From simple online aviation courses to full degree programs, online learning is here to stay.
Online Learning and the Aviation Industry
With the aviation industry being so dynamic, and representing one of the top contributors to economic growth in different countries, like India for example, aviation management courses online are now in high demand.
Of course, for the same reason, the number of online courses and programs offered is tremendous, so making the choice can be sometimes overwhelming. Yet, you do not have to worry, we have your back here, and we will help you have a better idea of how to make a more informed choice.
Organizations in the aviation industry demand professionals to have aviation management skills and technical knowledge. Therefore, aviation management courses open several paths in the aviation industry, including areas like:
– Airport management
– Airline management
– Air traffic controller
– Airport security management
– Safety inspections management
What’s more, aviation management courses will open the possibility to specialize in sub-areas that belong to the ones mentioned in the list above.
For example, this airline sales management course can help you get knowledge and skills to specialize in the sub-area of sales within an airline.
Aviation Management Courses Candidates – Eligibility
One of the most important things when deciding on the course you will take is considering the eligibility criteria of the program. Some programs, like university degree programs, can have very demanding criteria. On the other hand, there are some that require less of you to enroll while still offering high-quality content.
Also, in India, eligibility depends on the certification level awarded. So, the higher the certification level, the more demanding the criteria will be.
As a general rule, for candidates to get accepted in aviation management courses, they must meet the following:
– For a Bachelor’s course of three years, students with a minimum of 50% marks in their 12th can apply, no matter the streams they come from.
– For post-graduate courses, students with 50% of marks are mostly preferred, and there are different other criteria such as personal interviews, and group discussions.
Also, programs will require candidates to take entrance exams to guarantee they meet the minimum knowledge and skills required to complete the program: CAT, MAT, CMAT, SNAP, MET, GATE.
Another example could be the general criteria applied for programs in universities in the United States. Their requirements include:
– SAT or ACT scores (only some schools require them)
– High school diploma or GED equivalent
– Letters of recommendation
– Personal statement or essay
Common Degrees for a Path into Aviation Management
Most of the time, students prepare themselves to find career opportunities within the aviation industry by going to university and getting an aviation management certificate from a certificate program or by completing a Bachelor’s degree in an associated field of studies like aircraft maintenance engineering.
Some of the most common degrees for a path into aviation management include:
– BSc in airline and airport management
– BBA in airport management
– MBA in aviation management
– Certificate course in aviation safety management
– Certificate in safety management system for civil aviation
– Diploma in airlines, hospitality, and tourism management
Interestingly, some of the programs listed above are not necessarily offered by aviation institutions. For example, the BBA in airport management is offered by the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Dehradun, India.
Among the advantages of taking a full degree program, we can highlight that students can often go through flight training and get a commercial pilot license upon completion of the program together with financial management and other managerial skills.
However, you may not always need a full degree program to get the skills you need to improve your career opportunities, and other courses, like online aviation management courses, are easier to take from anywhere in the world. Therefore, now we will share some of the top online aviation management courses with you.
Business Management and Sales in the Aviation Industry
As happens in any other industry, business management and sales are very important aspects of aviation management. Organizations within the aviation industry need professionals with the knowledge and skills to deal with the business side of their operations in order to increase their sales and improve their profitability. Here are some online aviation management courses covering these aspects:
Digital Customer Relationship Management Strategies to Boost Direct Sales
This aviation management course offers the knowledge and skills necessary to optimize the customer journey to increase direct sales and additional revenue.
Moreover, students learn how to apply cutting-edge technology to achieve such optimization including CRM systems and big data.
Airline Sales Management: Sales Techniques to Increase Airline Revenues
This airline management course with a focus on sales is the perfect choice for those students trying to improve their skills to increase the revenues of their airline.
With the right techniques and strategies, the revenue can increase by 80% thanks to the integration of different departments within the organization, including sales, revenue management, network, and marketing teams.
Revenue Management – Demand in Crisis and Pricing for Recovery
A critical aspect of the business side of aviation management is managing the revenue of the organization, especially in times of crisis. The aviation industry is very dynamic, and the environment where airlines and other organizations operate is always changing.
Therefore, having the skills to forecast future demand changes and adjust to them based on historical data is essential for revenue management professionals.
Revenue Management Is Still in Play!
If you think aviation management courses can only be accessed by spending a lot of money, think again. The Revenue Management Is Still in Play is a free resource that will introduce you to the revenue management world.
In this interview, Dinaz Zaq, an expert in revenue management, shares her experiences on the most interesting projects so you can have a better idea about revenue management systems and the best practices for business to succeed.
Operations and Aviation Safety
Of course, aviation management would be meaningless if there were no operations to manage. Therefore, professionals with the right managerial skills to handle the operations within aviation, as well as the aerospace industry, are always in high demand. Moreover, civil aviation has the highest safety standards any industry can have, and for obvious reasons. As a result, online courses covering safety topics have become more relevant than ever. Here are some of the best operations and aviation safety online courses.
Air Cargo Management Basics
We cannot forget that aviation management is very vast, and it also covers the management of air cargo operations.
For anyone starting a career or transitioning to the air cargo segment, this course is the perfect introduction to understanding the fundamentals of air cargo operations and management, safety included. Air cargo is more than loading an aircraft and taking off, so understanding the challenges and how to face them is vital.
Safety Management System (SMS) Basic
Since safety is essential in the aviation industry, the Safety Management System (SMS) Basic course is the right choice for those professionals trying to support their organization in establishing an effective SMS to satisfy regulatory responsibilities while lowering accidents and incidents costs and rates.
Because this is a virtual class with live instructor-led sessions, the seating is limited, so do not forget to book a seat soon.
