Expert: David A. NewMyer - 12/30/2010

Question
Hello Sir,
          Myself just graduation engineering student electronics field. Sir am  so much confused between choosing in career in Mba aviation and Flight dispatcher course , Since am In India No dispatcher course available here So i have to travel USA for it So lot financial expenses will be taken.
1.Should I plan to  do flight dispatcher in Usa?
2. Will I will be  secured for job after airplane dispatcher license?
3.The next option is If I do Mba aviation from India And after some years will i would train myself in airplane dispatcher course
will it get me a good dispatcher Job?
4.What is Upper age limit for doing airplane dispatcher course?
Thank you
Waiting for you reply as soon as possible.
Nikhil.

Answer
Hi,

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

First of all, there IS a flight dispatcher school in India:  Delta Flight School, a US-based company, has opened a Flight Dispatcher School in Chennai, India.  They can be contacted at www.delta-flight.com/aboutdelta.html  They advertise a preparation course for the DGCA or Directorate General of Civil Aviation for the government of India exam.  If I were you, I would check the DGCA website for other options and schools, just for comparison sake.  Also, the DGCA website will give you the information (within the airline dispatcher regulations) on the upper age for dispatcher training and work.

Second, as for an MBA in Aviation, I would pursue that once I had some experience (or, at least some technical training in aviation) in the aviation industry---I would think that such work experience or training would give you a better background to help understand how the MBA in Aviation can help you in your aviation career.

Another thought is this:  Have you thought about AVIATION ELECTRONICS or Aircraft Maintenance Engineer training to supplement your Engineering background?  Since you already have a technical background in Engineering, perhaps the aviation-focused technical training would give you another approach into an aviation career?

So, in conclusion, my thought would be to do the dispatcher course first (or the aviation engineeering or aviation electronics course) and THEN do the MBA in Aviation.....by the way, for some insight on how aviation will grow world-wide in the next 20 years, consult the Boeing Company Press Release from September, 2010 on the numbers of pilots and mechanics that will be needed in aviation globally due to the number of new aircraft being sold to the world's airlines....see www.boeing.com and then do a search for this press release.

I hope that this helps you in your pursuit of an aviation career.

With all best wishes,

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