A few weeks ago, I wrote about how to earn your pilot’s license! But if you decide that becoming a pilot isn’t for you, but still are interested in the industry, there are plenty other options. The aerospace industry is fast-moving, and jobs are in high demand. Here are six aviation careers for non-pilots that are great ways to get involved in the industry of flight.
Unless otherwise stated, all statistics are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Flight Attendant
Flight attendants have a very important job on board an aircraft, and it’s not just to serve drinks!! These highly-trained individuals are required to be familiar with all of the safety features of their aircraft. In an emergency scenario, they are responsible for the safety of all of the passengers onboard. During normal operations, they provide for both the comfort and safety of passengers in flight.
These roles are usually based at the airlines’ hub cities, but of course involve a lot of travel! Full-time flight attendants can be expected to spend 75-100 hours per month flying, in addition to on-ground responsibilities. It can take some time and experience to build up your career to a point where you get to pick where you want to travel for work (flight attendants use a seniority-based bidding system to pick routes), but you can find yourself visiting tons of new destinations. You may even discover a hidden gem of a city that you never expected to love.
Demand for flight attendants is expected to rise 30% in the next eight years, so if you’re looking to jump into this role, the time is right! A flight attendant role requires a high school diploma or GED and at least 1-2 years of experience in a service or hospitality role. The median salary for flight attendants was $59,220 as of 2020, plus additional benefits.
Air Traffic Controller
Air Traffic Controllers either work at airports’ control towers, or at one of 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs or “Centers”) across the country. They are responsible for keeping flights moving safely from origin to destination. There are a variety of roles to get flights from point to point, starting on the ground at the origin airport (ground control), through takeoff (tower), departing the area of the airport (departure), en route (Center), entering the area of the destination (approach), landing (tower), and parking (ground).
Controllers use a variety of tools to track aircraft, ranging from the latest ADS-B GPS tracking to radar to good old-fashioned binoculars. They are highly trained to know the airspace they control, the rules of the sky, capabilities and restrictions of different airplanes, aircraft routing tools, and radio communication skills. Keeping aircraft safely separated and moving towards their destination on-time is both a critical role and big responsibility.
American air traffic controllers work for the Federal Aviation Administration, a government organization, but are also unionized. To become an air traffic controller, you’ll need either a bachelor’s degree (preferably in an aerospace-related field — some schools even have specialized Air Traffic Management degree programs) or at least three years of work experience with increasing responsibility, and be below 31 years of age. Becoming a controller is competitive, but once you do, it can be a very lucrative profession! The median salary for air traffic controllers was $135,560 as of 2020.
A&P Mechanic
Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics are the specialized mechanics who keep planes in the sky. With certified training in aviation upkeep, including engine repair, becoming an A&P mechanic can be a great option for a person who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty but still loves things that fly. They are permitted to perform repairs on aircraft ranging from simple oil changes to major structural repairs and engine overhauls.
While turning the wrenches and making things happen may be the most exciting part of the job, there are other important responsibilities as well. Certified A&P mechanics also are required to perform detailed inspections of aircraft, and to keep detailed maintenance records of everything that is done. There are plenty of opportunities for career advancement though, both on the maintenance side and the inspection side — this is far from a dead-end career! There’s a great article with more details here.
A&Ps are needed pretty much everywhere planes are, so your local airport, even smaller general aviation airports, will almost certainly have opportunities. To become an A&P mechanic, you must complete an FAA-certified program, including certification exam. This will provide you with the appropriate certificate, similar to a pilot’s certificate. The median salary for an A&P mechanic was $66,440 in 2020, but salaries range widely depending on your qualifications.
Dispatcher
Aircraft dispatchers are the behind-the-scenes operators that make air travel happen. They plan routes, monitor weather, file flight plans, and provide pilots with all the information they need to fly. They can be thought of as “pilots on the ground,” coordinating flights from before engine start to final parking and consistently communicating with the pilots on board.
These masters of logistics must be cool and comfortable working in quickly evolving scenarios depending on weather, airport conditions, aircraft availability, and a myriad of other factors. They make critical go/no-go decisions based on a constant stream of information from many different sources. In addition, they must clearly communicate and explain those decisions to pilots, airports, supervisors, and the general public. Being a dispatcher is a great responsibility and a critical role in keeping the skies safe.
Aircraft dispatchers, being in a safety-critical role, must be certified by the FAA. Candidates must complete at least 200 hours of topical training, including meteorology, aircraft performance, and aeronautical decision making. There are also practical, oral, and written exams, similar to a pilot’s checkride. The median salary for an aircraft dispatcher is $56,975 as of 2022.
Meteorologist
Understanding the weather is one of the most critical things about aviation, so aviation meteorologists have important jobs. They interpret raw data from radar, satellites, ground stations, and other plenty of other sources to put together an accurate weather forecast for pilots and dispatchers. This includes not just rain and clouds, but also wind, turbulence, and plenty of other factors. The data they provide is used to inform many critical decisions that affect aviation safety.
Like many other roles in aviation, there is a science component and a communication component to meteorology. Conveying the information is just as important as interpreting it! The role is also just as important before a flight takes off as when it’s aloft, because the weather sometime eludes even the most experienced forecasters. Weather can change very quickly, and it’s up to the meteorologists to convey the most current information to the pilots and dispatchers.
To become a meteorologist, a bachelor’s degree in meteorology is a necessity. This degree program will not only include classes on interpreting weather patterns, but also on physics and computer programming in order to be able to use and interpret the most current tools. Meteorologists can work for the government through NOAA, or for private companies, including airlines. The median salary for meteorologists (not aviation-specific) was $99,740 in 2020.
Air Marshal
The Federal Air Marshal service is a branch of the Transportation Security Administration which provides covert security to the flying public, both on the ground and in flight. Air marshals are elite, armed law enforcement agents who work undercover to protect the skies from threats of criminal activity and terrorism. You may have flown on a flight with an air marshal on board, but you’d never know it.
Air Marshals travel a lot — nearly every other day. They’re dispatched to certain flights to protect the passengers, crew, and plane from any threats. They fly both domestically and internationally and are required to be constantly vigilant, keeping their steady, trained eye out for any suspicious or potentially dangerous activity. They aren’t permitted to sleep, even on long-haul flights.
It requires a significant amount of training to become an air marshal. A bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or a related field is highly recommended, as is prior experience in law enforcement. Once accepted as a candidate, you’ll go through a rigorous 16-week training program designed to prepare you for the high-pressure environments you may be deployed to, as well as an additional 43-day advanced training session. The average salary for a Federal Air Marshal is $65,906 as of 2022.
Conclusion
It takes many different roles to make the all of the logistics of flight come together. If you’re looking for a career in aviation but you’re not interested in becoming a pilot, there are still plenty of opportunities!