Expert: David A. NewMyer - 8/17/2004

Question
what degree do i need to work at the airport and what kind of jobs are available?

Answer
Hi, Tenny:

Nice to hear from you.  I will try to assist.

There are a number of different jobs to perform at an airport depending on who you work for on the airport:

THE AIRPORT OPERATOR OR OWNER:  

Normally, most of the larger airports in the USA are owned by state and local government bodies (cities, counties, airport authorities, port district/authorities or state agencies).  

The jobs that are normally found with the airport operator can include:

Airport Manager or Airport Director...normally, a BS or BA degree is required

Airport Operations Supervisor (or airport operations superintendent, or something similar)....normally, a BS or BA degree or significant experience doing similar work in the military, or both

Airport Marketing Specialist....BS or BA degree and experience in marketing, journalism or the like

AIRLINES:

Over 500 airports in the USA have some sort of airline service and they have a number of airport-based workers, including:

Customer Service Representatives/Airport Ticket Agents/Gate Agents:  Normally, a college degree is not required but airline experience and/or training is required.

Ramp Agent/Baggage Handling:  No degree required.

At some airlines:  Air Cargo Agent...this is a sales/marketing position and normally requires a BS or BA degree.

If the airline has a major hub based at an airport (normally a larger airport such as Chicago, LAX, Dallas/FT Worth, Miami, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Detroit, etc) then there are also a number of employees tasked with marketing and managing that hub including Human Resources/Personnel positions (BS or BA degree normally required), etc.

GENERAL AVIATION OPERATORS:  These can include

(NOTE:  A DEFINITON OF GENERAL AVIATION IS ALL THAT FLYING DONE BY OTHER THAN AIRLINES OR THE MILITARY.)

1.  Fixed based operators that provide fueling and other services; most positions at an FBO, other than the lead management positions, do not require a degree.  If the FBO also offers other services such as charter or aircraft maintenance, then, those positions may require a degree or FAA certification or both.

2.  Air charter operations:  This will include pilots, mechanics, aircraft scheduling personnel and marketing personnnel.  Almost all of these fields require either FAA certification or degrees or both.

3.  Corporate Flight Departments;  These are companies that operate aircraft of the exclusive use of the employees at their companies.  Normally, these companies employ a manager, pilots, mechanics, and aircraft schedulers/dispatchers.  Again, a BS or BA degree may be required along with some sort of FAA pilot, mechanic or flight dispatch certification.

4.  Aviation specialty companies provide many services on an airport including:

A. Aircraft fueling

B.  Aircraft and airport security services

C.  Speciality flying such as flying just bank checks, or pipeline checking, or aerial advertisings, etc.

As far as finding an aviation-related degree to help you in your career goals, there is a publication available entitled THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE.  To obtain it, order it from the University Aviation Association at uaa@auburn.edu or by calling (334) 844-2434.

I hope that this helps.  If you need more information, please let me know.

Sincerely,

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