Aviation the Educational and Financial Requirements of

Aviation The Educational and Financial Requirements of an Aviation Career A career in aviation can mean a lot of different things. From the pilots who fly commercial airliners and the air traffic controllers who guide them from the ground to the routing specialists and engineers who keep the highly complex flight schedules in check, aviation is a highly varied field. The course that one takes will be a determinant in the nature of one's education, the costs of progressing in the field and the eventual earnings that one can expect.

However, even with the greatest of ambitions in the field of aviation, starting the process does not have to be prohibitively complex. According to the article by Cobb (2012), the first steps are fairly accessible to all who live in close proximity to an airport. Cobb advises that "aspiring pilots can launch their aviation interest by visiting a local airport - specifically the General Aviation area of larger airports, and the local flight operator at smaller airports, typically referred to as the FIXED BASE OPERATOR." (Cobb, p.

4) Cobb recommends making an appointment in advance, specifically with the Chief Flight Instructor if possible. The cost of entry for taking an introductory flight can also be quite attainable. Cobb suggests that in many cases, an introductory flight lesson may be offered at a discount rate as low as $99. (Cobb, p. 4) One should not be deceived by the modesty of this introductory cost however. The process and cost of continuing in this career are both quite a bit more extensive.

Beyond the introductory flight lessons that one might receive, a lengthier duration of vocational training is required to gain the required time behind the throttle. This is also true of an aviation career other than pilot. A secondary education is required beyond one's high school diploma or GED certification. According to AV Scholars (2012), "vocational, technical, business, and trade schools are typically open to students with or without a high school diploma and to all that apply. Some schools are privately owned and operated, and others are public schools.

These schools offer a wide variety of specialized training courses and programs, which is ideal for students who know exactly what they want to do and have chosen certain specialized occupations." (AV Scholars, p. 1) It is therefore perhaps wise to seek advice from active professionals so as to gain a fuller insight into what is entailed by each aviation career path. In fact, Cobb advises that one way to reduce the cost of one's flight or aviation career education is to seek an entry level position in an airport.

As Cobb warns, the cost of an aviation education can eventually become quite prohibitive when all courses, certifications and licenses have been acquired. Therefore, Cobb suggests that a good alternative is to use one's entry level role in order to gain access to those who might be willing to offer complimentary flying lessons. Cobb also suggests that some aviation professionals use an informal and collegial bartering system in which entry level work is trading for assistance in one's flying education. (Cobb, p.

4) Ultimately though, one can simply take a direct route by seeking out a reputable flight school and preparing to dedicate the necessary time to this course of education. According to Cobb, there are variable which impact the necessary investment of time and the career options open to the aspiring applicant. Cobb notes that "the cost can vary by your location, and the type of aircraft you use for training. Generally, a Private Pilot's license will cost between $5,000 to $8,000, on average.

ATP Flight School advertises on their website, www.ALLATPS.com that their Private Pilot program encompasses 85 hours, includes housing, and costs $8,995." (Cobb p. 4) Beyond the specific ambition of becoming a pilot, choosing the appropriate career in aviation will have a great deal to do with one's personal and professional traits. Within each airport, airline, region and position, there will be specific features to learn on the job. Part of one's education is the onsite experience that comes from hands-on application of skills.

According to the National Career Services (2010), "pilots and Air Traffic Controllers are required to gain specific professional qualifications. For any customer-facing roles, experience of working in customer service environments, such as a call centre, bar, restaurant or shop work is an advantage. In some positions including passenger services and cabin crew, it is also an advantage to be able to speak another language. In roles that require.