Professional Aviation Organizations

Belonging to an aviation organization, whether you are employed or not, is a very helpful networking tool in the industry. I often hear my fellow students talking about Alpha Eta Rho and how the fraternity has been able to do so much and go so many places. Too often, people don’t join organizations primarily because of the invested time you need to be involved, and the fees associated. However, professional organizations as you become involved within the aviation field as an active employee can create even more opportunities for your professional future. I am not a member of Alpha Eta Rho, and it is probably my biggest regret while being an aviation student here at Eastern. Networking is the single most powerful marketing tactic to accelerate and sustain success for any individual or organization. Relationships are the catalyst for success. People do business with those they like and trust. Serve as a resource, help others succeed. Networking provides the most productive, most proficient and most enduring tactic to build relationships. To succeed you must continually connect with new people, cultivate emerging relationships and leverage your network (SBN, 2011).

According to Embry-Riddle’s website, there is a generous list of various different organizations a professional aviation member, enthusiast, or what-have-you. The list ranges from mechanics, to business administrators, to pilots (Professional Organizations, 2015). One of the professional organizations I found on that particular list to be of an interest to me was the National Weather Association. The National Weather Association hosts scholarships and grants, events, produces publications like the Journal of Operational Meteorology, Electronic Journal, Newsletter, and Digest, and has a special section on their websites for jobs. As a current aspiring dispatcher, weather is an active part of that field; as is with the entire aviation field. Straight from their website, the National Weather Association explains what they’re all about: “The NWA is a member-led, all inclusive, 501(c)6 non-profit, professional association supporting and promoting excellence in operational meteorology and related activities since 1975. Members have many opportunities to share information, news, studies and concerns related to operational meteorology and related activities through committee work, submitting correspondence or articles to NWA publications such as the Newsletter and the Journal of Operational Meteorology, making presentations or leading workshops at the Annual Meetings, helping to maintain and add information to the NWA website, and to network with great people in a wide variety of careers (from well-known senior professionals to weather enthusiasts). Members join together on many outreach education/training initiatives to students, users of weather information, and the general public. Members also have the opportunity to volunteer for many leadership positions in the organization. Weather Broadcasters have the opportunity to earn the NWA Radio and Television Weathercaster Seals of Approval. The NWA also sponsors an Annual Awards program to recognize excellence, college scholarships, grants to K-12 teachers and other programs. Membership fees provide full voting membership, monthly NWA Newsletters, Journal of Operational Meteorology articles, reduced registration fees at NWA Annual Meetings and much more” (National Weather Association, 2015).

Following the NWA, I found the Airline Dispatchers Federation. The Airline Dispatchers Federation is the only national organization representing the professional interests of the dispatch profession. ADF's constituency is comprised of licensed aircraft dispatchers and operational control professionals from 100 aerospace companies including every major U.S. airline. ADF's membership at the end of 2009 stood at 1500 members.  It has been estimated that approximate 92% of airline passengers traveling each day in the United States, do so under the watchful eye of ADF members. The ADF is an all-volunteer organization (all working dispatchers) and in accordance with our bylaws is an advocacy organization for working dispatchers and not a labor organization (Dispatcher, 2014).

Moreover, I discovered an organization called Aviation Health. Health Aviation Health (AH) was founded in 1996 by Farrol Kahn at the suggestion of Professor Sir David Weatherall, Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford. The AH is the world's first independent non-profit body dealing with aviation health issues. Registered Company No. 5421929. It has three aims, research, education and prevention. The first medical director was Air Commondore A.N. Nicholson, Commandant of the Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine, who was seconded by the Ministry of Defense. The Director is Farrol Kahn, who is a medical author and has written several books on aviation medicine and health. The objectives of the AH are to investigate the effects of flying on the health of passengers and on the course of common diseases; to promote awareness and prevention of such conditions, so as to increase the productivity of frequent flyers. They provide an invaluable, independent source of reference, information and comment on aviation health issues. It also encourages airlines and passengers to take action to address the problems. AH is concerned with four public health issues. It also promotes appropriate preventative measures such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), air quality in-flight, cosmic radiation, and in-flight medical incidents (Aviation Health, n.d.).

Lastly, while searching for professional organizations within aviation, I found Business Aviation Network, which is “the largest aviation social network.” Essentially, BAN is similar to Facebook and LinkedIn, where members can discuss events, publish blogs, and network with one another. “Our mission is to provide our membership opportunities to build networks and professional and personal relationships through this web site, our groups on LinkedIn and through local gatherings. As a BAN member, you will become part of a dynamic community of individuals with a vested interest in business aviation who are committed to the success of not only their businesses, but the success of others within our organization. We welcome Business jet and aircraft manufacturers, sales professionals, aircraft dealers, charter operators, aircraft fractional and jet card ownership programs, air taxis, FBO, corporate pilots. We invite members from all aspects of the business aviation industry to participate” (Mission Statement, 2015).

In today’s world, networking via online pathways is an essential tool to stay actively involved within the industry. I think if people are very involved in the aviation field, this would be a good website to build relationships and gain networks.

Overall, it is an important task to be involved in professional organizations and networks throughout the aviation industry. There are a wide-variety of organizations to choose from, no matter what pathway you choose within the industry.

References

Dispatcher. (2014). Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://www.dispatcher.org/about-adf

Mission Statement. (2015). Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://ban.aero/about-business-aviation-network/business-aviation-network-mission-statement

National Weather Association. (2015). Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://www.nwas.org/about.php

Professional Organizations Career Services. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://careerservices.erau.edu/opportunities/networking/professional-organizations/

Strategic Business Network (SBN). (2011). Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://www.strategicbusinessnetwork.com/about/importance

Aviation-health.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.aviation-health.org/