My future plans in Aviation and elsewhere...

Not only in this course that I've learned the experiences of other aviation professionals but have learned what to expect and how to acheive the career goals I want in aviation.  It has been a long journey for a promising future and that I'm nearly done with earning my Bachelors Degree in Aviation Management and is ready to step foot into the professional world and gradually become successful.

As for me, my career plans still remains the same.  However, I still plan on going back for my Masters in Supply Chain Management in which I have a joy in working in the logistics environment as well.  Aviation will always be my number one career goal and to hopefully have luck finding a job within just a few months after graduation as an operations manager for any department or organization within the aviation industry.  I will always keep on the look out on certain aviation associations websites for posted job opportunities and try to take advantaged of its vacancy. Aviation will always intrigued me because it is one of the few industries that is always changing and evolving, and professionals that strive for a long term career must be able to adapt and change with the environment.

I'm glad to say that I enjoyed all the guest speakers.  They were very informative on the challenges they've encountered and describing to us what to expect in the future of aviation.  However, the most interesting speaker to me, was Aubrey Grohowski who pursued her career in corporate aviation.  Although, she's a flight major, I was very intrigued on her struggles and challenges she faced to get where she's at now; enjoying the traveling life and what she do.  She makes a great example for students; that making sacrifices truly pays off at the end if you stick with what you want to achieve.  I want to also say that Mark Johnson, an Airport Manager, was quite interesting as well because he trully showed how he became successful in forming a airport (Livingston County Airport) together and in which I'm looking foward to do as well one day in the future.  As he was showing the steps he performed to do such a task, I can remember the same steps I've been taught in Adamski's Flight Operations course last semester at EMU.  

As for blogging with other students, throughout this long semster; from beginning-to-end, I felt as though I was a Google blogger fanatic researching interesting topics and posting them for other students and even other professionals to comment their opinions on. The best topic to research and explain upon on was Boeing vs. Airbus.  I always like competition and to see these two major companies modify their jets for efficiency in every aspect for the passengers, flight crew and the aircraft designs is quite interesting. The technology use to get the work done is what draws my attention.  The least interesting topic was the EU-ETS.  In my opinion, it won't have a too much of an effect for me as a operations manager and that I could careless about European policy to combate climate change.  Sad to say that this would be the 1st time I've ever blogged with other individuals such as students and other interested professionals in aviation. Nevertheless, this was a learning experience for me alone and other students who has never blogged. 

After graduation, as mentioned before, I'm hoping to get hired in a entry-level position that offers growth opportunities and allows me to utilize my leadership skills and experience in the aviation industry. Also, I will be attending many seminars, activities (volunteer work) and events given by associations/organizations year round for better in depth experience.

Overall, this course has kept me aware in many regards. Many of the topics we talked about are things that we will be engaged the moment we step foot into our new jobs. Each topic had a realistic impact to our class and each one of our individual careers.  If anyone out there who is aware of any job opportunities, please comment on my blog. 

I want to wish everyone the best of luck in your future endeavors!!

Thanks for reading
Ryan Pride

Inquired career paths in such organizations

Once all said and done, I will definitely consider or telling myself a job well done and that you are on your way sir! Through all required training/courses for gaining knowledge in the aviation industry, I have learned the professionalism, safety, management, some flight technology and the skills to maximize profit for any organization or should I say association I choose to work for.  There are few associations that I am willing to start my career and put my knowledge into use.  As a senior and upcoming graduation, I’ve been wondering what’s out there in store for me in the industry.  Who or what professionals am I go run into and meet?  What is the best financially stabled company to work for?  With these thoughts in my head, I want to make sure that everything is nearly perfect once I step foot into the aviation world.  

First, let’s talk about the upmost proper approach used entering into the aviation industry.  In the aviation world, professionalism is top priority.  Professionalism is acting in a mature, business-like manner, abiding by regulations and company procedures, creating a good line of communication of flight or management related information between flight crew members, employees and customers, and treating co-workers and customers respectfully. Professionalism also includes doing nothing that you believe may degrade safety.  As Dave Higdon stated in his article, " “Professionalism is a mindset, a state of mind, a commitment to being the best… anything less is unacceptable,” in which I totally agree.  Either you are a Flight or Management major,  “knowledge” is also fundamental as another pillar in the foundation of professionalism, and while training is important, exposure to the real world is imperative to the accumulation of knowledge. Similarly, “courage” is required in order to accept the responsibility of flying; courage to respect the challenge of an unforgiving environment, and the courage to recognize that mistakes will happen. Conversely, it’s not courageous to be stupid (Higdon, 2009).  Let’s not forget to professionalize your resumes as well.

I’ve always kept an eye on what available job positions are open in the field of aviation and most likely those in operations.  However, doing that on career sites doesn’t always help.  I realize that joining and becoming a member for certain associations can be quite helpful on finding your dream job or at least help get you started in aviation.  Click here for a list of some of the most common used associations for benefits, subscriptions, job postings, networking, information etc in the aviation industry.  For example, AAAE (American Association of Airport Executives) is one association that provides a variety of information for your needs and request.  AAAE is the world's largest professional organization for airport executives, representing thousands of airport management personnel at public-use commercial and general aviation airports (AAAE, 2013).  Additionally, it post available job openings in the industry in which I'm always browsing through.  I've utilized this site because it provides me the information I'm looking for such as job postings, events, updates on different airports in America and else where, workshops, seminars and informative magazine subscriptions about the aviation industry.  I can probably say that it will help find me a job in Aviation Management.  The website has totally grab my interest when I first started the aviation program at Eastern Michigan University 2010.  When time permits, I will travel and start participating in their events and seminars they have throughout each year. 

