Is this taking a step back or increasing my chances of getting an aviation job?

K

ktsai91

Well-Known Member
My goal is to find an aviation internship this summer. But in case if I don't get an internship, I had a back up plan of going to a flight dispatch school in New York City.

Now here is the problem, I have a feeling that in addition to studying aviation administration at my college, I thought I can increase my chances of getting an aviation job by getting a flight dispatcher certificate (I just turned 22). My father said that it is much more important to get an aviation internship no matter what than going to flight dispatcher school. He thinks that going to flight dispatcher school is like taking a step back. What I mean is that he thinks that getting a dispatch license is like getting a diploma or some award less than the value of a college degree.

But I want to supplement a dispatch license with a college degree.

What do you think guys? Is this really taking a step back or increasing my chances of getting an aviation job?
 
Your goal is to be a pilot?

If so, what certificates/ratings do you have so far?
 
No, my goal is to work in the aviation industry, hopefully in airport management, airline management, or work at a major FBO. I do not want to be a professional pilot.
 
If you want to fly airplanes, getting a dispatcher license won't give you much of a leg up in the long run. If you want to get into aviation management, then yeah, maybe the dispatcher route would be helpful. But I would put the priority on the 4-year degree in either case.
 
Cal Goat said:
If you want to fly airplanes, getting a dispatcher license won't give you much of a leg up in the long run. If you want to get into aviation management, then yeah, maybe the dispatcher route would be helpful. But I would put the priority on the 4-year degree in either case.
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He speaketh the truth.

It doesn't necessarily matter what that degree is in, either, but public administration or business administration might be handy for you.
 
Get your bachelors in B.A. I would almost say go with the dispatch route too. You will need to understand/have the "flight" experience to get any respect in the industry.

Then again, you can be a weasly bean-counter • like Dan Garton and get pretty far. ;)
 
BrewMaster said:
Get your bachelors in B.A. I would almost say go with the dispatch route too. You will need to understand/have the "flight" experience to get any respect in the industry.

Then again, you can be a weasly bean-counter like Dan Garton and get pretty far. ;)
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"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world." - G-Man
 
If you parents are not in the aviation industry and have done less research than you, then your opinion is just as valid as theirs. If they have the experience in the industry they probably have the best intentions as a mentor to guide you in the correct direction.
 
I would have to think that getting actual work experience via an internship would far outway getting a dispatch certification. After all, you can go back and get your dispatch certificate whenever you want, but you can't count on opportunities for real world experience to just pop up whenever. I'd take the internship. Maybe you can get some networking in while you are at it.
 
What I am getting from your post is that you haven't defined your aviation career goal(s). That needs to be your first step before you go to dispatch school, or start looking for an internship. You can't determine your path until you determine your goal. Unless you are planning in having a career in dispatch, there are probably better uses of your time and money. That said, dispatch is a great way to get your foot into the airline business.
 
I agree with the above post - clearly define your ultimate goals. Dispatch certification IS a worthwhile endeavour. It's a significantly inexpensive route to land a full time job at the airlines, expands a knowledge base on regulations, weather, performance, and other areas, and serves as an excellent backup for a pilot who is laid off and/or medically dequaled for awhile.
 
ktsai91 said:
I already have an A.S. degree in Business Administration.
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Where are you? Have you looked into Cal State Univ Los Angeles? They have a BS program in Aviation Admin available. Most of your Business Admin credits should transfer over. Local Airports and Business hire interns from the school all the time. The majority of the undergrads in the program are in their mid 20's or older and aren't pilots. This is nice, since it tends to keep the doooshiness level to a minimum.

Internships get you real world experience you need to get hired. If you want to be a dispatcher, then do that. If you want to work in Airport Admin or FBO management then get an internship.
 
I'm actually a current student at Farmingdale State College on Long Island in the B.S. Aviation Admin program. The Aviation Admin program is actually more of an airport management program with general business courses attached. I should also let you know that I am acting president of my college's AAAE. My college's AAAE is quite active, (wasn't very active last semester but I brought it back to speed again this semester) with a few trips planned and a few guest speakers coming. My prof is going to help me look for summer internships around the New York area. He has a lot of contacts within the aviation industry, and knows how hard I worked and how much I am determined to look for one.
 
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