Two Opportunities Open For Collegiate And Post-Graduate Aviation Professionals

The American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation announces the Air Safety and Advocacy Internship program for collegiate and post-graduate professional career path pilots, mechanics, aviation safety or business management students. 

ABS/ASF is now accepting applications for this exciting, paid internship. Two intern opportunities are now open: one intern each for summer 2017 and another for fall term 2017. The internships are full time contract positions based at ABS Headquarters in Wichita, KS.

The Air Safety and Advocacy Intern will report directly to the Executive Director of the ABS Air Safety Foundation. He or she will directly participate in the creation, delivery and administration of ASF's industry-leading pilot, mechanic, and flight instructor training and accreditation programs; the ABS Service Clinic aircraft inspection program; the ABS Center of Excellence maintenance provider accreditation program; Beechcraft Continued Operational Safety (COS) aircraft longevity support; Textron Aviation liaison; and industry-wide aviation safety and regulatory advocacy programs.

The purpose of the Air Safety and Advocacy Internship is to:

• Assist the ASF Executive Director attain the member service goals of the Foundation and ABS;
• Provide young aviation professionals unparalleled introduction and access to industry leaders, regulators and policy makers;
• Encourage young aviation professionals to consider a career in the general aviation industry; and
• Develop the next generation of leadership of the ABS Air Safety Foundation

The Intern will work as a full member of the small and vibrant ABS Headquarters staff to support ABS membership services and will travel at ABS/ASF expense to ABS events and Board of Directors meetings.

The Summer Intern will work with the ABS staff at EAA AirVenture and the ABS Beechcraft Instructor Crosstalk at Frederick, MD. The Fall Term Intern will work with the ASF Executive Director to an AOPA Fly-In in Norman, OK; the American Bonanza Society 50th Anniversary Convention in Wichita; and the National Business Aviation Association Convention in Las Vegas.

Other opportunities, such as NTSB forums and conferences, FAA Headquarters-level meetings, ABS Service Clinics, ABS Maintenance Academy and ABS Beechcraft Flight Instructor Forums, and EAA Type Club Coalition meetings will be included as they arise.

At all events the Intern will have the opportunity to make valuable career contacts and personally meet industry and association leaders, senior FAA decision-makers, NTSB Members and staff, and among 9000 highly successful ABS members--a membership that bucks all general aviation trends to have grown over 3% in the past year and over 5% in the past five years.

ABS/ASF will meet any reporting requirements of the college or university's internship coordinator required for the Intern to receive college credit for this experience.

Essential Qualifications

The ABS/ASF Air Safety and Advocacy Intern will:

• Be currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an accredited college or university in a Professional Pilot, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Aviation Safety, Aviation Business Management or similar undergraduate or graduate degree program.
• Hold at least a Commercial Pilot and/or an Airframe Mechanic certificate. Although the Internship is neither a piloting nor a maintenance position, knowledge of flying and/or maintaining general aviation aircraft, aircraft technical documents, aviation regulation, and aircraft ownership issues are essential to success as an Air Safety and Advocacy Intern.
• Possess superb verbal and written communication skills, including email, telephone, small classroom presentation and one-on-one interaction with ABS members.
• Have command of Internet research skills and the Microsoft Office software suite including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Be able to conduct research and write summary reports using Pilot's Operating Handbooks, aircraft maintenance manuals, FAA regulations, manufacturers' Service Bulletins, and other aircraft technical documents as source material.
• Possess ability to take direction and work as part of a small business team, but also to work without supervision to meet identified project goals and deadlines.
• Show initiative and contribute fresh ideas to promote flying safety and ABS member services.
• Cheerfully and enthusiastically put forth great effort to support ABS members and achieve new heights in industry leadership of general aviation safety and advocacy programs.

Desirable Additional Qualifications

Experience with the following additional qualifications is desired:

• Online video and podcast production.
• Mobile app development.
• Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonair, Baron and/or Travel Air piloting, maintenance, or overall familiarity with the Beechcraft piston airplane product line.

The Intern will serve as a contractor to the ABS/ASF at the rate of $500 per week, paid biweekly.  Wichita has one of the lowest costs of living of U.S. cities and ample housing is available, well within this budget.

To apply for consideration to become an ABS/ASF Air Safety and Advocacy Intern, send:

• Your resume, including the name of the college or university you attend or have attended and the specific aviation degree program; your employment history; and your experience in general aviation including any organization or association memberships, attendance at fly-ins or aviation conventions, and volunteer or paid participation in aviation events.
• At least three letters of recommendation from persons in the aviation industry. At least one of these letters must come from a member of the faculty of your aviation degree program.
• A cover letter describing how you meet all the qualifications for this internship.
• A short essay (no more than 500 words) describing your career goals, any experience you have with Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonair, Baron or Travel Air airplanes, and why you wish to be an ABS/ASF Air Safety and Advocacy Intern.

Send your application to asf@bonanza.org using Internship Application and your first and last name as the subject line. The deadline for application for the Summer 2017 Internship is April 15, 2017. The deadline for application for the Fall 2017 internship is June 1, 2017.

(Source: American Bonanza Society news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.bonanza.org