“Dad, Aeroplane!” A kid pointed towards the sky with his forefinger. Seeing an aeroplane in the sky, a rush of excitement used to wash over us as we waved at the tiny aeroplane and wondered what exploring the vast skies is like! If you have always been inclined towards a career in which you can soar higher towards the depths of the sky, then aviation is the industry that you must explore! This blog aims to bring you a comprehensive guide on what a career in aviation entails, the varied pathways and perks it has on offer and the journey you need to take to establish yourself in this field!
This Blog Includes:
- Is Aviation a Good Career?
- List of Careers in Aviation
- Skills Required for a Career in Aviation
- Courses in Aviation
- Subjects in Aviation
- Top Universities Abroad for Aviation
- Indian Colleges for Aviation
- Aviation Careers Salary
- Top Recruiters
- Career in Aviation after 12th
- Career in Aviation after Graduation
- Aviation Courses in India
- FAQs
Is Aviation a Good Career?
Simply put, the activities in the Aviation industry revolve around designing and developing various aircraft, handling production and operations, and flying or repairing aircraft. As an ever-growing industry, one can find innumerable opportunities across various sub-domains of the sector and avail a wide range of benefits and perks. Whether you are planning to become a part of the cabin crew or aspiring to pursue Commercial Pilot courses, a career in Aviation is financially fulfilling and personally rewarding!
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List of Careers in Aviation
Now that you know about the many courses available in this exciting field, the next thing is to delve deeper into the different career pathways you can choose from. Here are the top high-paying careers in Aviation:
- Pilot
- Aviation Maintenance Technician
- Air Traffic Controller
- Aircraft Manufacturing Engineer
- Quality Control Personnel
- Airport Operations Manager
- Air Ticketing Staff
- Flight Steward/Stewardess
- Flight Attendant
- Aerospace Engineer
- Aviation Medicine
- Quality Control Officer
- Flight Test Engineer
- Avionics Engineer
- Aircraft Technician
Airline and Commercial Pilot
Becoming a pilot is one of the most popular choices to establish a career in Aviation after the 12th standard. Apart from flying a plane, ensuring the safety of the passengers and attendants will be your responsibility. So, if you also want to know how to become a pilot after 12th then here are the basic criteria.
- You must be over 18 years
- You must hold an instrument-rating commercial pilot’s license
- 250 hours of flight experience
- You have to pass psychological, physical, and aptitude tests.
Air Traffic Controller
The work of an air traffic controller is to regulate the whole air navigation system. They are accountable for the safety of all the air transports and the people who are flying it in the air. Here are the following things they keep a check on:
- Instruct pilots on how to land and take
- Monitor and instruct the movement of air transports on the air as well as ground with the help of radars, visual references, and computers.
- Communicate with pilots in the Air Control Room in order to keep them updated with the conditions of weather, runway closures, and any other serious information.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
As an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, you’re going to look after the repair of the aircraft. You will have to work closely with aerospace manufacturers to verify the aircraft. An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s primary work is to troubleshoot problems, conduct inspections, make repairs, and suggest upgrades to the aircraft.
Must read: Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Colleges
Flight Attendant
Flight attendants make sure that the passengers adhere to rules & regulations so that the journey remains safe and comfortable during the flight. If you want to start a career in this field, you will have to pass a test to get a license before getting the position of a flight attendant. Moreover, you will have to be great at communication, appearance, multi-tasking, and providing emotional support.
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Aviation Medicine
A unique and less pursued career path, Aviation Medicine is a domain that requires professionals who can identify, assess, and formulate preventive strategies related to the physiological and psychological impact of a space environment on individuals. This is an excellent opportunity for MBBS holders to start their careers in Aviation! Some of the Aerospace Medicine courses that you can pursue are MD in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport, MD in Oral Health, etc.
Aerospace Engineer
The work of Aerospace Engineers is to design and develop spacecraft, satellites, missiles, and aircraft. They ensure that the air transport made by them is functioning according to the design and work on developing new technologies for the aviation industry. Such professionals are well-versed in Thermodynamics, Aerodynamics, Flight Mechanics, Propulsion, Acoustics, Celestial Mechanics, and Guidance and control Systems. The aerospace field is split up into two parts, namely, Aeronautical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. While the former deals with operations of aircraft which fly within the earth’s atmosphere, the latter covers both, aircraft and spacecraft.
