{"id":1098,"date":"2020-01-24T08:30:44","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T07:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/?page_id=1098"},"modified":"2024-07-22T11:55:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T10:55:41","slug":"aerospace-and-aviation-career-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/aerospace-and-aviation-career-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Aerospace and Aviation Career Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ever dreamed of being a pilot? The aerospace and aviation sector is an exciting one to work in, even if you aren\u2019t interested in getting in the cockpit. There are roles in engineering, management, and general maintenance, as well as the potential to work as cabin crew for the large range of airlines operating globally. Airports and aviation companies often also require people for fundamental positions like HR, marketing, and management. This means that even if you don&#8217;t want to work as ground crew or an engineer, you can still get involved in this sector if it\u2019s one that interests you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Unlike many industries, the skills and qualifications you\u2019ll need to be successful here can vary greatly, depending on what role you&#8217;re aiming for. Training to be a pilot for, example, will generally take a lot longer than training to be cabin crew, and will have completely different requirements in terms of qualifications and skills. Even so, there are a few fundamental qualifications that can be useful to have whatever area you&#8217;re looking to focus on, as we&#8217;ll see.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Potential Roles in Aerospace and Aviation<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s hard to find any other sector that offers the sheer variety of experiences available compared to Aerospace and Aviation. From flying a plane to working on spacecraft, loading luggage or managing an airport here\u2019s an overview of some of the most popular roles in this sector:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Aerospace Engineer: A potentially very interesting role. Aerospace engineers can work on anything from passenger or commercial aeroplanes to missiles, and even spacecraft.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Aviation management: This can cover anything from managing an entire airport to running ground crew. Leadership, organisation, and communication skills are important for these kinds of roles.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Pilot: Fairly self-explanatory. Pilots often work for passenger airlines, but there is also a steady demand for commercial cargo pilots, as well as private pilots for helicopters and smaller aircraft. A trained helicopter pilot can also often find roles in public service industries like the police or air ambulance service.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cabin Crew: If you\u2019re great with customer service skills and enjoy travelling, being part of the cabin crew for a passenger airline can be a very rewarding job.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Air Traffic Controller: While this is probably one of the most stressful jobs out there, it\u2019s also arguably one of the most rewarding. An ideal role if you love fast-paced, exciting and challenging environments, and are confident in making decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Salary and Career Progression<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Potential earnings and career progression mainly depend on the kind of position and role you\u2019re working in. <strong>Pilots<\/strong> in the UK can earn around \u00a340k per year, but this can rise to \u00a3100,000 given the right experience and time flying.\u00a0 In the US pilots generally earn more than in the UK. The starting salary for an aircraft pilot in the US is around $85,000 per year. At the higher end of the salary scale, an experienced aircraft pilot can reach and exceed $500,000 per year. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>In the UK, <strong>cabin crew<\/strong> take home an average of \u00a328,000 per year, starting salary is approx. \u00a318,000 per year.\u00a0 The salary range for cabin crew members in the US is from $34,000 to $87,000 per year. The salary of a cabin crew member can vary depending on a number of factors, including the airline they work for, their experience, and their seniority. Cabin crew members who work for major airlines typically earn more than cabin crew members who work for regional airlines. It&#8217;s worth noting that while the average earnings for cabin crew are quite low, you often benefit from perks like free or heavily discounted flights.<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The salary of an <strong>air traffic controller<\/strong> can vary depending on a number of factors, including their experience, their seniority, and the location of their job. The salary range for air traffic controllers in the UK is from \u00a338,000 to \u00a388,000 per year and $90,000 to $160,000 per year in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ground crew and general airport staff<\/strong> earnings tend to be in the region of \u00a325,000 (UK) \/ $31,000 (US), but this can change based on the exact kind of role, and your experience and qualifications.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"\/explore\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/30273.jpg\" alt=\"Salary and Career Progression\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Qualifications, Education and Experience<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019re planning on some of the more advanced careers in the aviation industry, like piloting, air traffic control, or engineering, then you\u2019ll need at least:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Five GSCE\u2019s (UK), ideally Maths, English and Science ideally grade C or above \/ High school diplomas or equivalent (US)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Core subject A-Levels (UK) including Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry (and Geography for pilots) \/\u00a0 A bachelor&#8217;s degree in a relevant subject, such as aviation, mathematics or engineering. (US)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These qualifications are generally useful whatever career path you choose, so make for a good starting point in general, even if you decide to change career path at any point. Degree level