Expert: David A. NewMyer - 4/14/2009

Question
Hi my name is Jason and I'm a high school senior in the American School of Doha. This fall I am attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida and pursuing an Aeronautical Science degree.

My plans are to find an internship this summer or even next summer. However I'm having difficulty finding worthwhile internships. Does anyone have suggestions that could point me in the right direction? Any help would be great

Thanks'
Jason  

Answer
Hi, Jason:

Aviation internships are offered in a variety of aviation companies, airports and government agencies.  The university that you will be attending, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, can provide you with a list of aviation internships once you are enrolled there.

In the meantime, I would suggest checking into the following:

1.  For airport-related internships, first, join the American Association of Airport Executives (or AAAE) once you are enrolled at ERAU.  Once you are a college aviation student, you can join AAAE for $40 a year during your college years.  The AAAE has assembled a list of airport internships that they can share with you once you are a member.  They also issue their newsletter twice a month (entitled AIRPORT REPORT) and it has internship and job listings in it virtually each month.

2.  One of the best, all-around internship programs at an airline in the USA is provided by Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas.  Go to their website at www.southwest.com/careers/internships

3.  Other airlines such as Delta and American also offer internships as well, so, go to their websites to check on what is offered.

4.  Another direction to go would be to larger aviation manufacturers such as Boeing or Lockheed-Martin.  They normally have most of their interns in the summer of each year and they do their selections starting in November or December prior to the following summer.  (in other words, the vast majority of their Summer 2009 internships are already filled).

I hope that this information is of assistance you.

Sincerely,

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