Expert: David A. NewMyer - 6/22/2010

Question
Hi David

I am 24 yrs old from India, working for a fashion brand. Have always been interested in taking flying as a career. But the recent melt down has put me into doubt so as to leave my current career path and go for flying, coz i understand that it requires investment of money along with time. What i am looking to is the list of few good rather the best flying schools all across and the placement records if possible. Frankly, before investing and taking a break from the current career there is no looking back, so just want to be very sure.
Hope u can throw some light as i think its the right time if not late to switch to what is more lucrative and interests one.

Rgds
Vipul

Answer
HI, Vipul:

Nice to hear from you.

I am only able to give you information on flight schools in the USA since I am not an expert on learning to fly in India.

In the USA, there are collegiate-based flight training programs (where you earn a degree in aviation with flight training included) and there are flight academies that offer just the flight training with no degree.  The former would include schools like Embry Riddle Aeronautical University or the University of North Dakota or Purdue University while the later would include companies like Flight Safety Academy, Delta Connection Academy, Gulfstream Academy and ATP Flight Academy.

For collegiate aviation programs in the USA and North America, you can consult a publication entitled THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE.  It is available from the University Aviation Association at www.uaa.aero and can be ordered over the internet with a credit card.  

For the flight academies, simply do a search via GOOGLE or YAHOO or some other search engine and you can find the information that you need about them.

The larger question that you ask is whether or not this is a "good" career field to enter into.  Certainly, the aviation industry has taken a "hit" in the last two years, worldwide.  However, there are signs that the aviation industry is now rebounding and that the needs for good aviation professionals will be accelerating shortly.  If you go to any search engine and enter the term NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION PROFESSIONALS you will be directed to the ICAO website (ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization).  This website contains information from a conference held in March, 2010 on this subject....it will provide you with many facts and figures to illustrate the worldwide demand for aviation professionals including pilots.  I truly believe that NOW is a good time to be in school because in the period from 2012-on, there will be a lot of hiring in aviation!

I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,

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