Expert: David A. NewMyer - 1/13/2009

Question
Hello Mr. David,
I am a B.Tech Mechanical Engg. Graduate from India, presently working for an Engineering Services division (Aero Sector) for the past 1.5 yrs.  I am really interested in making pursuing an MBA in Aviation Management.

Questions:
•   Will my move to the management sector from the engineering division be advisable?
•   What would be my entry level position after pursuing the above mentioned course?
•   What kind of jobs should I be looking out for, since my areas of interest are in Airport Management, General Operations – Airport & Airlines Management?
•   Could you please mention some good universities (US/UK) providing this course?
•   Some universities provide Aviation Management along with Flight Training?  Is this course advisable?

Yours truly,
Kevin

Answer
Hi, Kevin:

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

As far as the move to management sector from the engineering division, I think you need to evaluate that from your own point of view.  That is, what do YOU enjoy doing every day?  Is it engineering or is it (will it be) management?  Of course, right now, you have not yet completed the MBA in Aviation Management, so, you are a bit ahead of the game in terms of considering a move to management.  Also, is there  a way in your company to work in management over or in the engineering area?  That might be the best way to combine the two areas of expertise.

I am not sure what an entry level position would be for someone with an MBA in Aviation Management in India.  I am assuming that there would be positions at airports such as in airport operations, airport marketing, airport planning and airport-related promotion/sales.  Also, there would be positions in airlines such as airline customer service management, airline scheduling (both crew scheduling and aircraft scheduling), airline operations, airline marketing/sales and airline planning/corporate planning.

As far as universities that offer the MBA in aviation, there are schools such as Daniel Webster College, Nashua, New Hampshire and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida.  There is one university in the United Kingdom that offers an MBA in Aviation, but, I am not sure of the name of the university, but, I think it is London Metropolitan University.

As far as combining an MBA course of study with flight training, I would think that would be inadvisable.  You should probably decide to do one or the other since they will both be very demanding of your time.  If I were you, I would look at it from the perspective of what job you REALLY would like to pursue some day:  Airline pilot or aviation management employee?

I hope that this answer helps you in your choices for a future course of study in aviation.  Best wishes to you!

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