9 minute read
Get a Head Start as a Future Aviator
GET A HEAD START AS A
by Shlok Misra
Attending college is a significant milestone for any person irrespective of their background, income, or culture. Going to college is not only about getting through the prescribed classes and holding that diploma but also about living an experience that takes you from a high school graduate to a nurturing professional who is ready to step into the corporate world. While the journey of starting as a freshman to graduating typically revolves around fulfilling the graduation requirements set forth by the university, successful graduates prefer to take up additional challenges along the way to enrich this journey. This can include research projects, honors-level coursework, study abroad tours, international exchange programs, or even internships in companies. Going to college to pursue a field in aviation will take you through a similar path.
Students can attend a variety of programs that prepare them for a career in the aviation industry in various universities around the United States. Degrees can span from management and finance to engineering and maintenance to operations and safety. Aviation is a very vast and diverse field that welcomes students with a variety of skills and backgrounds. I attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science. This degree allowed me to pursue my lifelong dream of being an airline pilot. However, as an aspiring pilot, I had the option of attending other universities such as Purdue University, University of North Dakota, Western Michigan University, Auburn University, and many more. College counselors and professionals from the field can help you pick the university that best suits your needs and aspirations. While completing the requirements of my degree, obtaining my flight certificates, and maintaining a high GPA were on top of my priority list when I attended college, I was looking for additional opportunities that could help set myself apart as a college student as well. I strongly believed that thousands of students graduate every year in my university and I needed a spark in my portfolio as a student to help set myself apart from the crowd.
Fuel your passion with research
I got my first taste of undergraduate experience in my sophomore year when I participated in a research poster competition organized by the University Aviation Association. I always saw research as something for the ‘geeks’ and the ‘nerds’. I imagined research as something that involved spending hours in a lab or in front of a computer reading or writing long scholarly texts. While reading and writing scholarly texts is a major component of research, the process of building successful research projects involves so much more. The prospect of interacting with other students who share the same interests, managing funds and budgets, attending national conferences, and accessing advanced software and programs were some of the aspects of research that retained my passion for research. The research journey that started with a poster competition has transcended into authoring five journal papers and being involved in various funded projects. The satisfaction of being recognized and contributing to the subjects I love is something that keeps me enticed for more.
COLLEGE READ & RESEARCH
Some helpful tips for students who are looking forward to pursuing a career in aviation and want to pursue research are: 1) Read! Make sure to be well updated with the latest in the industry. You do not only need to read large scholarly publications. You can subscribe to aviation blogs and magazines online and be well updated. Lookout for the latest developments from the FAA and other agencies in the country. You never know where your next research idea will grow from. 2) Have an advisor who wants to see you succeed. This advisor can be a high school teacher or counselor or even a senior student. Discuss and brainstorm ideas that can help you develop as a researcher and a professional. 3) Talk to friends and teachers. Have constructive conversations with friends, colleagues, and mentors. Many research ideas develop Students wishing to pursue careers in aviation have from rather mundane conversations. Keep your eyes a plethora of opportunities to conduct research in and ears (and possibly nose!) open to ideas and aviation. Depending on the specific field that a student feedback at all times. A successful researcher is always wishes to pursue within aviation such as management, learning and looking for ideas. A researcher is like finance, safety, engineering, or flight operations, an entrepreneur who is developing a business. Your there are different focus areas that your efforts can research project is like your company and its success be tunneled towards. Some areas I have researched depends on your passion and commitment. as an Aeronautical Science student whose course The most exciting part of research is not all types of works focuses on flight operations are aviation safety, research require lavish equipment. Even high school human factors, and pilot training. Some other topics students interested in pursuing higher education in that I find fascinating are aviation efficiency, clean aviation can kick start their research experience by energy in aviation, block chain technology in aviation, collaborating with local Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) and artificial intelligence in the cockpit. The scope of and local county airports. Some potential research research in aviation is immense and students who are topics for smaller airports could include general willing to dedicate time and effort are in for a aviation usage patterns, safety issues faced by pilots, real treat. and possible noise abatement improvements. Local airport managers would always be willing to provide opportunities to future aviators.
SEEK ADVICE LEARN & LOOK
GET A HEAD START AS A FUTURE AVIATOR continued...
Get a dive into your future career with an internship
Companies around the US and the world look for interns throughout the year. While the summer is the most preferred time to intern for most college students, many students pursue internships throughout the year. An internship is your first taste of the industry and as a professional in your field. You get first-hand training on areas you will work in the future. While the classroom curriculum gives you the foundation that you will need for the industry, internships can help you develop your personality and professional portfolio that will help you land a full-time position after graduation. Internships are yet another tool that can help you stand-out as a student.
As a student who is pursuing a degree that is focused on aviation operations and flight, I focused my internship search on flight operations, dispatch, and safety. I landed my first internship in a business aviation company in my home town, Dubai. I was part of the flight operations team and spent three months in the operations control center for the global operations of the company. This was my first opportunity to see how an airline works. I got the opportunity to assist dispatchers in planning flights, arranging permits, and troubleshooting emergencies. The three-month experience was an eye-opener for me as I got a first-hand view of the complexities that are involved in the operation of a global airline. I learned things that were impossible to learn in a classroom setting. My second internship was another three month stint at an airline in Dubai. I assisted in the Flight Data Monitoring department of the company. The Flight Data Monitoring department was responsible for gathering flight data from every flight and processing the data for flight operations quality assurance and safety. Such a scientific dive into flight safety made me fall in love with data analytics and visualization that lead me to currently pursue a Master’s degree in Data Science at Embry-Riddle.
I could never have imagined the amount of data that is received by analysts daily and how data can be processed to investigate incidents and make safetycritical decisions for the airline. Additionally, I got to assist the flight dispatch department and get a sneak peek into the daily operations of an international airline.
While internships help you develop your insights and knowledge about the industry, a vital advantage that I believe people tend to overlook is your personal development. I believe that I came out of my internships more mature and responsible. My internship experience solidified my passion even more and made me even more excited for the future. The amount of practical knowledge you gain is unparalleled.
Whether you want to pursue your career in an airline, business aviation organization, aircraft manufacturer, or an engineering company, you will have plenty of internship opportunities available to you. Airlines like Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines have well-developed and structured
COLLABORATE INTERNSHIP
internships for college students that range from marketing and management to operations and engineering. Obtaining an internship can be an exhaustive and competitive process. You are not only competing with students in your own university/school, but also with students from other universities and in some cases with students from other countries. Some great ways to get your foot ahead is by developing your resume/portfolio from high school itself. Try to involve yourself in projects and volunteering opportunities that can help you stand apart. Try to get a job or a volunteering opportunity as a high school student in a local airport. While your dream might be to work for a legacy airline, you can always start early and start small by working in a local county airport. After all, it’s aviation that we all love.
Aviation is a dynamic field with constant changes. It is a field that rewards energetic and curious people who are willing to take that extra step for success. Right from your first solo in an aircraft to your first job, it’s a journey that can seem frustrating at times, but the rewards are immensely satisfying. Students looking to pursue careers
m2 in aviation have a wealth of opportunities awaiting them and there is no better time to pursue a career in this industry. M-SQUARED AIRCRAFT
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