The Path to a Business Aviation Career

Business aviation needs talented young professionals like you. That’s why NBAA is giving you the tools to go farther, faster.

As an undergraduate or high school student interested in aviation, you have plenty of options for your career path. Business aviation offers the greatest diversity of roles, aircraft and missions, as well as outstanding mentoring, internship and networking opportunities.

Join NBAA as a student member for access to member benefits including the Business Aviation Jobs board, discounts for NBAA events and access to members-only website content. Join NBAA as a student today!

Download our business aviation career fact sheet (PDF) or jump to NBAA resources.


Why Choose Business Aviation?

Business aviation is the use of any general aviation (GA) aircraft for a business purpose, and GA includes all flights that are not conducted by the military or the scheduled airlines. The business aviation community consists of companies of all sizes that rely on many different types of aircraft, as well as the services that support flight operations. Learn more about business aviation.

For those seeking careers in business aviation, this industry provides outstanding diversity in aircraft, missions, schedules and clients, and there are great prospects for jobs and career advancement at locations nationwide.

Business aviation provides a wide variety of job roles, including flight department managers and pilots, maintenance managers and technicians, safety and security specialists, schedulers and dispatchers, flight attendants and flight technicians, ground support specialists, aircraft manufacturing and design specialists, specialists in aviation law, specialists in aviation finance and charter sales professionals. NBAA provides resources for pursuing all of these career paths.


Business Aviation Insider Student Edition

The 2022-2023 edition of Business Aviation Insider contains articles about getting started on the business aviation career path, a day in the life of an aircraft scheduler, how to become a certified pilot of unmanned aircraft, and more. Download the student magazine (PDF)


A Career Guide to Business Aviation

NBAA has developed several resources outlining exciting opportunities within business aviation. Find information on salaries, training requirements and more, along with testimonials from young people thriving in the industry. Learn more about business aviation career paths.


Business Aviation Career Posters

Perfect for classrooms and events, these posters provide a eye-catching overview of the industry and its many opportunities for successful careers.

Download Industry Overview Poster (4 MB).

Download Career Overview Poster (1 MB)


NBAA Mentoring Network

NBAA’s Mentoring Network fosters a collaborative environment for professional growth. Participants are matched based on location, industry objectives and other factors to provide an engaging and fulfilling experience. Learn more about getting involved in this exciting program.


NBAA Tools You Can Use