Safety Investigation Process and Management
Whenever there is an incident or accident in aviation, there must be an investigation to understand what caused the event and how it can be avoided in the future. Moreover, safety investigations are often carried out internally, but with major events, state authorities will conduct investigations to apply the corresponding aviation law.
Therefore, understanding the protocols surrounding the process of investigation, how to manage a safety investigation in your own organization, and being aware of the responsibilities and entitlements when authorities conduct the investigations are essential for any airline investigator. This course will provide the students with the knowledge and skills required based on ICAO protocols and guidelines.
Safety Management System (SMS) Implementation
Airline and airport management involves implementing an effective Safety Management System to improve risk management as well as building a proactive safety culture within the organization. This way, regulatory responsibilities will be covered and expectations can even be exceeded.
Therefore, this course offers students the possibility to learn how to navigate the different phases and steps as well as the skills required to manage the workload associated with the implementation of the system.
This is another virtual class, so book a seat for the upcoming session and gain invaluable knowledge from an industry expert.
Safety Management System for Ground Handling Service Providers
Ground handling services include operations such as passenger and cargo handling, cleaning, towing, refueling, and catering. Therefore, ground handling service providers represent an essential component of the aviation industry and key contributors to the safety of airline and airport operations.
Consequently, ground staff will have better performance while benefiting from an effective Safety Management System (SMS), thus making this online aviation course very relevant for any professional working in the area. From understanding safety policies to performing hazard analysis and reporting, the students will gain all the knowledge and skills required to comply with the requirements of airlines and airports from this virtual class with Paul Fleming, an aviation safety training expert.
State Safety Programme for Director Generals and Senior Managers by the UK CAA
As the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the Uk states, “the Civil Aviation Authority’s Director General and Senior Managers within CAA’s including Accident Investigation Authorities and Government Aviation Departments have a vital role to play in an effective State Safety Programme (SSP).” Therefore, this very specialized course focuses on the State Safety Programme applied in the UK and helping senior managers understand their role and responsibilities in it.
While very specific, if you are a senior manager with functional operations in the UK, this might be a good course for you.
Leadership and Communication Skills
For any airline or airport manager, leadership and communication are critical skills to develop their job roles. However, not every undergraduate course prepares professionals to be leaders and communicate well, so online aviation courses that cover these topics can open up more job opportunities. Here are two online aviation courses that cover both leadership and communication.
From Change Management to Leading Change
Aviation is a very dynamic industry that demands constant change and adaptation from its main players. This means every organization within the industry needs people with the right skills to lead those changes to achieve the desired evolution.
These are people who can see beyond processes models and plans to focus on the individual, collective and social aspects of change in the workplace.
To help them become those kind of people, this course provides students the abilities to create the proper environment for change and transformation initiatives.
Leaders and Effective Communications – 5 Skills and 3 Mandates to Achieve Excellence
Effective communication is the number one skill for a successful leader in any industry. However, in aviation management it is especially important due to many stakeholders who need to be constantly engaged, motivated and valued.
Therefore, knowing which communication skills you need to have or improve is of utmost importance of any senior manager in aviation.
This course was crafted together with Hector Sandoval, an effective leadership specialist and an ex-chief-people-officer for Spanair, in order to provide you with the 5 most vital skills and 3 mandated to achieve an in-depth understanding of what effective communication is.
Aviation Leadership and Management Skills Development by Sofema Aviation Services
This is a 1-day course focused on communication and assertiveness, two of the main skills any leader should develop. The idea of the course is to help managers at the senior level to develop the skills required to lead while they oversee and maintain EASA Compliant approvals.
Now that we have covered some of the most relevant courses in the most relevant areas of aviation management, we want to help you answer some of the most frequent questions people ask regarding aviation management courses, especially those offered in online mode.
Aviation Management Online Courses FAQs
Defining one single course as the best is a very difficult, if not impossible, task. The truth is that it all depends on what your ultimate goal is after taking the course.
For example, if you want to actually fly aircraft but also want to have the opportunity to transition into job roles offered in the management areas, the best course for you may be one also offering you the opportunity of obtaining a commercial pilot license.
This is very similar to the previous one, so again, it depends on what you want to achieve. Perhaps an aviation hospitality certificate may be a good idea if you want to be part of the cabin crew or an air host. But if you want to work at an airport, it may be a good idea to get an air traffic control certificate, or a ground staff certificate.
The duration of aviation management courses is widely variable. As you can see above, there are courses that may be completed in one day, and full degree programs can take 3 to 4 years.
There may be different ways to get an airport management certificate. However, the level of the certificate may be different from one program to another. For example, in India, you could obtain an airport management certificate from a university like the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Dehradun, but you could also get a certificate from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai.
We might be biased, but we must say that aviation management courses are more than worth the money and effort. The training you get will definitely open you doors all around the world. You will be matching the job profiles top recruiters are trying to find. What’s more, thanks to e-learning, you can take your course from anywhere in the world. And you can do it parallel to work if you have already started your career.
Moreover, the pay is not bad either. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, aviation management salaries go from an average of $44,300 a year at the roles of transportation security screeners to a whopping $185,950 a year for chief executive roles.
A general aviation management certificate can take you to different roles and different organizations within the aviation industry. From working for a small airline like Westjet or Easy Jet to working for a big airline like Air Canada, Lufthansa, or Qatar Airways, or busy airports like London Heathrow or Dallas Fortworth, the roles are almost endless.
Also, more specific certificates can offer interesting opportunities. Perhaps aviation hospitality can get you a position as a cabin crew, but also you could be working as the top manager of a ground handling services provider if you get a certificate in that specific area.