Expert: David A. NewMyer - 11/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: sir,
I am a mechanical engineering degree student currently doing my final year,i wish to do mba in aviation after my btech but i have no proper idea of wht kind job position will i get in the airport  after i complete my mba successfully.i have genuine interest in the aviation and love supervising and organising.
I live in dubai and will mostly do my mba in emirates aviation college,could you recommend me few top colleges for my mba in india and abroad.
thankyou
Abhijith Nair

ANSWER: Hi, Abhijith:

It is nice to hear from you, I will try to assist you with an answer.

First of all, the MBA in aviation program is offered in just two places in India that I am aware of:

A.  The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Dehradun and

B.  In Chennai at Hindustan University (formerly a college of engineering)

I know relatively little about either program but the first one (in Dehradun) has been around longer.

As far as jobs that you might get with an MBA in aviation, the faculty and staff at Emirates Aviation College in Dubai probably have a good record of placement of their graduates.  I would ask them where the majority of graduates are being placed.  I would assume from the experience here in the USA, that most MBA graduates are going to airlines, airports and the larger aviatin service and/or maintenance companies.  And, they are going into jobs like Manager of Airport Operations, Airport Marketing, Airport Planning, Airline Sales, Airline Personnel/Human Resources, Airline Operations/Scheduling, Crew Scheduling and the like.

As far as MBA in Aviation Programs in North America, I know of the following programs in the USA:  

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Masters in Aerospace Management)

Auburn University, Alabama

Daniel Webster University, New Hampshire

Dowling College, New York

There are also two MPA or Master of Public Administration in Aviation Administration programs at:

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (where I work)

University of Nebraska at Omaha

(The MPA in Aviation Administration is geared more for someone headed toward managerial work in an aviation-related government agency at the federal, state/provincial or local government/airport authority levels).

I hope that this answer is of assistance to you.  If you need anything more, just ask another question via AllExperts.com

Best wishes,

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




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: sir,
Could you tell me what are the must haves in a resume for someone
seeking to get a job as a airport operation manager in a leading airlines other than a mechanical engg degree and a m.b.a in aviation management degree.
Guidelines to how to become an exceptional airport operations manager would be highly appreciated.
Yours respectfully,
Abhijith Nair

ANSWER: Hello, Abhijith:

Nice to hear from you again!

There a fairly good guideline for becoming an exceptional airport operations manager working at an airport is contained on the American Association of Airport Executives Website.  This website is at www.aaae.org   Once there, go to the "Training and Professional Development Link" and, once there, click on the Certified Member program.  From there, you click on one more link to see the main topics covered in the "study modules" for the CM examination.

You can join AAAE as an Academic Member for $40 US per year and one of the benefits of this membership is that you can, after some study and after gradaution from an aviation degree program, seek the CM designation.  In order to take the exam, you will have to transition to Aviation Graduate status, which carries a higher dues rate.  I am thinking that, once you pay the $40 per year while in school, you can determine if the CM designation is something you might want to pursue.  

The key point about all this is that the CM study guide that is followed for CM exam prep parallels the examination you must pass in order to become a Certified Member.  The main topics of study (and, therefore, an excellent guideline for you to follow to become an exellent airport operations job candidate) are:

1.  Finance and Administration

2.  Planning, Construction and Environmental

3.  Airport Operations, Security and Maintenance

4.  Legislative Affairs, Marketing, and Communications and Air Service Development

While the specific subject matter in the study guide is tilted toward airport operations in the USA, you can view the more detailed listing of topics at www.aaae.org and see that most of the topics are generic enough for you to review from the perspective of your home nation.

From the perspective of becoming a "station manager" for an airline at a particular airport, instead of focusing on all of the airport topics mentioned above, you will have to focus more on airline passenger (and, in some cases, cargo) customer service.  That is, a key part of a station maanger's role at an outlying airport is that you are the key represetative of the airline at that airport--you are the key local decision maker for that airline.  So, you have to know airline operations frontwards and backwards.  You have to know all about the aircraft that serve your particular airport (from your airline anyway) and you have to know the basics about ramp service for those aircraft (how to fuel them, how to load and unload them, and, how to order particular services for them such as maintenance service, tire change service and so forth---unless you have your own local airline mechanic).  In other words, you have to become a "jack of all trades" as it relates to your airline in your local area. Normally, unless you are working for a very small, regional airline OR you are working for a larger airline in a very remote area, you will not likely start out as a station manager.  Instead, you will start somewhere in customer service or ramp service and then work your way up....sometimes, you will be an Assistant Station Manager first, and then take over your own station.

In any case, I hope that this helps you in your choice of a course of study in aviation.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Professor,
I want to know more about aaae and what c.m designation means.Will it boost our value ? Am thinking of moving to states to write the exam in aaae and hopefully be successful and then return to the united arab emirates to do mba in aviation from emirates aviation colg.
looking forward to your valuable information,
yours respectfully,
Abhijith Nair

Answer
Hi, Abhijith:

Nice to hear from you once again.

The American Association of Airport Executives or AAAE provides the CM designation for younger people just beginning their careers in airports.  CM is an abbreviation that stands for "Certified Member."  You can find some detailed information about how to complete the CM process at the AAAE Website at www.aaae.org and then by going to the link on that site for "Training/Professional development."  There is a drop down menu that you can then go to a page on the CM program.

To me, the CM program is an excellent first step toward becoming an "AAE" or "Accredited Airport Executive" which is a professinal development process also managed by the American Association of Airport Executives.  The CM program requires you to prepare for and then successfully complete a 180 question examination.  If you successfully complete it, you earn your CM designation.

With the AAE accreditation, you must do a written exam, an oral exam and write a paper, as well as have experience working in the airport management field.

The CM designation is something that is recognized as having value in terms of the holder of the CM designation having knowledge of the airport management field.

Your plan to do the MBA in aviation at Emirates Aviation college sounds like a good one.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer