Having been working at two different airlines for a number of years, I have to conclude that it may not be as rewarding as one would have thought to work in an airline as an #avgeek. As most #avgeeks out there, the aviation industry as a whole interest many of these people. However, for some, it might be the flying side that interest them or the engineering side or the servicing side. They may find a rewarding careers as flight crews, cabin crews or engineers but most will lose sight of the whole picture; the romance of flying or the excitement that the whole industry brings. They might once be excited working in the industry as an #avgeek but soon only fixating on what they care about the most which is their job. I can only sense the frustration for the #avgeek who gets stuck in working in a small part of the industry that has always intrigued them.
For me, I have yet to find a career working in the industry and had only been working in small silos in the airline. Although, what I came to realize is that all these small silos actually make up the airline as a whole. What makes a good airline is how the airline tries to break down these silos and make them work together on the same cause. What I do find rewarding is that I can participate in this so called airline business transporting passengers safely and happily from point A to point B.
For me, working at an airline is really about soaking up all I can learn and really understand what really make an airline work. I’ve tried in my capacity to open my eyes and ears but many times come to realize airlines like many corporations are highly hierarchical, political and inefficient.
Silos are difficult to break down in airlines because most silos only care about what they do and if their silos can perform better than the other silos mainly in terms of using less money/budget and giving more back to the airline. This got me thinking back to the idea of an #avgeek working in the industry and how they transformed into only caring about their own silos. Even if some of these #avgeeks wanted to break the barrier, it will be difficult because of the traditional hierarchical and political structure of an airline.
It is definitely frustrating working at a company that is political and hierarchy in nature. Be as it may, it’s great that you are soaking up all you can and learn in your job capacity. Everyone makes a difference no matter if it’s big or small and it seems to me that as long you are contributing to the industry, you should feel proud as an #avgeek. Like myself, I used to be a support legal role for one of the top airports in the world. However , it is not as glamorous or fascinating as flight crew, flight ops or airfield but at the end of the day every time I return and step inside the airport, I am proud of the many agreements and contracts I approved because without the support I have made to the front line staff, most of the structures and I see at the airport, the shops or facilities would not be possible. I’m sure as long as you have this passionate, you will be noticed one day and contribute more to this airline industry to a greatest extent.