James Wynbrandt

With the first mission to bring material from the asteroid belt back to Earth underway, the longtime science-fiction staple of commercial asteroid prospecting and mining has put its “now hiring” sign out for tomorrow’s industry professionals, including those with “a solid background in orbital mechanics, asteroid astronomy, chemical engineering and patience,” says Dante Lauretta, of […]

Airline pilots, while maneuvering their aircraft, also navigate individual and unique career pathways. At AirlinePilot.life, the online forum’s creator, Chris Carey, and fellow airline pilot mentors get many questions from aspiring professional pilots and trainees about charting this flight plan. How do new hires go from reserve duty to flying a wide-body airliner on international […]

Opportunities for advancement in aviation and aerospace aren’t only for those within the industry, says executive recruiter Rod McDermott, whose firm is searching for professionals from unrelated fields interested in aviation and ready for a career change. “We have so many people passionate about aviation who make their living doing something else, and we want […]

Over the next two decades air carriers in North America will need 8,640 new airliners, according to a study Boeing released this summer, but the company’s research and other industry data indicate there won’t be enough pilots to operate them. “Historically the Boeing report has been incredibly spot on,” says Paul Templeton of PilotJobs.com, which […]

Airline pilots take various routes to the cockpit of their aircraft, but many experts agree the fastest and surest is through a full-time program focused on training pilots for airline careers. To be sure, getting the required ratings and flight experience may be expensive, but the real costs to consider, according to these experts, are […]

The salary and advancement opportunities are excellent, but what draws many FAA air traffic control specialists to their work is a passion for aviation, service and safety. “This is a career, not a job,” says Ian Lewis, a specialist at Southern California Tracon (terminal radar approach control) in San Diego. “When we walk through an […]

Global air travel trends and a wave of coming retirements are fueling an unprecedented demand for airline pilots that is already being felt. Regional carriers including Republic Airways, Cape Air and Horizon Air have had to cancel flights and cutback their schedules due to a shortage of pilots, and forecasts indicate the trend will accelerate. […]

Air-tour operators in the United States conduct sightseeing flights from Bar Harbor, Maine to Maui, and from Key West to northern Alaska. Dave Genet, proprietor of St. Augustine Biplane Rides in St. Augustine, Florida (KSGJ), established his business in 2012 with the goal of using historical aircraft — currently a 1935 Cabin Waco YOC — […]

A factory demonstration pilot, or “demo” pilot, travels the world, showcasing airplanes to prospective customers and their representatives. Manager of Textron Aviation’s ProOwnership program, Brandy Hearting — herself a former demo pilot for the company’s piston, turboprop and turbine products — hires pilots who may transition into these positions. She explains this exciting career. What […]

Airborne law enforcement (ALE) officers work within police and other agencies’ aviation units, using aircraft to conduct and assist operations, ranging from routine patrols to search-and-rescue (SAR). The Department of Justice estimates about 350 of the 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. use airborne assets daily, but many don’t disclose aircraft and personnel numbers […]