Expert: David A. NewMyer - 10/31/2010

Question
Hello sir
I read  one of your answers about this subject and I'm very
interested about career in air crash investigations. I know
it's not gonna be easy, but it's what I want. At the moment
I'm studying last year  bachelor of Aircraft Operation and
Maintenance(which corresponds to the Aircraft Engineer class
B qualification).Now I'm thinking after receiving the
Bachelor degree what to do. I have choice to take the Master
degree in the same university(Technical University of Sofia,
Bulgaria)which corresponds to the Aircraft Engineer class A
qualification, or to take a master degree somewhere else in
other country like USA. What kind of education will be most
appropriate for me in getting one step closer to working in
a investigation team.  

Answer
Dear Miroslav,

Thank you for your question, I will try to assist!

First of all, since you are finishing a bachelor's degree, and it is in an aviation field, the next step in the academic world would be a master's degree.  Whether it is to be taken in an aviation fleld, too, is up to you.  But, since you have expressed an interest in the aviation safety/aircraft accident investigation area, then, a master's degree related to that subject area might be the best fit for you.

Second, master's degrees in aviation safety that include something in aircraft accident investiagation are relatively few in number.  

You can check the list of non-engineering aviation graduate degrees at this website:  www.uaa.aero  which is the website of the University Aviation Association.  Go to the "Colleges and Universities" link on the left hand side of the page and then click on "Worldwide Graduate Programs"---there you will find listed several masters degrees in aviation safety and/or aviation human factors.   Schools such as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (especially the Prescott Campus) or Florida Insititue of Technology or University of Central Missouri are some examples of what you will find on the list.  The Embry Riddle Prescott program, in particular, has a very good aircraft accident investigation lab facility.  For whatever school that you investigate for possible enrollment, make sure that you ask about their connections to the job market...in other words, where do they typically have employment connections for their graduates?  Make sure you ask that before you enroll....you want to make sure that they can place you in a job.

I hope that this information is of help to you!

Best of luck,

David A. NewMyer