Expert: David A. NewMyer - 3/18/2004

Question
Mr. NewMyer. I am seriously wanting to get back in school at the ripe old age of 28. I have not earned my B.A. yet, which is one of my goals. Anyway i was lookin in to going to mtsu in tennesee, Spartan school of aeronautics, and Jacksonville university in florida. Do u know anything about these schools as far as reputation or quality of training? Also im trying to get into the air national guard to learn to be an avionics technician on F16s. I belive the experience i will gain as an avionics technican combined with  the experience i can gain in an aviation university will someday make me a very competitve appplicant. Just wanted to get your professional opinion on that. thank and god bless

Answer
Hi, Marion:

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

First of all, completing your bachelor's degree (whether it is a BA or a BS) is a great idea and a wonderful "career builder."  The three schools that you have listed all have advantages DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT FROM THEM.  I am assuming from the items listed at the end of your question about avionics training in the air national guard that the aviation and avionics maintenance field is something of interest to you.  I will assume that this is one of the key things that you want to do as I answer the questions that you sent to me.

As far as the three schools:

Middle Tennessee State Universtiy (MTSU):  Offers one of the more comprehensive baccalaureate-level aviation-oriented degree programs in the nation.  It does have an Airframe and Power Plant Mechanics program as well as a flight program and an aviation management program.  Not sure about avionics....  This school also offers a master's degree in aviation, focused more on airports than anything.  It is a good school with a good reputation.

Spartan School of Aeronautics:  Known more for its Airframe and Power Plant (A and P) technician and Avionics programs than for its flight training.  They do now offer two year degrees but not four year degrees.  However, I believe that you can obtain a BS or BA degree on some sort of cooperative basis via another school.  I am not sure, however, that you can do any sort of BS or BA degree directly at Spartan...be sure to ask that question of them and get a straight answer.  But, again, their technical training has a good reputation overall.

Jacksonville University:  Not even sure they offer A and P work or Avionics.  Last I checked their program was focused on Aviation Management and not maintenance.  So, if it is true that my assumption is correct and you want aviation maintenance training, this school may not have what you want....I do know that Florida Community College in Jacksonville DOES offer the A and P out at Cecil Field International Airport (the old Navy Air Base west of Jacksonville).  And, Embry Riddle is just down the road...therefore, I am pretty sure that Jacksonville Univ does not offer an A and P program.  I am not sure about their reputation.

As far as Airframe and Power Plant maintenance training, you might want to check out other schools.  Order a copy of THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE from the University Aviation Association at uaa@auburn.edu or by calling them at 334-844-2434.  This list is very complete and lists many outstanding aviation degree programs across the nation.  The cost is about $25.  There are several A and P schools to check out across the nation including the one at Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo, the one at my school, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the one Embry Riddle Aero University at Daytona Beach, FL.

As far as going into the air national guard for further training, I think that is not a bad idea.  The training and experience is very good.  There are some things to think about.  For example, if you are selected for an avionics postion or program, the air national guard  will send you through a very comprehensive Air Force F-16 Avionics training program that will take a better part of a year to complete.  Then, make sure you understand that, once you do our OJT (on the job training), you are DEPLOYABLE as part of the air national guard.  So, if your unit is sent to Korea, Iraq, Turkey, Italy, or wherever, you may be gone for a year or more or less.  I was not clear if you had a family or not, but, such deployments are hard on families and relationships.

My only other thought is that, if you do get some sort of aviation degree that does include avionics training, then, you will be marketable at that point to go into the civilian aviation industry without necessarily going into the military.  There is excellent avionics training in the civilian world, too....it is just a matter of where you will have the best chance to get that training.  Also, keep in mind that graduates of avionics degree programs (of which there are relatively few in the nation today) are fairly highly sought after and, as a result, get pretty good job offers from manufacturers, airlines and large overhaul companies.  So, don't think that you can not get comparable avionics technical training on the civil side of the aviation industry.  You can, but, you have to be with the right employer.  One of the questions that you need to ask the schools that you apply to and visit prior to selection is how much and what sort of placement help that they offer to each aviation student.  How is each university aviation program connected to the aviation industry?  These answers will help you select the right program for you.

I hope that this helps.  Best wishes to you!

Sincerely,

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