Mentorship and Sponsorship: A Direct Way for Pilots to Learn and Give Back

There are several types of mentors and sponsorship to choose from. Here are some that might work for you.

Michael Wildes

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 08:25 AM ET

Verified

Mentorship can take different forms. [File Photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The article emphasizes that direct mentorship and sponsorship are crucial for career development in aviation, highlighting sponsorship as active advocacy that is vital for professional progression and securing opportunities.
Effective mentorship can come in various forms, including learning from a "Master of the Craft," collaborating with a "Co-pilot" peer, gaining perspective from an "Anchor" outside the industry, and engaging in "Reverse Mentorship" by learning from younger professionals.
Mentors can be found through diverse avenues within the aviation industry, such as flight schools, trade shows, regional groups, and formal programs like ALPA-ACE or the FAA's 'mentor pilot' initiative.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Much has been made about the importance of outreach programs in helping to encourage young professionals to enter the industry.

All of that is very good, and I suspect very few people object to such programs. I regularly meet people who express their desire to give back to their communities and are looking to join established outreach programs. While they look for the right fit, there is one more direct route that aviation professionals and pilots can take to shape the career of others, and it is through mentorship. More specifically, it is through mentorship and sponsorship.