Post-secondary Aviation Education: Preparing Students to Manage Airports of the 21st Century

Abstract

Preparing for a successful career in airport management is a goal of many, but the dynamics of this industry are introducing complexities into aviation education. This article presents findings on the viewpoints of airport managers nationwide regarding the most appropriate fields of study, academic degrees, and aviation courses. Utilizing the 1996-97 AAAE Membership Directory and Yellow Pages of Corporate Members (American Association of Airport Executives, 1997), a written mail survey was sent to a nationwide random sample of 200 airport managers in January 1998. Results, which are presented using percentage distribution tables and descriptive statistics, show that the majority of airport managers view their career as challenging and interesting, consider management the most appropriate major field of study, consider airport administration and airport finance the most important aviation academic courses, and feel that a Bachelor’s degree, when combined with experience, is the highest-level academic degree preferred by employers.