7 minute read
Airbus Interns Gain Insight Into the Business of Flight
Airbus Interns Gain Insight Into the Business of Flight
By Kathy Kenne
Experiential learning – its value can’t be overestimated. Students exposed to opportunities to put their classroom learning into practice understand more fully the principles they have studied and are more attractive to employers upon graduation.
Three students have found such opportunity through year-long internships at Airbus Helicopters Inc., located just 20 minutes from Starkville. This facility produces the country’s best-selling single engine helicopter, the H125, and it is the sole producer of the U.S. Army’s twin engine helicopter, the Lakota, with 492 delivered to the U.S. military.
We had an opportunity to visit with these interns about their jobs and experiences. Landon Dixon, from Hoover, AL, is a senior marketing and business administration major. Elaine Schulz of Madison and Marion Groberg of Harrison, AR, are seniors double majoring in business administration and industrial engineering.
Let’s get a little background. What made you choose Mississippi State and the College of Business?
Landon: To gain experience in the business world and start making connections to help further my career.
Elaine: I wanted to learn more about my career field and what aspects of industry I want to be involved in day to day.
Marion: I wanted to get work experience while applying what I’m studying to real life.
Why did you want to do an internship?
Landon: To gain experience in the business world and start making connections to help further my career.
Elaine: I wanted to learn more about my career field and what aspects of industry I want to be involved in day to day.
Marion: I wanted to get work experience while applying what I’m studying to real life.
What are your job responsibilities?
Landon: In the Pricing and Costing Department, I prepare and develop detailed costs and pricing in response to bids and proposals. I also collect data and develop databases to improve costing and pricing activities. I analyze and extract relevant information to support business decisions.
Marion: Elaine and I work in the Quality Assurance Office, helping manage non-conforming material. We help in the process of preventing, detecting and removing discrepant material from the production floor.
What does a typical day look like?
Landon: Attending daily meetings, keeping up with the status of current quotes, shadowing other team members, completing pricing requests and filling in when analysts are out of the office.
Elaine: A typical day for Marion and me consists of running and distributing daily reports on the status of all non-conforming material on the production line. We attend production meetings to stay up to date on the status of each aircraft in production. We also assist the quality engineers on projects. Right now, that includes assisting with internal audits and reviewing procedures to ensure we’re compliant.
Elaine: A typical day for Marion and me consists of running and distributing daily reports on the status of all non-conforming material on the production line. We attend production meetings to stay up to date on the status of each aircraft in production. We also assist the quality engineers on projects. Right now, that includes assisting with internal audits and reviewing procedures to ensure we’re compliant.
Will you share some things you’ve learned about business?
Elaine: I’ve learned so many things. The first one that comes to mind is how critical supply chain management is to the operations of the company. So many employees here are tasked with ensuring that each aircraft component arrives at the facility on time, can be inventoried in the warehouse and makes its way to the production floor at just the right time.
Marion: Management [staff] is very important because they are responsible for the workers and how everyone fits together. I’m grateful that the department I work in runs smoothly, and I’m surrounded by incredible individuals.
What have you learned about the helicopter industry?
Landon: I didn’t know much about helicopters at all until I came to Airbus and learned the basic principles. I’ve also learned more about parts that go into helicopters when they’re being assembled.
Elaine: Everything I know about helicopters, I’ve learned as an employee here. One of my favorite things I did during my summer rotation was to invite aerospace engineering interns to assist me with the time study I was working on. I observed technicians to establish how much time should be allotted for each work order. The aerospace students helped provide insight into how long each work order should take, what was happening and why each step was important.
Are there specific people skills you’ve had to develop?
Landon: I’ve had to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills because every project involves people from other teams.
Elaine: Number one is not being afraid to ask for clarification when needed. I’ve had to learn it’s okay to ask for help when learning a new task!
Marion: Clarification and making sure everything is correct are super important in this industry because, like my staff instructor says about helicopters, “You can’t pull over on the side of a cloud if there’s a problem.”
What have you found your strengths are?
Landon: Paying attention to the minor details and being creative about finding new and more efficient ways to complete tasks.
Elaine: Teaching people how to do new tasks. One of my favorite parts of my job has been hosting skill-share workshops where I can share my knowledge of Excel and Smartsheet with other employees, while also learning more about systems they utilize in their everyday work.
What has stretched you out of your comfort zone?
Elaine: I’ve been stretched through giving presentations. I’ve also been encouraged by mentors in my department to occasionally lead weekly meetings like the Material Review Board. This has made me so much more confident in my public speaking ability.
What do you like best about your internship?
Landon: I like the environment, and people I work with are very supportive and always willing to help me grow my knowledge.
Marion: I love learning about the construction of helicopters and how they work. I was also excited to have seen the first H160 in the U.S. being delivered! That was one of the coolest moments in my internship.
What are your future plans?
Landon: I would love to stay at Airbus, continue to learn more about the helicopter industry and pursue a job in the marketing department. If not Airbus, then another company I’m passionate about.
Elaine: I’m now very interested in a career in aviation. I love how complicated the product is and that every employee is learning something new every day! I’ll graduate in May. I plan on taking some time to travel, then joining the industry.
Marion: My goal is to continue working in the aerospace industry or at a production company where I can use both my degrees. I would love to continue working for Airbus. It’s a wonderful company that’s at the forefront of the aerospace industry.
Is this internship helping set you on that path?
Landon: It will help me tremendously because of the number of job opportunities Airbus has. If I don’t continue to work for Airbus, it’s a well-respected company and will look very good on my resume’.
Elaine: This internship has given me valuable work experience and insight into so many different aspects of business that will serve me well!
Marion: As a quality engineering intern, I’ve gained experience and meaningful connections and exposure to helicopters and aviation. Airbus is amazing!
