• Aviation Maintenance: Scheduled maintenance, repairs, and inspections are a part of aviation maintenance to ensure that an airplane is in peak operating condition.
• Aviation Management: The operations of aviation businesses are handled by an aviation manager, which can include management of aircraft maintenance, airport personnel, or aviation design.
• Pilot: Cargo and passengers are transported by pilots in either airplanes or helicopters.
• Flight Instruction: Students interested in becoming a pilot are taught by flight instructors in ground-school courses, dual-controlled helicopters or planes, and through flight simulators. Flight instructors can also fly with other pilots to ensure proficiency in those pilots.
• Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft, spacecraft, and even missiles are designed, tested, and supervised by aerospace engineers, and new technologies can be generated in this specialization.

• Associate Degree: Completed in 2 years
• Bachelor's Degree: Completed in 4 years
• Master's Degree: Completed in 1.5 to 3 years
• Doctoral Degree: Completed in 3 to 5 years

There are some careers in aviation technology that only require a high school diploma, but as the technology becomes more sophisticated, an individual interested in a career in aviation technology should, at a minimum, obtain an associate degree. Along with aviation technology, students should also study mathematics, physics, computer science, and mechanical drawing, which are all helpful in this industry.

Careers such as aviation maintenance, inspection, service technician, and some pilot positions require an associate degree to be employed in that area of aviation technology. Those interested in working for major airlines as a pilot, aviation engineer, or in the managerial realm should acquire a bachelor's degree. If an individual is interested in aviation engineering, they should specialize in engineering. Master's and doctoral degrees in aviation technology allow students to further specialize in aviation or begin working on research projects that may explore new technologies and test those designs.

Aviation engineer programs should be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Also, pilots and aviation maintenance workers must be licensed by the FAA before they can begin flying or maintaining aircraft. Pilots must have a specific amount of flight experience and pass a physical examination to become licensed by the FAA. Aviation maintenance workers, inspectors, and technicians also need to a certain amount of experience to apply for power plant or air frame certification while also taking continuing education courses to keep certificates valid. (BLS)

Engineers in training must pass the Fundamentals in Engineering exam upon graduation from a four-year college. Once enough work experience has been completed, the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam can then be completed, which leads to licensure. Graduates should check with their state board for exact licensing requirements.

The salary options in aviation vary with the educational level obtained, experience, and the area of aviation technology employed in as all distinguishing factors of salary. Aviation mechanics, inspectors, and service technicians annual mean salary is $47,443. The annual mean salary for commercial pilots is $65,340, and it is $92,520 for aviation engineers. Along with their annual salaries, those employed in an aviation technology career can also receive health and life insurance plans, retirement options, and free or reduced fare for themselves and their families on many airlines. Also, many careers in aviation technology have unions for their particular specialty. (BLS)

Aviation technology careers are projected to increase at an average rate when compared to other occupations. Maintenance workers, inspectors, and service technicians are expected to increase seven percent from 2008 to 2018 and has been determined favorable by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An increase of 11 percent is expected for aviation engineers. Pilot careers are expected to grow 12 percent and are categorized as a good job opportunity. Low-cost and regional airports are projected to do the most hiring of pilots in this time frame. (BLS); (BLS)

There are a variety of engineering careers that require academic degrees and certification exams similar to aviation technology engineering requirements. The most related engineering career is in materials engineering; along with mathematics and engineering courses, subjects in physical and life sciences and design are also crucial for a career in materials engineering. 

The skills acquired in aviation maintenance careers can also be applied to other vocational careers. Rather than inspecting, maintaining, and repairing aircraft, automotive service technicians and mechanics conduct all those tasks on automobiles. Subjects that should be studied when pursuing a career in automotive service mechanics or as a service technician include electronics, physics, mathematics, computers, and automotive repair. (BLS)