Professional Organizations

As an aspiring aviation professional, it will be important to hold membership in aviation organizations throughout my career.   Professional organizations provide an arena for networking and transmission of input and ideas among fellow professionals and industry members.   While still having the desire to to become an airline pilot, it will be crucial to become a member of the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA).  Additionally, as a pilot and aviation enthusiast, membership in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is important.

Airline Pilot Association, International is dedicated to promoting and championing aviation safety throughout the aviation community.   ALPA also provides the critical function of representing the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation. Promoting the health and welfare of members before governmental agencies and advocating for the airline piloting profession by using all forms of media with the public at large are the remaining goals of ALPA.  As a potential future airline pilot, it will be nice to be a member of an organization that will promote my interests as an airline pilot.  Additionally, I will be able get involved in aspects of ALPA such as safety and contract negotiations that will further my professional career.  By belonging to this organization, I will receive the benefits of being represented by a strong pilot group and also be able to get involved professionally to advance my career.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is an organization dedicated to protecting the freedom to fly.  AOPA does this by advocating on behalf of members, education of pilots and policy makers, supporting activities that ensure the health of general aviation, and fighting to keep general aviation accessible to all.  For me, it is important to be a member of AOPA due to my love of general aviation.  Additionally, every pilot must be a part of general aviation on their way to becoming an airline pilot.  This means that we must maintain a healthy general aviation industry to have a healthy airline industry.   I plan on being a part of general aviation my entire career and will benefit from belonging to this organization by utilizing all of the tools and benefits it has to offer.  Education is provided in many ways through magazines, videos and online portals.  A good pilot is always learning.  Most importantly, being a member helps AOPA effectively advocate for my interests as a member pilot therefore protecting the aviation industry.

Belonging to professional aviation organizations is a sign of someone that enjoys being immersed in their chosen career field and proves invaluable in numerous ways both professionally and personally.

Professionalism...A Must in Any Industry

My career aspirations are to excel within the sales organization at Cessna Aircraft Company.  More specifically, I would like to hold a position as a Regional Sales Director for the single engine product line. The Cessna Aircraft Company is a general aviation aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. The company is best known for its small, single engine aircraft, but also produces a wide offering of business jets. The diverse product line ranges from the most widely produced training aircraft in history, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, to the world's fastest business jet, the Citation X.  The company employs approximately 8000 employees and is a subsidiary of Textron Corporation, the parent company of Bell Helicopter, Beechcraft, and McAuley Propellers among others. Take a look at the full product line here.

Cessna Aircraft Models

As a Single Engine Regional Sales Director, I would be responsible for coordinating and accommodating all single engine aircraft sales in a select region of the United States. To support the sale of aircraft, I would be responsible to coordinate, and sometimes fly, aircraft demonstration flights. Additional job duties would include researching and identifying potential customers, preparing customer specific presentations, and overseeing regional sales from initial contact through contract signing and aircraft delivery.

                Safety and liability concerns would definitely exist within my chosen job. Due to the fact that this role involves flying single engine aircraft, risks are unavoidable. In fact, meeting customer demands and ensuring that an aircraft is available for demonstration when it is convenient for the customer provides added pressure to complete a flight. Additionally, single engine aircraft are more susceptible to hazards such as thunderstorms and icing, therefore precautions need to be taken. During a demonstration flight, safety is at risk due to the desire to please the customer by explaining aircraft features and answering questions. Catering to the customer during the flight could avert the attention of the pilot flying the aircraft causing a lack of situational awareness. There are several ways to mitigate these safety concerns. Following established company operating limitations, and remembering that safety is the number one priority in aviation will help. Straightforward and thorough communication with customers about weather circumstances will help them to become more understanding of the risks associated with the flight and the occasional inability to have the aircraft available for demonstration. Finally, before a demonstration flight, explaining to the customer that I will demonstrate and answer questions as much as possible, but the safety of the flight is the number one priority. Offering to answer additional questions on the ground will allow the customer to understand that flying the airplane should be the number one priority.

Professionalism is important in any industry, but critical in aviation. In my opinion, displaying the ability to understand and communicate safety concerns as well as follow established training, safety, and company procedures even when nobody is watching is key to being a professional.   In the Frontline documentary “Flying Cheap” professionalism was not upheld in a number of ways by both the crew of Colgan 3407, Colgan pilots, and airline management.  First and foremost, professionalism was liked by airline management by inadequately upholding safety standards, and regularly pressuring pilots to take risks such as weather, and by pushing the envelope of duty times on a regular basis. Offering to adjust flight logs to remain within the regulations and discouraging pilots to claim fatigue is a clear lack of management professionalism.   A culture among pilots to regularly push the boundaries such as altering weight and balance data demonstrates a lack of professionalism. Finally, the crew of flight 3407 showed a lack of professionalism by arriving to work fatigued, and flying when ill, among other things.

                When I achieve my goal of becoming a Regional Sales Director, I will maintain professionalism by holding myself accountable for high personal standards of both safety and job performance. This includes maintaining integrity, following the rules, and avoiding unnecessary risks. Clear communication and expertise are the tools necessary to uphold the professionalism necessary in my future position. Although opportunities to deviate from expected standards exist and seem convenient in any position, a true professional does things the right way and that is always the safe way.