Crash Course: Aviation Careers and Training
People often ask what they can do with a degree in an unrelated field. Education is widely regarded as the most important factor in getting a job, but many people have good degrees without jobs or other paths for growth because the job market has changed so much. There are many exciting careers available in aviation, and learning about them is easy when you have access to the internet and can learn from Youtube videos. So I found a list of the most popular aviation jobs and how to get them, plus what you should know about each field.
Aerospace engineering : It's possible to train for an airline pilot career, but it's going to take you a long time. The "normal" route is three years of college and two years of computer science info systems (IS), or four years of math, physics, or mechanical engineering. Courses are very intense and there are no summer breaks so that's why it's also known as "the hardest degree." There isn't much work in this career; the job boom came from outsourcing (i.e. offshoring and he outsourcing of engineering jobs), and the US currently does not have enough native-born engineers to fill the positions.
Mechanical engineering: This is a possible choice for those who want an airline pilot career, but it's very time-consuming. You need to have at least five years of experience before you can apply for a job or apply with an aviation company directly. It's also possible to transfer from one career field into another, but other fields are more competitive (i.e. mechanical engineers compete against chemical and electrical engineers).
Avionics: Avionics is the technology used in aviation, such as navigation and communication systems. You can get this degree directly from a college or university, but it's also possible to go into a related field and get it through training. A four-year program is what's required before you can become an avionics engineer.
Human factors engineering: Those with a human factors degree can help in all aspects of aviation, but it's mostly for those who are interested in flight safety; no one wants to have their flight delayed because of an error in design. There's also a human factors training program at Embry-Riddle, which is one of only two schools to offer it.
Flight operations: These are various jobs that require technical expertise in the company you work for. It can be difficult to get into, but there aren't many openings so it's possible to land a job without doing anything. This field is huge and offers all types of opportunities within multiple industries, so there are bound to be openings at different companies in different branches of aviation.
Aviation management: You need a business degree or university specializing in marketing because there aren't many aviation management courses—if any—available directly at the college level. It's possible to get it with a business degree, but you will be studying everything except aviation marketing.
Aviation safety management: This is another difficult field to break into, even if you have experience in a related area (i.e. pilots). The NASPAA has this to say about it: "There is no 'typical' career path for someone working in aviation safety management. In fact, there are very few opportunities for students working toward careers in aviation safety." If you're an experienced pilot or manager, the best way to get into this career field is by networking and getting your name out there so that those who hire people for jobs know who you are and what you can do.
Safety management: For those who do not have experience in aviation, getting into this field isn't easy since there aren't a lot of programs available that can help. Most people either get it with an already-existing degree or get it through training in an unrelated field. It's possible to work your way up the ladder to become an airline safety manager, but you will be faced with a lot of competition from other experienced pilots and managers.
Air traffic control : This career is reserved for those who love numbers and are good at working with computers. The FAA requires at least three years of experience as a controller before you can move into management positions, but sometimes there are openings for less experience if someone leaves or gets fired. You can also get this career field with a degree, but it's not easy because it requires at least three years of experience before you can start training for it. The main advantage of this job is that there are always openings and the pay is very good.
Airline pilot : This is another difficult job to get; American, Delta, and United have cutback programs that put a limit on how many pilots they hire. There's also a screening process that only pilots with certain types of degrees or experience will be considered. It takes 10 years (after eight years of flight training) to become a captain, so there are openings in the meantime if you want to be an airline pilot with less experience. A commercial pilot will also be doing something that people don't normally do. Most of the time, there is work for pilots who want to retire within a few years, so company pilots have their own job options if they want to restart their career.
Flying instructor : It's very possible to get into this field with an existing aviation degree or with a related degree from an FAA-approved school. There are no schools in the US teaching flying instruction, so you would need to go overseas and get one overseas (which is not easy) or study through flight courses at your local college or university. There are great opportunities for flyers to start their own businesses, but it takes a lot of hard work and networking.
Charter pilot : It's possible to get into this as a charter pilot or with any related degree that is FAA-approved. The biggest downside is that there are a lot of pilots getting hired since the economy is doing better and a few people leave when they get another opportunity, so the competition is high. There aren't any schools teaching the FAA-approved courses, so if you want to start your career in charters, go abroad and get one like many others have done.
Flying lesson : While this isn't a career field, you can take lessons and put them on your resume. You could also go to a school and study how to teach others how to fly and make money (by charging people for lessons) since there are no courses taught at the university level. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to start this type of business, so it's not likely there will be many openings available. If you're good at teaching others, you could also make more money by starting your own business since there are hundreds of classes in different types of flight instruction (i.e. beginning, intermediate, advanced).
Conclusion
A career in aviation isn't for everyone, but if you like flying, have a passion for it, have the desire to learn new techniques and get paid extremely well for what you do, then a career in aviation is right for you. While there isn't much available right now that is related to the Internet industry, there are several opportunities in fields like marketing (there's even a few accredited colleges) or IT. Becoming an airplane pilot or continuing your career in this field is something that will require hard work and dedication on your part.