Guide to Aerospace Education and Training Types and Styles

Prepare to fly planes, repair planes, or even design planes with aerospace education

By Lea Terry

1. Aerospace engineer training
2. Aviation maintenance training
3. Avionics education
4. Classes in aviation
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Enroll in aerospace engineering training

Through training for aerospace engineering, you can learn to design anything from business jets to vehicles designed for atmospheric and space flight.

I recommend: Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. The College of Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers bachelors and masters degrees in aerospace engineering.

Learn how to repair planes with maintenance aerospace training

Maintenance and repair is one of the fastest growing fields in the aerospace industry, and many technical schools offer training and degrees in this area.

I recommend: Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology offers programs in aviation, maintenance and testing. The Aviation Institute of Maintenance has campuses in Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Mo., Philadelphia, Virginia, Orlando and Houston. The school offers an Associate of Occupational Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology or Associate of Applied Science degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. Both programs prepare students for the A&P license tests administered by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Learn about aviation computer and mechanical systems with avionics training

Through avionics training, you can master the many technical systems that guide a plane, including GPS and autopilot.

I recommend: Global Avionics Training Specialists offers courses in avionics for business jet owners and regional airlines. They train students to use various flight control systems, either at the customer's facility, or at the company's location in Phoenix, Ariz. Avionics Training offers avionics training in your own aircraft, and can teach you to use GPS, autopilot and other mechanical equipment and tracking systems.

Learn to fly planes with classes in aviation

Flight schools around the country can teach you to fly anything from a small jet to a large commercial aircraft.

I recommend: Ari Ben Aviator, located at the St. Lucie County International Airport in Fort Pierce, Fla., offers a 200-hour professional pilot program, a VA professional pilot program, and a program for military helicopter pilots who want an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate. Phoenix East Aviation offers flight training programs that prepare students for a private, commercial or airline Transport Pilot Certificate and train them to become certified flight instructors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at statistics before starting your search for aerospace engineering training programs

Before you choose to pursue aerospace education, look at some of the statistics on the field.

I recommend: Find aerospace education newsletters and aerospace education program updates from the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. Look at career opportunity, academy and university information posted by the FAA.

Look for aerospace engineer training scholarships

Many education facilities offer aerospace education and training scholarships.

I recommend: The Virginia Space Grant Consortium, which is funded in part by a NASA training grant, has a number of scholarship and intern program scholarships available. Look at scholarship opportunities for aerospace engineering available through the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Look at nationally noted aerospace engineer training programs

Every year, U.S. News & World Report, ranks schools based on their various programs and offerings, and in 2008, the following schools were noted as top aerospace training programs: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (FL), United States Air Force Academy (CO), Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott (AZ).

I recommend: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University teaches science, practice, and business of aviation and aerospace. They offer more than 35 degree programs at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, FL, and Prescott, AZ, both of which ranked as top avionics education programs. Check out how to apply at the United States Air Force Academy for courses in avionics.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking at universities with aerospace education and training, also ask to speak with both their faculty and their students. A school may be ranked as one of the best aerospace industry training programs, but if their students don't feel that the experience has been rewarding for them, you might reconsider the school itself.
• •  Look for scholarship opportunities through the college of your choice, as well as through local and statewide programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Routinely visit arospace industry training and education websites

Take the time to browse a few avionics education websites every week to ensure you have an accurate understanding of the recent industry news and trending information. Such websites usually provide visitors with a designated 'news' section to allow for fast and efficient information-gathering. And while there are a number of aerospace industry websites, make sure you are visiting those with an education-oriented focus.

I recommend: Check out the Aerospace Education News website to learn more about internal/external news as well as research and development articles. Take advantage of the newsroom content provided by the National Capital Wing website. Peruse the news and events section of the AERO Institute website to view the latest headlines.

Periodically consume aerospace training and education publications

Read through avionics training and education print and online publications every other week to grasp a more in-depth understanding of the topic. The writers and reporters employed at such publications provide readers with insightful stories and analysis that may not be accessible from any other medium. You can find these resources online at academic or industry association websites.

I recommend: Take a look at the online edition of Horizons, an aerospace education newspaper produced by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Choose from a variety of publications available at the Aerospace Industries Association website.

Regularly receive aerospace engineer training and education newsletters

Sign up for an aerospace training and education newsletter to have the latest news and information delivered to your email box automatically. This will allow you to save your time and effort while remaining in-the-know regarding relevant aerospace education headlines. You can register for such newsletters at industry websites free of charge.

I recommend: View past and current issues of the Aerospace Education Newsletter provided by the Civil Air Patrol. Visit the Air Force Association to link to the Aerospace Education Council's AE Newsletter.