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Locate information on airline personnel education and training basics

It always helps to be familiar with industry standards. Locate updated information to help you determine which personnel training is of necessity to expand in accordance to industry standards.

I recommend: Subscribe to Airline Industry Today, a premier news channel for the airline industry. Sign up with Pilot Journey to receive newsletters. Request a free “Let’s Go Flying” DVD from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Purchase "Taking Flight: Education and Training for Aviation Careers" from The National Academies Press.

Gather information on airline personnel education and training programs

There are several programs available that can serve you in the area of airline personnel education and training. When gathering information on the various programs, make note of the course description, length of the course, costs and location of institutions. Find out if a discount package is available for businesses.

I recommend: Request information for several types of schools through Aviation Schools Online. Get free information on aviation schools from the Help Center at The CollegeBound Network. Pan Am International Flight Academy offers a variety of airline personnel training programs.

Choose an appropriate program, contact an institution and enroll airline personnel

As you decide which programs are appropriate for you and your staff, consider your budget and determine if you want to train on-site, online or on the grounds of the training institution. Contact the institution or institutions of your choice and work out the details.

I recommend: Inflight Institute offers a complete online airline training program. Review courses offered at International Airline Training Academy, a renowned flight training facility in Arizona. Dangerous Goods International offers classroom, on-site and online courses in fields related to the transportation of dangerous goods.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Airline personnel education and training can be expensive. Create a personnel education and training rotation plan. This way, all staff members can get necessary training without straining the company budget.

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Look at statistics before starting your search for airline personnel education programs

Before you choose to pursue a career in the airline personnel industry, look at some of the statistics on the field.

I recommend: Look at the careers that airline training has to offer on Careers in Aviation has to offer. Take a flight attendant pre-qualification test at AirlineCareer.com. They also offer a comprehensive Who's Hiring chart. Also look at the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics on pursuing a flight attendant career. College Board also offers information on being a flight attendant.

Use an airline personnel education search engine

Instead of using Google or Yahoo, look to search engines specifically designed to give you information by training such as airline personnel education programs.

I recommend: Look at the Aviation School Guide from the CollegeBound Network. At Best Aviation you can find programs in flight school training, helicopter training, flight attendant careers, as well as aircraft maintenance and aviation collegiate programs.

Look at private airline service education programs

Instead of a four year college degree program, consider airline personnel schools that concentrate on airline training only.

I recommend: Precision Aviation offers flight training. The Airline Transport Professionals program also another of the flight training schools.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking at airline service education programs, ask to speak with both their faculty and their students. A school may be ranked as one of the best airline service education programs, but if their students don't feel that the experience has been rewarding for them, you might reconsider the school or program itself.
• •  Look for scholarship opportunities through the learning institution of your choice, as well as through local and statewide programs. If you are continuing your education, there are also many scholarship opportunities available for that, too.

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Locate low-budget airline personnel training programs

Although there are plenty of high-cost airline personnel training programs on the market, there are a few moderately priced ones, as well. Aviation professionals can learn about moderate-to-low cost programs by reviewing airline industry periodicals, conducting internet searches or by attending airline personnel seminars. Enrolling in airline service education programs that offer low-budget training courses can result in significant savings.

I recommend: Eagle Jet International offers a variety of advanced flight training programs, with some priced fairly reasonably. While 300 hours of training for a Boeing 747 will cost you over $40,000, 100 hours in a smaller aircraft will set you back under $10,000. King Schools offers aviation training courses through interactive videos for under $50 each.

Leave room in the budget for non-pilot airline personnel training

When planning your airline's personnel training, don't just think about the pilots. Airline dispatchers play a key role in the airline industry, as do flight attendants.

I recommend: World Airline Dispatcher Schools offers both 200- and 80-hour courses to prepare students to earn their FAA Aircraft Flight Dispatcher certificate. Both run under $5,000 and the tuition includes course materials. Become a member of AirlineCareer.com for under $100, and study online to earn a Certificate of Achievement in flight attendant training. Though most airlines train their own flight attendants, this certificate will put employees ahead of the game. Aircraft maintenance technicians can get continuing education required for their FAA certification by taking online courses through AMTSociety for $49.

Seek financial assistance for airline service education programs

University flight programs can cost between $120,000 to $180,000. Some flight schools, however, do offer financial assistance. Locate and research airline personnel schools or programs that offer loans, grants and scholarship opportunities.

I recommend: AVSchools provides valuable information concerning student aid opportunities. Pilot Finance offers financing for part-time flight training. Delta Connection Academy offers several sources that can help finance a training program. AVScholars provides a listing of several scholarship opportunities geared towards aviation training. LangaAir offers several loan options.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Implementing the costs of airline personnel education and training into your already tight budget can be tremendous. It may be beneficial to seek the help of a professional financial consultant to help you implement a successful plan. Some training facilities offer consulting services as well as an array of training programs.

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Air traffic control

Air traffic control ensures the safe operation of commercial and private aircraft, as well as the smooth operation of air travel.

I recommend: Learn more about the air traffic control system and what it takes to become an air traffic controller through Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Outlook Handbook."

Aeronautical technologist

Aeronautical technologists use their skills to help with the design and manufacturing of aircraft.

I recommend: Learn what it takes to become an Aeronautical Technologist through SchoolsintheUSA.com.

Collegiate training

Collegiate training refers to aviation education and training obtained at post-secondary institutions, such as two- and four-year colleges, vocational-technical schools or other specialized schools. Collegiate training is the major method of training for certified aviation maintenance technicians, and is soon likely to become an equally important training route for pilots.

I recommend: "Taking Flight" by the National Academies Press covers collegiate training for the aviation industry in detail.

Aircraft maintenance

Aircraft maintenance ensures that all necessary airline equipment is in good working order before an aircraft goes into operation. Each airline's maintenance program must be approved by the FAA.

I recommend: Understand what aircraft maintenance entails through Air Transport Association's Airline Handbook. To see the section on aircraft maintenance, scroll down half the page.

FAA ratings

FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration. FAA ratings are certain regulations established by the FAA for operating aircraft or a facility where air traffic is practiced or learned. Yearly inspections must be passed by airports to maintain FAA rating.

I recommend: Learn more about FAA ratings and requirements at PilotFriend.com.

Type rating

Type rating means that a pilot has demonstrated the necessary academic expertise and aeronautical skills to captain a particular airplane. Without type ratings a pilot cannot fly an aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds.

I recommend: Learn about type ratings and type rating requirements through RisingUp.