Another way to ask this question would be "How do I become an Airport Planner?".
Based on my experience, Airport Planners broadly come from 3 kinds of academic/professional backgrounds:
1. Engineering and Construction - Civil Engineering, Construction etc.
2. Urban Planning - Geography
3. Aviation/Operations - people who aspired to become pilots or were previously from Airport operations
OMG! thanks for posting this up! Now to hear some stories of people who are doing Geography programs who are aspiring to go to urban planning school like myself!
ReplyDeleteChantha, I used to think that Airport Planners came from engineering or construction backgrounds because that was my background and the few airport planners I knew back then came from civil engineering backgrounds. Then I met planners from an airport operations background which expanded my view. Then I met those from urban planning backgrounds. Airport Planning is multi-faceted and it all depends on what is happening at the airport you are associated with. I even know an airport planner with a physics background. I guess you can say an Airport Planner is a combination of engineering, airport operations and urban planning/zoning. AP
DeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteThis blog is awesome!!! I am a USAF Airfield Manager. I currently have 13 years in, with 17 to go. Upon military retirement, I would love to work as an airport planner. I have an abundance of educational opportunities and would like to solicit your expertise and advise. I'll throw one obstacle at you however, being in the military, staying in one location is impossible. Therefore, an online education is about all that's practical for me.
I really wanted to go the engineering route, but online engineering programs are very rare, and from what I hear, very difficult. I still have an important full time job to do, so I've accepted the fact that this route is for me. Here are three options that I think may help me, would you evaluate them for me?
Option 1: Obtain a Professional Aeronautics bachelor degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). Next, I really wanted to do the Airport Planning, Design, and Development Masters certificate, and then obtain a Masters of Aeronautical Science with a focus on Aviation Operations. With my Airfield Manager experience, I hope to land an entry to mid-level airport planning job.
Option 2: This one is more interesting to me, but not so sure about how beneficial it will be... Obtain a Transportation bachelor degree from ERAU, and continue on with my Masters degree plans as in option 1.
Option 3: All the same as Option 2 with the following exception. Obtain a PAB accredited masters degree from any online provider. I would still like to obtain the masters certificate in Airport Planning, Design, and Development.
Obviously, there are potentially more options, and I'm willing to entertain any of them. I would very much appreciate it if you could give me some advise and counseling.
Thank you for your time.
Clint
Hi Clint,
DeleteApologies for the very delayed reply. I just realized this week that you and Chantha had commented on my blog. Thanks for appreciating my blog. In the American aviation community, Embry-Riddle is recognized widely and it's helpful that they are geared towards people from the US Armed Forces. so my opinion is do something with ERAU. I'm not fully familiar with the ERAU options. I personally would go for whatever interests me more. That said, the Transportation Bachelor degree might not have even airport/aviation ops in it for you to get the theoretical foundation that you will need so you will have to do a Masters with a focus on that. My thinking is that you need to have a theoretical framework and then you need to get airport planning experience. My personal opinion is that airport planning is like an apprenticeship. Anyway, as a USAF Airfield manager, you are probably well positioned to meet with airport planners/engineers during the rest of your USAF career. You probably can chat with them or volunteer for some assignments when your base undergoes expansion or redevelopment works. Plus you get to see multiple airfields. Anyway, this is my 2 cents worth for now. Good luck. AP