they want the knowledge that you gained from your A and P license work (and your work experience) in designing aircraft manufacturing product support and after market maintenance programs for aircraft and aircraft components.

Some websites to check are:

www.climbto350.com

www.avjobs.com

www.aviationemployment.com

www.thirtythousandfeet.com/employme.htm

This last one above is an excellent index to MANY aviation employment websites.

I wish you the best of luck and feel free to write a follow up question if you have any questions about my answer.

Sincerely,

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