Aviation Careers - Research Paper Example

Aviation Careers al Affiliation 0 Introduction 3 2.0 Discussion 3 3.0 Conclusion 9 4.0 References 11 0 Introduction The transition that defines the airline industry goes along way back to when the first aircraft flew. The major branches of aviation include military and commercial aviation. Military aviation involves the operation in the Defense Force Aviation Wing, with the occupational opportunities spanning from the requirements of technical, mechanical, and academic skill. In contrast, the commercial aviation is a civil aviation branch that majorly deals with transportation of cargo and passengers to specific destinations. Furthermore, the careers in commercial aviation require more of specific technical skill. 2.0 Discussion Despite the challenges that plague the operation s of the airliners, the globe is fully dependent on air travel to fulfill its operations. This explains the reason for the plenty availability of jobs at airlines, airplane organizations, airports, and military organizations all around the world. These career paths are different, as some are more technical than others are. Contrary to this, the difference between the commercial aviation careers and military aviation spans more than just the salaries (Campbell, Castaneda & Pulos, 2009). The desire of many aspiring aviation employees is piloting. The difference, however, is the size of plane that a pilot flies. Besides, a number of contributors make the flight possible, as the airplanes require maximum attention before taking off. Regional commercial airlines often pay $20 every hour (Wheatley, 2012). This notion has inflicted the ambitions of many aspiring aviation workers, with each waiting to fly a jumbo jet. The average annual salary for an aerospace program management director is approximately $151, 000 (Wheatley, 2012). These directors deal with the development of an aviation company strategy, with the negotiations of new aircrafts. Besides, they are responsible for the profitability of the airline company. In the military, the aerospace management director executes the orders from the air wing panel on the tender for the aircraft types that the military needs. This position is to order for the aircrafts from the manufacturers, with the budgetary allocation fixed and inflexible as compared to the commercial airline career. A pilot is an aviation expert who operates aircrafts to transport goods or people for one place to another. In the commercial aviation field, corporations and airline owners employ pilots. In the military front, they are employees of the government. It is however notable that there exist pilots who operate private transport services in private jets. This is adverse career, with opportunities cast in both private and public sectors. The specifications of a pilot depend on the area in which the pilot works. In commercial airline, the pilots’ responsibilities include the transportation of civilians, commercial cargo, private goods, and other forms of cargo. In addition to the type of responsibilities that define a pilot’s specification, the type of aircraft that a pilot flies determines the qualification of the pilot in the commercial aviation industry (Morgan, 2010). Whereas other pilots fly huge cargo planes, some fly helicopters and small aircrafts. Pilots who work in airline companies are well known for flying civilians who are vacationing or commuting. The duty of a commercial aviation pilot is to inspect the engine’s functionality, and link them to the functioning of the airplane. The pilots are responsible for choosing the suitable routes that enable the smoothest and most convenient flights. Together with coordination, the commercial pilots are in charge of the aircraft’s operations, with supreme control of the crew through monitoring, supervision, and guidance. In the recent past, most pilots received their training from the military, but the transformation has further changed the face of pilot training. Currently, a certification from a certified flight school of training is all that pilots need to add to their college degrees to become possible employees in the commercial aviation industry. Perhaps this is the major reason why the aviation world faces tragic disasters that arise from the relaxed job qualification requirements. Salaries for the pilots in commercial aviation do not only vary with respect to the airline company that employs the plot, but also the experience and type of aircraft. In this category, the average earnings equal $117,000 annually (Wheatley, 2012). To the advantage of the pilots, their salaries are reviewed upwards each year, as the company rewards each additional year of service with an increase in salary. Besides, the pilots enjoy various benefit schemes that include discounted travel, allowances and comprehensive pension schemes. In commercial aviation, the job specification is unlike the normal office working hours. The working days’ lengths vary depending on the distance, the route, and the company. This can range from 45 minutes, to three or twelve hours. In addition to the timelines, the commercial aviation pilots operate in charters, as they fly using timetables. More often than not, however, they are required to answer to abrupt calls of duty, as in the case of commercial healthcare aviation pilots. This prompts these pilots to reside closer to the airports. In the case of military aviation, the pilots are fully trained and qualified by the military. Despite the choice of aspiring military aviation members, the branches in the military requires that every member have a vision and understanding in flight training. The classifications of the military aviation careers depend on the types of missions that the employee undertakes. Such missions that define the role of military operations include peacekeeping, support role or assault. The qualification s of the pilots requires the degree from a college and a certification as an officer to fly. The role of the military pilot is different from that of the commercial aviation pilot. Unlike the commercial pilot, the military pilot is not the controller of the entire aircraft. The pilot is responsible for coordination and steering of the plane, in tandem with the air traffic controllers. The passengers are led by the battalion leader, who is responsible for ordering on where the troops alight from the plane. The aircraft pilot is subject to continuous exercise, as some operations of the military are unscheduled. The army aviation is responsible for various support and combat missions. The flight careers of aspiring army aviators begin with the specialization of helicopters. Apart from flying the helicopters, the army aviation includes helicopter flight instructor. Other army flights provide material transportation and troops in logistical roles and combat support. These roles are crucial in starting and maintaining fights. The careers in army aviation involve maintenance, technical support, as well as ordinance supply. Naval aviators operate from the sea front, taking off in water and landing on either solid ground or on military ships. These pilots are tasked with killing enemy submarines, and pursuing downed ocean pilots. In the naval combat missions, aviators carry out air-to-air strikes, as similar to the combat missions of Air Force. The career opportunities in these missions include operations in either fighter jets or support helicopters. In addition to the careers involved in the aircrafts, the support crew and the flight deck are important in the success of the ship military aviation. The training required for the naval aviation