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Pilots taking off with an MBA

After romancing the skies for 30 years, ex-pilot Michael Keating decided it was time to land a job that would continue to challenge him and not imply the end of the runway in his career.

The 54-year-old Danish native had begun his career as a military jet pilot with the Royal Danish Air Force and went on to work as a civilian pilot for the Scandinavian Airlines.

He wanted to give up his wings after the long stint but not necessarily exit the industry. “Aviation is in my blood. In many ways it’s both a career and a lifestyle,” he says.

So, he took up a senior management position with Emirates Airlines five years ago. But the transition from the cockpit to a conference room requires a different gamut of skills; it is, after all, business administration.

In 2008, Keating joined the MBA in Aviation Management programme at the Emirates Aviation College in what he calls a “natural progression” after several years in the industry.

“Working in such a multicultural and dynamic environment always poses new challenges.”

“The tools I got from the course mixed with my previous experience are constantly proving useful,” said the professional who manages the pilot selection process for Emirates Flight Operations.

Acquiring an aviation specific MBA degree is popular among industry professionals, says Dr Ahmad Al Ali, Vice Chancellor of the Emirates Aviation College.

“Normally, pilots and cabin crew do not want to fly forever,” he said.

“With their specialized qualification as a pilot they cannot go too far in a ground job.”

Most of the students interviewed for the MBA express their desire on ultimately settling down in a ground job as they get older.

“Doing an MBA is a huge bonus because they can then get into senior management roles within the industry,” Al Ali said.

The MBA in Aviation Management is one of a kind in the UAE as it’s the only industry-based course that offers core management modules along with aviation-related subjects.

The programme allows direct entry to pilots with an experience of more than five years.

“We recognise work-based learning and so whatever they have learnt during their vocational training as well as the number of years they have been flying is taken into account for their admission,” Al Ali says.

Those with lesser experience can undertake a top up degree that is equivalent to the final year of a bachelor’s degree and then they can continue with an MBA.

The college began offering the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHSR) accredited degree in association with the UK-based Coventry University in 2007.

The flexibility of the MBA has seen many takers from outside the country, including from Germany, Africa, India, China, Singapore and the UK. It’s delivered as a part time course and extending up to 18 months.

“The nature of the programme allows students from abroad to join and go back home.”

Also offered in Singapore, the Emirates Aviation College is going to launch the MBA in Aviation Management in the UK on the Coventry University campus.

“We are flying the MBA around the world now,” said the college representative.

“It will save time for people who come to the UAE specifically for this MBA.”

Most of the students enrolled in the programme are over 30 and hail from a pilot and licensed aircraft engineering background but professionals from other sectors have begun showing interest in the sector that is rapidly growing.

“We have people from the banking and real estate sectors enrolled in the MBA indicating the growing interest in this area,” said the vice chancellor.

Based on posted figures experts predict the UAE and its carriers to become the largest players in the aviation industry in the next few years.

A study by Dubai Chamber titled, “UAE: The Region Aviation Hub” states that the massive expansion is expected to continue both in terms of ground services in infrastructure and aircraft.

UAE’s eight international airports are witnessing expansion and heavy traffic while carriers are expanding their passenger and cargo fleet.

The growth needs to be matched with the manpower and widespread opportunities make the sector lucrative for job seekers.

Al Ali says the rapid development in the Gulf will result in a shortage of professionals. “There is a need for maintenance engineers, pilots, cabin crew and management staff for airports and airlines.”

Abu Dhabi International Airport has a US$ 8.6 billion redevelopment plan that includes the Midfield Terminal Building for national carrier Etihad and will handle 20 million passengers annually, states the 2010 Business International Monitor.

The Al Maktoum Airport in Jebel Ali is also expected to ultimately be able to manage the capacity similar to that of London’s Heathrow and Frankfurt’s Rhein-Main airport combined.

Keating says the strategic location of the UAE and its policies have created a fertile environment in which to grow a unique aviation industry.

“The geographic position in the middle of the world’s populated land masses and high growth rates of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa ) region, India, and China virtually gives promise of a continued successful future for any well-managed airline, including the low-cost sector.”

The report by Dubai Chamber highlights that by 2012, Emirates Airline’s expansion plan will make it the world’s largest long-haul carrier.

A constant skill upgrade to keep up with the change is essential, says Mohamed Osama Katar Mohamed Abdelhalm, an aircraft engineer.

“The structures of aircraft are changing everyday and we are moving towards using more composite systems and a matrix of materials,” he says. The engineer, who is pursuing a PhD in new aircraft structures, believes the infrastructure and resources available in the UAE can facilitate engineering inventions.

“UAE is a good place to start these things because the combination of expatriates and the local population can result in great developments.”

afshan@khaleejtimes.com

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