Aviation Insights

Back with a short blog on a couple opportunities to learn about an aviation career. I ran across these on my last trip and would like to share them with you. As I’ve promised in previous blogs, I will have a blog about commuter flying next, no kidding. For now, share what you are about to read with anyone and everyone you know who is interested in flying. Why? Because in today’s world you should take every opportunity to learn about future endeavors. There really is no excuse for going into to something new completely blind. Way to much information on just about any topic is easily available. So, in my opinion, there is no longer an ignorance excuse. Be responsible, do your research and share it with like minded people. You get the point.

 American Airlines has a company newspaper (company rag, as it’s referred to by most) to spread news about the industry, company programs, employee at-a-boys, and a lot of what they want us to believe. The latter part is referred to as “the company cool-aid”. Better explained as information they want you to hear and see to increase the chances you’ll believe what they say and act accordingly. Sometimes contained in the company rag are useful stories, good stories about people and activities. And American Airlines does sponsor some very, very good activities. They sponsor an award called the American Airlines Safety Award. It’s an award that is part of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference- NIFA SAFECON-which is an annual event held for collegiate aviators. In fact, it’s billed as the Final Four or College World Series for collegiate aviators. Nearly 90 flight teams from across the country compete in regional meets for a chance at the national level competition. Only 30 teams make the national event. The American Airlines  Safety Award goes to the team that made the greatest contribution to aviation safety through their own program’s procedures and methods of promoting aviation safety. Basically, competitors earn points for each eventat the conference. The team with the most points is crowned National Champion. The current American Airlines Safety Award winner is the U.S. Air Force Academy. The current National Champion is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Arizona Campus. The point here is two-fold; American Airlines has a number of worth whileprograms to promote aviation(probably more than most) but I’m sure they are not the only major airline who has them. So, if you are truly interested in becoming a pilot, do some research and look for activities like this to get involved in. You never know when something like this will turn into a future job. Have a quick look at the informal interview blog to see what I mean.

The other program I found in the company rag, better known as the Flagship News, is called ACE(Aviation Career Education) Academy tour. The tour was comprised of students who all have had some type of flight experience(translation-interested kids like yourselves if your reading this), simulator and or flying, and plan to have their pilot’s license when they turn 16. It included a tour of a 757 cockpit, hosted by an American Airlines Chief Pilot, a visit to the American Airlines Operations Tower, a tour of the Admirals Club(American Airlines VIP Club), a tour of the terminal along with several other aircraft. This was a school sponsored event supported by AA. Check our school for programs like this and if they don’t have one, here’s and idea, consider starting one. Imagine how being the originator of a successful program would look on a resume’?! Again, you never know what you may learn or who you may meet when you participate in an activity like this(see the informal interview).

I believe it is important to research your career field, at least a little, before you get involved. It is even more important when considering aviation as your career. The major airline jobs are, in brief, not what they used to be. Getting the training to become qualified for a major airlines is not what it used to be. However, there are some good flying jobs outside of the major airlines. Participating in programs like I mentioned above, and researching, may lead to a flying or aviation related job you never considered. So, keep your “heads-up” on your chosen learn to fly path. You never know where opportunity is hiding.

And yes, next blog will be commuter flying info. That’s all for now.