Aviation Management
This is a field where you can work in various roles and handle tasks like airport operations, recruitment, managing accounts, public relations, economics, etc. Apart from this, you will also have to ensure the implementation of various laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the sector. To establish a career in Aviation in this domain, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree will be needed. You can further enhance opportunities by pursuing an MBA in Aviation Management.
Quality Control Officer
The primary responsibility of a Quality Control Officer is to check whether the materials and tools required for the manufacturing of an Aircraft match the standards or not. Those with a keen eye for detail and expertise in handling sophisticated tools to check quality can build a strong career in Aviation as a Quality Control Specialist.
Skills Required for a Career in Aviation
- Pleasant & friendly personality
- Agility & good sense of balance
- Good health & physical fitness
- Clear speech and voice
- Presence of mind
- Team worker
- Presence of mind
- Punctuality
- Patience
- Politeness
Courses in Aviation
Below is a list of some of the prominent courses in aviation that will help aspirants to build their own careers in this sector:
- Diploma in Aviation– Aircraft Structure
- Diploma in Aviation- Aircraft Maintenance
- Diploma in Aviation- Avionics Maintenance
- Bachelors of Aviation Management
- Bachelor of Science in Aviation Logistics
- BEng Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies
- BEng Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies (Hons)
- Bachelor of Aviation
- BSc Aviation, Airline and Airport Management
- Associate in Science in Aviation
- Graduate Certificate in Aviation Management
- MSc Aviation Management in the Digital Age
- Master of Aviation Management
- MSc International Tourism and Aviation Management
Subjects in Aviation
Although the core subjects and syllabus will vary from course to course and the specialisation opted by the aspirant, here are some of the most common subjects related to aviation that students will be studying if they have to build a Sureshot career in aviation:
- Entrepreneurship Development
- Airline Advertising and Sales promotion
- Aviation Law
- Strategic Management
- Airline Economics
- Supply Chain Management
- E-Business
- Aircraft Maintenance Management
- Cross-Cultural Management
- Total Quality Management
- Air Law
- General Navigation
- Aircraft General Knowledge
- Meteorology
- Radio Navigation
- Principles of Flight
- Human Performance and Limitations
- Mass and Balance
Top Universities Abroad for Aviation
A wide array of training academies and institutions across the globe offer Aviation courses in a plethora of specializations. Generally, specialised training academies provide programs for those aspiring to become a commercial pilot while if you are inclined towards Aircraft Maintenance Engineering or Aviation Engineering, then you need to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the same. To help you further in your research, we have enlisted some of the major universities and training institutes around the world availing a wide range of courses for those aspiring to build a career in Aviation.
Universities Abroad | Location |
Purdue University | USA |
University of North Dakota | USA |
The Ohio State University | USA |
San Jose State University | USA |
Loughborough University | UK |
Massey University | New Zealand |
University of Otago | New Zealand |
KTH Royal Institute of Technology | Sweden |
University of West London | UK |
University College Dublin | UK |
Lewis University | USA |
Refer to our detailed blog to Study Aviation Courses Abroad
Indian Colleges for Aviation
Here is a list of some of the top Indian colleges and universities that will help you to kickstart your career in aviation sector:
- School of Business, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
- School of Management, Dr DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai
- HITS Chennai – Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
- SJES College of Management Studies, Bangalore
- International Institute for Aerospace Engineering and Management, Jain University, Bangalore
- Indian Institute of Knowledge Management, Chennai
- Nehru College of Aeronautics and Applied Sciences, Coimbatore
- Institute of Clinical Research India, Ahmedabad
- Avalon Business School, Visakhapatnam
- Srinivas University, Mangalore
- Christian College, Bangalore
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Aviation Careers Salary