My second interested organization that I utilize but not yet a memeber is the NBAA (National Business Aviation Association). The NBAA is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful.   By me having the background knowledge in business administration, this website provides me information on how to maximize profit for aviation organizations, help aviation do successful business and how to be a pro at it.  Each associate here works together and shows the success they bring by doing fundraisers for certain aircrafts, advertising, aviation safety; another top priority in aviation, operation controls for certain PART's (125, 135),  and so on.  The website also provides you a member benefit NBAA management guide on how to do business aviation management.  An addition to the website, the NBAA post many available national and international management jobs in which is great for me because that's what I'm searching for as my career path in aviation.

In all, I am certain that I will be able to find that dream job I want to pursue in aviation by constantly utilizing these 2 organizations website and hopefully soon participate in their yearly events/activities.  You never know who you may run into down the road and that whoever it is maybe able to help or make you become successful.  Take my word for it, take advantage of an association that you think can benefit you because it will help you in the long run.

Thanks for reading,

 
Sources:

AAAE. (2013). Membership benefits. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from, http://aaae.org/membersh ip/membership_benefits/

Higdon, D.  (2013, March).  Safety Matters: Professionalism.  Retrieved from: http://www.avbuyer.com/articles/detail.asp?Id=1414

NBAA.  (2013).  Membership benefits.  Retreived from:  http://www.nbaa.org/membership/benefits/

 

Aviation Business Models; small fortunes...

There was a time when I thought about owning my own domestic airline but the amount of funds required is quite overwhelming.  In order to become successful in the aviation business industry, you will have to 1^st start off with a large fortune to make a small fortune; which is a phrase commonly used in aviation.  Understanding what it takes to lead an airline to success is very important if you’re planning on succeeding and that it will take a great deal of funds to get it started no matter where or how you start.  Most likely, you will have to perform a written out out business plan.  Unlike successful businesses in aviation, there were some that did not succeed and had to take drastic measures.  Customers are the individuals who keep an airline in business; steady airfares.

Knowing with the big carriers cutting routes and raising fares, this would seem an ideal time for a new airline to take them on with cut-rate prices and service to smaller airports eager for more flights. That is the path, after all, taken by two of the industry’s success stories such as Southwest Airlines, back in 1971, and JetBlue Airways, in 2000.  But getting an airline off the ground has become a lot more treacherous. High oil prices these days mean carriers must fly full planes to turn a profit, and smaller airports just do not provide enough passenger traffic. At the same time, the major domestic carriers are more entrenched than ever in their own hub airports, making it harder for a new entrant to wrangle gates there. With that being said, investors have become more cautious about lending to just any airline project.  With the economy picking up in 2011, the top domestic airlines reported profits of $1.5 billion with revenue of $192 billion; a measly margin of 0.8 percent. Still, their combined market value is smaller than that of Starbucks (Mouawad, 2012). .  Fuel has become one of the biggest barriers to entry into the business, accounting for 35 to 50 percent of costs as prices almost tripled in 10 years.

Airfares; how much it costs to get to your flying destination and what it really pays for? Keep in mind that fuel now is by far the biggest cost for airlines greater than even airline salaries. For example, on a 100-passenger US Airways flight, the tickets and fees of 29 people pay just for the fuel to make the trip. Salaries are the second-highest cost, with 20 passengers covering personnel paychecks. The industry spent more than 34% of its revenue on fuel, it takes the fares of more than one-third of passengers on a flight, on average, to pay for the gas (McCartney, 2012). Airline gas mileage has improved over the years, the result of filling more seats on each flight, replacing multiple trips on small planes with fewer trips on larger aircraft and replacing older planes with newer, more fuel-efficient jets (2012, Russel). After fuel and salaries come ownership costs, planes are being bought or leased. That includes the cost of spare engines and insuring planes in case of accidents. Its hard to believe but that's pretty much sums up the where airfares go towards keeping an airline business flowing along with other sources of income. 
      

Mergers have also created a handful of major carriers that control powerful hub airports in large cities, making it generally tougher for a new airline to break in. According to Mouawad article, The most successful smaller airlines: Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines in which were all carved out specific markets in past decades that allowed them to thrive without competing head-to-head with their larger rivals.  In other words, these airlines had somewhat a piece of mind in aviation business and that creating a another small low-carrier airline wouldn't be that much complicated unless competing against major domestic airlines.

 

Starting a successful airline business can be quite overwelming but it can be done.  However, by the economy still underneath financially, it may take longer or be difficult to turn a profit in the industry.   But, I will say that for any airline, I think that customers (passengers) should be the main focus.  They're the ones whole keeps airlines up and running. 

 

 

 

Sources:
 

McCartney, S.  (2012, June).  How airlines spend your airfare.  Retrieved from:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303296604577450581396602106.html

Mouawad, J. (2012, May). The challenge of starting an airline. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/business/start-up-airlines-face-big-obstacles.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Russel, M. (2012, July). Where does your airfare go? Retrieved from: http://www.newser.com/story/147687/where-does-your-airfare-go.html
 

Stahler, P.  (2012, May).  The strangle business models of airlines. Retrieved from:  http://blog.business-model-innovation.com/2012/05/strange_business_models_of_airlines/