The Perceived Value of Airline Flight Operations Internship Activities and/or Benefits in the Pursuit of Career Goals

Abstract

Collegiate aviation institutions throughout the United States have been involved in airline flight operations internship programs for over 20 years. Collegiate aviation and industry partnerships serve a variety of purposes, including: (a) allowing a student the opportunity to observe and experience the many facets of a commercial air carrier operation, (b) developing a greater awareness of the airline industry for the student, allowing for better-informed career choices and, (c) providing the airline with access to a low-cost, highly qualified, temporary workforce and a potential employee pool. This graduate follow-up study involved students who participated in the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Aviation Management and Flight (AVMAF) airline flight operations internship program. The study examined data gathered from students who served as interns at one of six different U.S. major air carriers and one U.S. regional air carrier. Former interns were asked to rate the value 14 specific internship activities/benefits had in the pursuit of their career goals. Former interns were also allowed the opportunity to identify other valuable internship activities and/or benefits not originally mentioned in the survey via open-ended response. Respondent employment demographic data are reported. The most valuable and least valuable internship activities and/or benefits identified by the collective group are reported. The most valuable and least valuable internship activities and/or benefits identified for each airline are reported. Recommendations for improving airline flight operations internship programs are also provided.