Aviation Science Degrees Provide Entry into the Aerospace Industry

Aviation science is a wide field that includes not only all aspects of flight operations, but also a myriad of support positions. There are a wide range of skill sets required in the field, which covers careers from aircraft pilot to master mechanic to logistical expert in the control tower.

The typical workday for someone with an aviation science degree could range from flying a commercial airline across the county to piloting a group of fly fishermen into a remote lake in the Canadian wilderness. Or, it could be maintaining or de-icing a commercial jet to working with local contractors to expand a regional airport.

Which Types of Jobs are Available For Those Interested in Aviation Science

Aviation science includes flight jobs such as:

• Commercial pilot
• Private pilot
• Television "eye-in-the-sky helicopter pilot
• Heli-logging pilot
• Crop dusting

It also includes airline and aerospace industry engineering-related jobs, such as:

• Aircraft design
• Aviation communications
• Instrumentation

Additionally, administrative, support, safety, and management positions that are associated with an aviation science degree include:

• Airport management
• Aircraft technician
• Pilot and flight training
• Safety inspectors
• Airline managers
• Air traffic controllers

As you can see, there are a tremendous amount of possibilities for students who undertake an aviation science degree.

Formal Training Required to Work in Aviation Science

Some airlines hire high school graduates, but most require you to have a minimum of two years of college--and they prefer to hire college graduates. In today's competitive work environment, an aviation science degree could spell the difference between landing a job and rejection.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that due to an ever-increasing pool of college graduates seeking employment in the airline industry, a college degree is quickly becoming a requirement rather than a preference.

In aviation science degree program your coursework can range from business-oriented courses such as crew management or global ethics in aviation to technical in topics like flight physiology or aviation cargo operation. Aviation science coursework also included flight-related classes, such as flight instrumentation, air traffic control, or private pilot certification.

In addition to earning a four-year bachelor's of science degree, you must also earn a pilot's license if you want to fly. Private pilots must be at least 18 and have 250 hours of flight experience; commercial pilots must be at least 23 and have 1,500 hours of certified flight time. Pilots are major airlines typically have at least 4,000 hours of flight time.

The Typical Career Path of Someone Interested in Aviation Science

Anyone interested in flying is an obvious candidate for this career path, but since the field of aviation also includes a huge amount of support and management positions it's hard to peg the industry for any one type of individual. If you are mechanically inclined you might pursue a career in aircraft maintenance. If you are good with computers you might think about an aviation service positions, such as flight controller--a field with high demand and good pay, upwards of $100,000 a year.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Aviation Science Jobs

One of the main reasons to consider an aviation science degree: the pay. Average annual salaries for air traffic controllers with the federal government--the industry's largest employer--were $109,218 in 2009.

Pilots often fare just as well financially as those in the tower. Airline pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers earned average annual salaries of $114,400 in 2008. Commercial pilots earned about $66,000 a year.

The 116,310 aircraft mechanics and service technicians employed in 2008 earned average annual wages of $51,390, while the top ten percent took home almost $70,000 per year.

A large number of jobs in the aviation industry are expected to see significant increase in employment as older workers leave the field--the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots is 65. Demand for pilots is expected to increase 12 percent by 2018 as the population grows and boosts demand for air travel. Job demand is stiffest for pilots at major airlines because those jobs attract the most qualified candidates. As such, jobs at air cargo carriers should prove slightly easier for newcomers.

Regardless of whether you want to be in the cockpit or under the hood of an airplane, a degree in aviation science is the first step to gaining the credentials and experience you need for a career in the aerospace industry.