education is required for many of these roles &#8211; especially when it comes to engineering and management. That said, it&#8217;s worth noting that trainee pilots can often move straight from A-level\/Diploma to flight training directly, via an airline cadet program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Skills<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Soft skills are important for any job in this sector, but especially when it comes to management and cabin crew roles. Being able to remain calm under pressure, or in stressful situations, are useful traits to have whether you&#8217;re scheduling flights or keeping passengers reassured during a delay. Having the following hard and soft skills then, are beneficial whatever role you&#8217;re aiming for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Customer service<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Concentration<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Attention to detail<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Problem-solving<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Decision making<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Flexibility<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Empathy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Communication<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Confidence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As is the case with qualifications for this sector, even if you don\u2019t directly need these skills for a particular role, they\u2019re still very useful to have in general.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Working Hours<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most roles in aviation, whether you\u2019re working as management, a pilot, or ground crew, will have fairly strenuous working hours. Given that airports are 24 hour operations, and that airlines operate across multiple time zones, you\u2019ll need to be ready to work everything from early mornings to nights, and almost everything in between.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There doesn&#8217;t tend to be any real flexibility, or options for remote working for most roles in aviation, as a result. Hours can be especially long for pilots and cabin crew due to jetlag, and there\u2019s a very high chance that you\u2019ll be working over weekends and public holidays, when airlines and airports are at their busiest. While part-time roles for cabin crew are sometimes available, they&#8217;re still quite demanding. If you\u2019re working as ground or aircrew, then it\u2019s also keeping in mind that hours can often change based on external factors like weather or mechanical faults.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"\/explore\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/3314.jpg\" alt=\"A plane parked on an airport runway, a common sight for airport ground crew.\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Notable Locations<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As well as five major locations in London, the UK has a total of 40 commercial airports. These range in size from the sprawling terminals of Heathrow, to the modest Land\u2019s End airport that provides daily services to the Isle of Scilly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Unsurprisingly London has the most opportunities, as it has the most airlines and airports. This does also mean it&#8217;s the most competitive location to try and find a job, of course. Other large cities, such as Birmingham and Manchester, are also busy travel hubs, so shouldn\u2019t be overlooked. Smaller regional and freight airports should also be considered if they fit your career goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The US has a large and ever growing aviation industry, which creates many job opportunities in airports across the country. There are over 19,000 airports in the United States, of which over 5,000 are designated as &#8220;public use&#8221;. Expect to find busy airports with job opportunities in all major cities. Some of the busiest airports in the world are in US cities, including Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Notable Companies<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A number of airlines and aerospace companies offering job opportunities from the UK and US include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">British Airways<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Easy Jet<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">BAE Systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Airbus<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ryanair<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jet 2<\/span><\/li>\n<li>American Airlines<\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">United Airlines<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Delta Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Boeing<\/li>\n<li>Southwest Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Lockheed Martin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h4\">Next Steps<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019re sure that a career in aviation is the one for you, then\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"\/signup\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">register with us now<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. You can create and upload your CV, and get up to date job alerts for the latest roles in the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you need additional help with CV writing, interview techniques, and more, then have a look through our\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"\/explore\/category\/guides\/jobseeker\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">jobseeker guides section in our blog<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, Explore. Good luck!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever dreamed of being a pilot? The aerospace and aviation sector is an exciting one to work in, even if you aren\u2019t interested in getting &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1100,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1098","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers","category-sectors"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1098"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3439,"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1098\/revisions\/3439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}