qualification involves precision and expertise. The military aviators, just like the Air Force operations (Vitarbo, 2012), issue the certification. The career options in both the commercial and military industry begin by obtaining the compulsory education experience that is necessary in qualifying to be in aviation service. The career goal in airlines flight instructing gives the aviator the much needed flight time that is basic for the consideration on regional airline. For a commercial aerospace engineer, the requirement is organizational and personal skill to lead the team of engineers through the prices of project budgeting, staff training, and administration. In the military, the aerospace engineer is strictly an academic success, with the complementary tasks being subject to military training. The commercial aircraft manager in charge of maintenance is a vacancy that requires team leadership as well as technical skill. This is as academic profession that ensures the technical team in charge of maintaining aircrafts performs their duty in line with the regulatory guidelines. This career path requires the managers to hire and train technicians in their teams. In the military, these operations are for the aeronautic engineers. In the aviation industry, the air traffic control is the most stressing, as it requires enormous amounts of mental focus. However, in commercial aviation industry, the role of air traffic control is subdivided into take off, landing, flight time and ground movement. Though these jobs have steep competition levels, the current wave of retirement poses enough positions for the younger aspiring aviation employees. In the military however, the air traffic control is done according to the military bases, with the controllers chosen according to their geographical conversancy with the area of military operations. Currently, the amount of time that the civilian pilots need to qualify to be flight experts is shorter. In the military, after graduation from the flight school, it takes 10years to be a certified military pilot, unlike in the previous years when it was 6 years. Besides, the demand for military pilots has decreased, as it takes longer to be certified. This means that currently, the airlines hire more of the civil pilots than they did long ago with the preference of military pilots, The commercial aviation careers require more of educational skill and the technical capabilities that come with experience (Graduates fly high with aviation-engineering degree, 2013). These skills are further supplemented with regular training in the airline companies before complete hiring. Besides, commercial airline operators have limits to their flying times, as they are restricted to 900hours of flight annually. This enables the commercial aviation employees to have subsidiary plans, spend time with their families. These traits make the commercial aviation careers worthwhile. In contrast, the military options require massive amount of training and experience. The number of years that a military aviator takes before qualification is many compared to the commercial aviation counterparts. The process of being accepted in the military academies is strenuous. Besides, the requirements that meet the criteria for qualification in these highly respected institutions are high. Most military aviation students must have successful high school history, with their academics as good as their co-curriculum activities. The life in these academies is regimented and extremely demanding of the recruit. Contrary to the requirements of the commercial airline career, the military aviation careers require physical fitness and athleticism of the trainees. In commercial aviation, the employees enjoy a number of privileges, such as the pension funds, discounted travel rates and other allowances. Such incentives encourage the employees, boosting their morale and understanding. In the military, however, the flights are strict on the missions that the military have obligation to deliver. This makes the working conditions inflexible, as harsh punishments await the flight operators who go against the military code of conduct. In the commercial aviation career path, the risk involved is less compared to the risk in military aviation. The risk that air travel poses is tragic incase of accidents, but the risk is double when the missions involve combat in war stricken areas. The uncertainty that accompanies the operations of the combat missions is immeasurable, as the enemies might strike the military aircraft. Contrary to this, the commercial aviation employees face less risk, with the major risk dependant on the flight mechanic failure. Risk is inevitable in air travel, but the risk in military air travel is more. The military aviation has a number of advantages such as subsidized accommodation. This is because in the military aviation move around too much. Besides, the military aviation is adventurous, with the ability to explore the globe. Apart from these, the military aviators have the annual leave, field leave, compassionate leave, and compassionate travel. Besides, the experience that the pilots gain in the military aviation is faster, as the aviators are subject to many hours of flight training. Contrary to that, the commercial airline flight training is slow and limited, that is the major reason why many pilots opt to fly in the commercial airliners after completing their courses in the military academies. The other reasons being the amount of time that it takes to rise through the ranks in the military disciplines makes it difficult to achieve the ambitions of flying on missions. In addition to the risks involved in combat operations, the pilots find it hard to operate in the military, therefore opting to fly in the commercial airlines. 3.0 Conclusion The salaries of the military aviation operators do not match the number of hours of flight that the operators fly, unlike in the commercial aviation industry, where remuneration reflects the number of hours flown by the attendants. In addition to this, the salaries in the commercial aviation industry are reviewed upwards annually, while those in the military are subject to the governments review. Besides, the amount of time that the troops stay away from their families is dependent on the amount of time that the military takes to complete specific missions. In conclusion, the commercial aviation career path is more lucrative than the military aviation career path as the latter require extensive sacrifice, selflessness, risk, bravery, time, and commitment. The commercial aviation industry, on the other hand, involves realistic training, relevance, diversity, as well as enough qualification to succeed. In addition, the commercial aviation industry has millions of vacancies around the world, unlike the military aviation that is available only at a country’s disposal (Wagener & Ison, 2014). 4.0 References Campbell, J., Castaneda, M., & Pulos, S. (2009). Meta-Analysis of Personality Assessments as Predictors of Military Aviation Training Success. The International Journal Of Aviation Psychology, 20(1), 92-109. doi:10.1080/10508410903415872 Graduates fly high with aviation-engineering degree. (2013). Industrial And Commercial Training, 45(2). doi:10.1108/ict.2013.03745baa.009 Morgan, S. (2010). Air Travel and Health. John Wiley & Sons. Vitarbo, G. (2012). Army of the sky. New York: Peter Lang. Wagener, F., & Ison, D. (2014). Crew Resource Management Application in Commercial Aviation. Journal Of Aviation Technology And Engineering, 3(2), 02. doi:10.7771/2159-6670.1077 Wheatley, J. (2012). Aviation pilots. Waco, Tex.: TSTC Pub. Read More