Here are the average salary figures for top Aviation careers in India:
Aviation Career | Average Salary [Entry-level to Experienced] |
Commercial Pilot | ₹1.5 Lakhs to ₹6 Lakhs per month |
Aviation Maintenance Engineer | ₹1.5 Lakhs to ₹24 Lakhs |
Flight Engineer | ₹2 Lakhs to ₹11 Lakhs |
Air Traffic Controller | ₹4 Lakhs to ₹9 Lakhs |
Aviation Manager | ₹2 Lakhs to ₹30 Lakhs |
Aerospace Engineer | ₹7 Lakhs to ₹9 Lakhs |
Quality Control Officer | ₹3 Lakhs to ₹7 Lakhs |
Top Recruiters
Here is a short list of top recruiters for aspirants who want to kickstart their careers in aviation sector:
- Gulf Air
- Qatar Airways
- Air Deccan
- Air India
- Nvidia
- Jet Airways
- Air India Charters Ltd
- Spice Jet
- Omni Aviation Services
- Amazon Logistics Division
- Lemon Tree
- Alliance Air
- Air Costa
- Air Heritage
- IndiGodia
Career in Aviation after 12th
As one of the most popular fields, there is an array of courses and training programs that one can choose from in order to build a career in Aviation after 12th. Here are the most popular bachelor’s courses to begin a career in Aviation after 12th:
- Advanced Diploma in Airport and Airline Management
- Diploma in Airport Management
- Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
- BSc Aeronautics
- BBA in Airport Management
- BSc Aviation
- BBA in Aviation
- BS Aviation Administration
- BSc in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
- BBA in Airline and Tourism Management
- Bachelor’s in Aviation Engineering/Aeronautical Engineering
Career in Aviation after Graduation
Here are the major Aviation courses after graduation:
- Master’s in Aviation Security
- MTech in Avionics
- MD Aviation Medicine
- MBA in Aviation Management
- MBA in Airline and Airport Management
- Master’s in Aviation Engineering
- MS Aviation and Transportation
- PG Diploma in Aviation and Tourism Management
- B.S. in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
- Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies MEng
- CAE Woman in Flight Scholarship Program
Aviation Courses in India
- Diploma in Airport Management
- Student Pilot License
- Private Pilot License
- Diploma in Ground Staff & Cabin Crew Training
- Diploma in Aviation Hospitality and Travel Management
- B.B.A in Airport Management
- B.Sc in Airline And Airport Management
- MBA in Aviation Management
- MBA in Airline and Airport Management
- MSc in Aviation
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FAQs
There are many jobs in the aviation landscape which offer a handsome salary. Some of the highest-paid job profiles in aviation are Air Traffic Controllers with a salary of $124,540 a year ($59.87 an hour), Airline and Commercial Pilots $115,670 a year ($55.6 an hour), Aerospace Engineers $115,220 a year ($55.39 an hour), Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians $67,010 a year ($32.22 an hour).
You can easily get a job in Aviation provided you are determined to pursue a professional course in it. Start Aviation career with a bachelor’s degree – BBA in Airport management.
Truly, Aviation offers lucrative job opportunities in a profile including; Aircraft Electrical Installer or Technician, Aircraft Manufacturing Engineer, Airline Pilot, Airport Operations Manager, Air Traffic Controller, Aviation Maintenance Technician as well as Quality Control Personnel.
The salary of an Airport Manager is likely to differ from region to region. An airport manager in Oman can earn a salary of around 3,570 OMR per month. They can enjoy various other benefits such as housing, transport etc.
The average salary an Indian Pilot earns is 46,87,900 annually which is around 3,90,650 per month. When we talk about the salary of an airline pilot, they can earn an average salary of 11,25,100. The highest salary can exceed up to 1,00,00,000.
Aeronautical Engineering is one of the best engineering courses that prepare a learner to become a pilot.
Aviation is one of the fastest-growing industries in the contemporary world. It is only the fastest worldwide transportation network available to facilitate the movement of global business. It improves the economic growth, creation of jobs as well as international trade and tourism.
Hence, we hope that this detailed guide has helped you explore the different aspects of building a successful career in Aviation! If you plan to pursue a degree, diploma or training program in this field, our experts at Leverage Edu are here to guide you in choosing the right course and university combination that can help you soar towards building a rewarding career in Aviation!