Why Aviation Is a Smart Career Shift for Mid-Level Professionals?

In today's time, when the technological, economic and corporate world is constantly changing, mid-level professionals, people with 7 to 15 years of work experience, often find themselves at a point where they are unable to decide the future direction of their career.

After working for so long in any industry, the novelty in the work decreases, growth stops and salary increment also slows down.  At this point, a person looks for new opportunities that not only satisfy from a professional point of view, but also empower them financially, socially and mentally. The aviation sector is an emerging option which can be a smart career shift for mid-level professionals in India.

India's aviation sector is the fastest-growing. As stated by a report by the International Air Transport Association, India will overtake the US to become the third-largest domestic aviation market by 2026. The industry has seen remarkable growth in the previous few years. The number of domestic air passengers was 61 million in 2014, which increased to over 142 million by 2023.

This will exceed 300 million by 2030. It is not just about the passenger number, but this also makes it clear that there are many employment and growth opportunities in this industry. The Indian government has also launched quite a few schemes to promote this sector, such as the UDAN scheme, under which small cities are being connected with air services. Also, over 100 new airports are being developed in the next five years.

Aviation is not only a glamorous industry, but it also has strong prospects for career growth. According to the DGCA, the aviation sector in India will require about 10 lakh more professionals in the next 10 years. This includes areas, for example, airline staff, airport management, ATC, ground staff, pilots, cabin crew, aviation security and logistics. While the average salary of an airport manager is INR 10 to 15 lakh per annum, experienced commercial pilots can earn INR 1.5 lakh to 5 lakh per month. There is also a high demand for aviation consultants, aviation lawyers, aviation IT experts, etc. The aviation sector in India is not limited to big cities only, but is also growing rapidly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

The biggest advantage of mid-level professionals is that they already have the necessary skills like team management, strategic thinking, leadership and professional ethics and also work experience. If they want to give a new turn to their career, then entering into an aviation sector can become a profitable option.

If a person has worked in fields like IT, management, engineering, hospitality, customer service, logistics or marketing, they can easily fit into various aviation roles. For instance, an IT manager can lead aviation technology or airport automation projects. An operations manager can work in an airline's flight dispatch or airport ground handling department. An HR professional can excel in areas like training, recruitment and crew management.

It is not always essential for people to be a pilot or a cabin crew member to start an aviation career. This industry has various roles, which require different skills and qualifications. The minimum qualification for most of the roles in the aviation industry is graduation, but some specific positions require special technical training and a license.

Also, good command over English, customer service skills, quick decision-making ability and mental stability are necessary for success in this field. Many reputed institutes in India offer aviation courses. The duration of these courses can range from 6 months to 2 years and can be pursued offline, online or even in weekend mode.

If one wants to enter into an aviation career as a mid-level professional, there are various training options available. The most prevalent courses include Diploma in Airport Management, Certificate in Cabin Crew Training, PG Diploma in Aviation & Travel Management, Commercial PilotLicense (CPL) and MBA in Aviation Management. The fees for these courses vary according to the institute and the type of course. A CPL course can cost between INR 50–1 crore, while a diploma course can cost INR 50,000–2 lakh. Most institutes also offer placement assistance to help students find employment opportunities after completing the course.

Aviation is a global industry and people can get an opportunity to work across the world. International airports, private airlines, charter services and cargo companies hire experienced aviation professionals from India at high salaries.

Apart from this, in the future, the growth of new concepts like artificial intelligence, automation, electric aircraft, drone technology and green aviation in this industry will create even more opportunities.

Like every career transition, aviation also faces some challenges. The first challenge is the cost and time of the course. Many mid-level professionals cannot do full-time courses because of family and financial responsibilities. However, most institutes are now also offering online, weekend, or part-time courses. Additionally, many banks and institutions provide education loans and scholarships.

The second challenge is age, there may be an age limit for some positions like cabin crew or trainee pilots, but age is not a barrier in areas like airport management, logistics, training and operations. The third challenge is the sense of stability, but statistics show that the aviation sector will grow rapidly in India for the next 10–15 years, leaving no doubt about its stability.

If you are a mid-level professional, not satisfied with your current career and want to do something new in the future, aviation can be an attractive option for you. It is now easier than ever to learn the skills required to enter this field, and you have a plethora of options, whether you are in operations, technology, management or customer service.

India is moving towards touching the skies and aviation is not just a career. If you have decided that you want to change your career, it is never too late to do that. Enroll at Flapone Aviation, one of the best pilot training institutes in the country. So, what are you waiting for?