Expert: D. Norkus - 9/27/2006

Question
Hi i was just browsing the internet looking for internship opportunites. Right now I am a sophmore at Western Michigan University, studying aviation flight science. My intent is to get a headstart over  other students my age when it comes to internships and job opportunities. My question what type of rating do you have to have to apply for an internship, and when should you apply. And when looking for an internship can you expect to start flying right away or is there a buffer time before you actually get in the cockpit. Also if you have any information reguarding FEDEX, I was looking to find an opportunity there.

Thank you
Jordan.  

Answer
Jordan

I think you may have a mistaken impression of what an airline intern does. As a "pilot intern", you won't be flying at all- even if they require you to be a rated pilot to apply. An intern position is a non-flying, often non-paid, office job with an airline (usually in the flight ops department doing menial tasks like updating manuals and filing but it can also be in a non-flying department too) that lets you see the internal workings of the company. There is no segway into the cockpit after a "buffer time" or  stint as an intern. You will only get hired when you are qualified like everyone else.

The one thing you may get is a preferential interview or a letter of recommendation to the hiring board when you meet their hiring minimums. It is no 'shortcut' to getting a job...UNLESS the regional airline you intern with offers interviews at reduced "minimums" (minimum flight time required to apply) for their former interns. Not all do.

As an example, here is the American intern info from last year-

AMERICAN AIRLINES INTERNSHIP - PILOT
QUALIFICATIONS:

Basic Requirements:
•Junior or Senior Status
•Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
•Commercial Certification/Instrument Rating
•Second Class FAA Medical with ability to obtain First Class certification
•US citizen or alien with legal right to accept employment in the US

INFORMATION NEEDED TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP:
•Cover Letter & Resume
•Copies of Flight Certificates, Ratings, and Medical
•Current transcripts from all colleges & universities attended
•Current motor vehicle records for previous 3 years

COMPENSATION:
•Access to American Airlines tours
•International Ground School training
•4 round trip travel passes
•Tours
•The ability to see how one of the largest airlines in the world operates
•Unpaid

http://www.aacareers.com/us/frame_index.htm?http&&&www.aacareers.com/us/index.sh...
(Yes the link looks weird, but copy & paste the whole string to get to the page)

Southwest & UPS are rare in that they pay. Here is the SWA info-

"SWA offers the "No Limits" Internship to students currently enrolled in an accredited degree program to spend some time at our Headquarters in Dallas, TX gaining valuable on the job training. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work hands on with challenging projects, network with leadership, and participate in corporate functions; including meetings and social functions. All interns will participate in orientation giving them the opportunity to meet other interns, learn their way around SWA Headquarters and the Dallas area, meet some of the management staff, and participate in many career-oriented activities."

http://www.southwest.com/careers/interns/intern.html

Other intern links I know of-
http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/career/intern.shtml
http://www.skywest.com/careers/intern.php
http://www.fedex.com/us/careers/fedexoncampus.html

Some other airlines that offer them are:

Northwest, Continental, United, Delta, UPS, FedEx, JetBlue, Alsaka,  American Trans Air/ATA, Air Tran, Midwest Airlines, American Eagle, Chautauqua, ExpressJet, SkyWest, Comair, & ASA and fractional charter Netjets International. Go to each airlines website and search for "internship" for more information or contact their HR departments if you can't find the info on their site. Note: some internships may only be to students attending certain affiliated schools.

The WMU website says they have "internships with several major airlines throughout the U.S. In many cases, at least a junior-status is required to apply for an airline internship. Internships are available in flight, maintenance, and management disciplines."

I suggest contacting your school counselor for more info on their affiliated internships as your chances may be greater in landing one via your school.

You should also visit the message boards at http://fourms.flightinfo.com and do a search for "internship". You will get about threee pages of threads that have that word and can get information on the airline internsips available from those who have already asked questions or who have posted their intern experiences.

Other sites to try with message forums are http://www.airlinepilotforums.com
http://www.jetcareers.com

Re: FedEx
They are currently one of the hardest companies to get hired by. Their pool of applicants is full of furloughed and current airline or military aviators with 5,000+ of hours of jet time. As a student at WMU, you are still years and years away from having a resume competitive enough to get an interview with FedEx, so do not get your hopes up. Even if you intern with them, you won't be getting a pilot job there in the near future as you won't have the flight experince required for several more years.

Hope this helps
Dottie