Many airline and aviation industry jobs require advanced education and training. Special training is required to be a pilot, serve on the flight crew, or if you’re responsible for any safety regulations that are part of airlines and aviation industries. While there are many education and training programs available, it’s important to find programs that airlines consider reputable to increase your chance of getting a job.

Not every aviation industry job requires training. For example, if you work in airline industry financials or airline industry suppliers, a full educational course may not be required. However, there are other positions where airlines and aviation education and training is a must.

1. Train to be a commercial pilot in the aviation industry.

2. Train to be part of the flight crew.

3. Train to ensure safety in the airline industry.

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

Train for one of the most popular aviation industry jobs: the commercial pilot

Not surprisingly, special training is required for anyone working as a commercial pilot. Airline industry trends show that many airlines hire commercial pilots directly from reputable schools, so training at the right location is essential if you want to land aviation jobs.

I recommend: ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program offers competitive training for students at a fixed cost. They only use qualified instructors and train students in an airline-style environment. In fact, ATP claims that regional airlines hire ATP-trained pilots more than pilots from any other flight school. Phoenix East Aviation is a nationally accredited flight training program in Daytona Beach, Florida that touts an impressive list of alumni hired by airlines.

Find an aviation industry school where you can train to be a flight attendant

A flight attendant is a popular aviation industry job, and it's a job that remains in high demand over the years. However, serving as a flight attendant, whether on corporate or commercial flights, involves more than serving food and drinks. Reputable training to become a flight attendant is an aviation industry essential.

I recommend: Corporate Flight Attendant Training trains people to become flight attendants on corporate flights, which can offer a variety of workplace environments. If you’re interested in being a flight attendant on a commercial airlines and aviation industry leaders, consider training offered by AirlineCareer.com.

Take advantage of airlines and aviation education and training focusing on safety

Safety is an important aspect of many industries, including the airline industry. Safety training is important for everyone from pilots and flight crew to the ground crew and airport managers.

I recommend: Aviation Institute of Maintenance offers online training for human error prevention and recognition training for all airline companies, including airline freight transportation services. FAA Safety Team offers a number of events and seminars to help ensure safety in the aviation industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Safety education is an ever changing in the air transport industry. Whether airline companies transport passengers or freight, having the best safety program possible will save them money in the long run.

Airline industry suppliers service a multi-billion dollar industry that shows no sign of ending anytime soon. Even though costs are high, air travel demand is still plenty because the aviation industry gives us one of the most time efficient, safest ways to travel long distances.

Airline industry financials are being hit by high fuel charges. So the airline industry is staying afloat by cutting back perks and passing costs on to the consumer. We still continue to travel because we have loved ones to visit, meetings to attend, and clients to service. The one thing that we ask from our airline industry suppliers, though, is to put our safety as their number one concern.

To find a quality aviation industry supplier to help you put your passengers first:

1. Keep abreast of airline industry trends.

2. Choose a airline industry supplier with a proven track record.

3. When speaking to your airlines and aviation supplier, ask to speak frankly with them about their safety records and product compliance with air transport regulation.

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

Address airline industry financials

Profit is, or at least it should be, the bottom line for your company, and cutting back on luxury items such as points, snacks, and other amenities, is now common.

I recommend: Work with a consulting firms like Eclat Consulting, Mazro and SkyVantage Consulting, to address what cutbacks can be made without sacrificing quality or safety.

Network in the field of airlines and aviation

Network with other suppliers and vendors. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The worst someone can say is no, so if you have a question or concern, ask it. Look at up to date websites on B2B markets for airlines and attend industry conferences and gatherings.

I recommend: Investopedia, a Forbes Media Company, has a great up-do-date site on the airline industry. Check out the top aviation stories at AirWise.Com. Find out about the latest conferences through Aviation Week.

Stay knowledgeable of airline industry safety regulations

Suppliers to the airline industry, as well as their buyers, should knowledgeable about the risks and safety precautions necessary in the airline industry.

I recommend: Find out how OSHA works with the aviation industry. Check out air safety stats from the Air Travel Association.

Shop only with accredited airline industry suppliers

Ask your supplier what industry accreditation they have.

I recommend: Find out if they are members of the International Air Transport Association, or find out if their product is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your business is the transportation of people or supplying to the businesses who transport people, keep safety and compliance to the forefront of your marketing and PR efforts. Knowing that our well being is looked after by your companies garners a confidence that you can't put a dollar amount on.

Airlines and aviation key terms are important to help you learn the lingo of the industry. Calculating revenue and abiding by all regulations for the airline industry is different from other industries. That's why it's so important to understand what the terms mean—and when applicable—how to calculate revenue. Understanding revenue formulas for the airline industry is important, so consider these airline and aviation key terms to help you out.

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

Airline industry

The airline industry can be a broad term, but the U.S. Department of Transportation helps break it down based on the size and capacity of the airline. Commercial airlines, aviation companies and air shipping businesses are all part of the airline industry.

I recommend: In "The Industry Handbook: The Airline Industry," Investopedia reports on the four categories of the airline industry: international, national, regional and cargo.

FAA, ATA and IATA

There are several groups charged with overseeing the airline industry. Some of the most recognized are the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Transport Association and the International Air Transport Association.

I recommend: Visit the websites of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Transport Association and the International Air Transport Association to read about each organization's specific responsibilities and goals.

Load factor, passenger load factor, breakeven load factor

The load factor is the percentage of available seating on a flight that passengers must fill for that airline to make enough money to meet operating expenses. An airline's load factor varies from season to season with the ebb and flow of travel numbers.

I recommend: Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, addresses the rising breakeven load factors necessary for airlines because of increased expenses. Graeme Pietersz offers a definition and explanation of passenger load factor.

Available Seat Miles (ASM)

Available Seat Mile is a way of measuring airline seating capacity.

I recommend: The Learning Center at the Air Transport Association of America website offers an example to help calculate ASM. "Creating Value Through Corporate Restructuring” by Stuart Gilson gives even more information on the term, ASM.

Revenue Seat Miles, Revenue Passenger Miles (RPM)

The number of seats sold on a flight is how airlines calculate Revenue Seat Miles. It's also known as Revenue Passenger Miles.

I recommend: Avjobs.com defines Revenue Seat Miles in its airline glossary of terms. The Airline Data Project, opearted through MIT, also includes Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs) in its online glossary.

Air Traffic Liability (ATL)

Air Traffic Liability is an important key term for airline officials and even investors to know. It involves money the airline has collected, but service that has yet to be provided.

I recommend: JetBlue defines Air Traffic Liability under "Passenger Revenues."