About David A. NewMyer Expertise Can advise people thinking about beginning and aviation career and espcially those thinking about an aviation university program. Can also help with aviation scholarship questions. I am particularly strong in questions related to starting a flight career, choosing a university flight or aviation management program, aviation internships and aviation scholarships. Also, I can assist with questions about airport management and planning careers and oveall aviation industry employment questions.
Experience
Past/Present Clients Prepared In addition to aviation education, I work at a major university, I have worked as an airport planner preparing airport system plans, airport master plan and environmental assessment reports for the Chicago area in general and for several
individual Illinois airports.
Question I am a former Air Force pilot (C-130) with about 1500 hours. I separated fairly unexpectantly due to my mom’s health concerns. I took a local job away that had no travel or relocations concerns but it was away from the flying field. I miss aviation and am looking to return now that my sister is living close to my mother to help out. I never wanted to transition to commercial airline work and think that moving into civil airport operations now.
I have been reaching out to airport operators but no luck in making the transition. It seems like I return into the classic, “need experience,” issue. I would like to start a Masters Program in the aviation field but money is tight and the GI Bill is not an option unfortunately.
Questions:
Any advice to make a transition from pilot to airport ops?
Any advice on military to civilian transition into airport ops?
Any advice on a Masters Program?
Any advice on positions at an airport that I should target?
Thanks
Answer Hi, Brian:
That is a lot built into one question, but, I will try to help!
1. and 2. On questions 1 and 2 about the transition from pilot to airport operations and the military to civilian transition, I have a similar recommendation:
JOIN THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES. If you end up going to college for some airport management coursework, then, wait to join AAAE since you can join as a student for only $40 a year (it is more if you join as an individual outside of the college environment). Go to http://www.aaae.org/membership/ on more information on how to join.
4. On question 4, positions to target, continue on with the AAAE line above in that there is a listing of Internships at airports that is available from AAAE once you join. Obviously, internships are normally targeted to college students who are studying aviation, but, in some cases airports will allow non-students to apply. For example, Denver International Airport has an excellent operations internship that lasts six months...and, it is posted at the DIA website under careers. I think that the next one starts on July 1. But, in general, you might want to ask about internships at airports as a way to get your foot in the door. Also, it is true that smaller, more rural airports might have availability of an internship or an assistant to the manager type of job available, especially if there is not a university nearby.
3. On question 3, advice on a master's program, there are several non-engineering master's degrees in aviation out there and some of them focus on airports. Some of the schools that offer non-engineering masters in aviation, are;
Daniel Webster University, New Hampshire
Dowling College, New York
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida and Arizona
Florida Institute of Technology (airports)
Middle Tennessee State University (airports)
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (public administration in aviation)
University of Nebraska Omaha (public administration in aviation)
SE Oklahoma State University
Regarding money, there might be some help available from the institutions to which you apply in the form of graduate assistantships....also, you might look at the scholarship information available at www.uaa.aero
All the best to you in your transition. Also, if you have a follow-up question, do not hesitate to ask another question via AllExperts. I will be gone for the next week, but, will get to it after June 1.
Sincerely,
David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale http://www.aviation.siu.edu
