Expert: David A. NewMyer - 5/14/2003

Question
Hi David,

I am a 30 year old female, with a solid 8 year sales/marketing career.  I have decided to change careers completely and want to pursue a career in aviation -- along the lines of safety inspection of aircraft/accident investigation.  What should my first steps be?

Answer
Hi, Jennifer:

Thanks for your question.  I will try to assist!

I assume that you have a BS or BA degree but that you may not have any sort of aviation certification (as a pilot or as an aircraft mechanic, for example).  For a career in the field of aviaiton safety in general, and, in particular, in safety inspection and aircraft accident investigation, the following things are important:

1.  Basic Aviation Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration as a pilot and/or as an aircaft mechanic.  The reason that this is important is that you need to understand how planes fly and a great way to do that is to learn to fly yourself.  Next, you need to know how aircraft work in great detail....a key way to know that is to earn an Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic's certificate.

For flight certification, there are flight schools in Florida and Arizona that offer accelerated flight training and airline placement opportunities.  Schools such as Flight Safety Academy, Comair Academy, Gulfstream Academy and Pan Am International Flight Academy.  You might check them out to see if any of them fit your flight training needs.  For A and P training, there is a one year accelerated program available at some schools around the nation...check with the University Aviation Association to order their Collegiate Aviation Guide for a listing.  They can be contacted at:  334-844-2434 or by email at uaa@auburn.edu

2.  Once you earn your certification, it is important to gain some aviation industry experience.  There is nothing like experience as a pilot to teach you about how things can go wrong during flight.  Also, there is nothing like experience as an aircraft mechanic to learn about how people take care of their aircraft from a maintenance perspective (and, maintenance can be a factor in some accidents).

3.  Once you have your basic aviation certification and aviation work experience, it is important to gain some background in aviation regulatory or legal or similar applications, as well as in aircraft accident investigation (or in preventative safey measures).  This can be done through coursework with the FAA, with various states, with industry associations and with private companies.  Many of the people who end up working for the FAA or the National Transportation Safety Board as aircraft accident investigators get their first experience with aircraft accident investigation via the military (which has schools on the subject available to active duty military personnel).

4.  University of Southern California Aviation Safety Program has courses that you can register for that are offered on an accelerated, continuing education basis leading to an "Aviation Safety Certificate."  There is a heavy emphasis on aircraft accident investigation. For more information, call them at 213-740-3995 or consult their website at: www.usc.edu/dept/engineering/AV.html

I hope that this information is helpful to you.  Best wishes!

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