One of the most fascinating industry that attracts talent is Aviation, many wonder how to pursue or transform their careers in that direction and what does it take. Although aviation industry has taken a significant hit due to the recent pandemic, it however remains a subject of interest to career aspirants. To help learners set their expectation right about a career in aviation, we contacted Mr. Deepak Chandra Chandola, who is an Aviation Project Lead to enlighten us with some insights. This interview is first in part of a series that we have initiated to help career aspirants, and there are many more to come. If you have any questions with Mr.Deepak, you can ask them in your comments, you can also get in touch with Mr.Deepak on his LinkedIn Profile.

1. Tell us something about yourself.

My name is Deepak Chandra Chandola. I am an aviation professional with 12 years of experience in Aircraft maintenance engineering domain. I am a member of the prestigious Royal Aeronautical Society UK, Institution of Mechanical Engineering UK, Institution of Engineers India, and Project management institute the USA. Presently, I am residing in Dubai, UAE. I am co-founders of our new aviation venture (aeroresume.com). In my free time, I like to watch documentary movies, write blogs, outdoor camping, and swimming. I also provide pro-bono-based career guidance, mentorship, and professional development coaching for youth. For the same I have launched a dedicated website thecareerchat.com).

2. Tell us about your education and certifications.

I have dual master’s degrees and dual bachelor’s degrees along with aircraft maintenance engineering diploma. My master’s degrees are Master of Technology (MTech), Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and Production Engineering.  I also have professional certifications like Project Management Professional PMP, Chartered Engineering CEng, Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s License.

3. How did you become an Aviation Project Lead?

During my professional journey of 12 years, I have gained expertise in civil aviation and military aviation which includes a wide variety of business jet aircraft, airliner aircraft, and military aircraft. It includes all aspects of the aircraft maintenance industry including engineering, airworthiness, reliability, planning, technical services, supply chain management, quality control, quality assurance, and project management. It helped me reach the place I am and shaped me for the aviation project lead role. However, my academic and professional certification also played a crucial role in my career uplift.

4. Are you enjoying your time in the aviation industry?

Indeed, aviation was my dream since my childhood. I always dreamed about the airplane and helicopters, it provided me the motivation and desire to reach where I am. One of the most interesting facts about the aviation industry is its challenging and continuously evolving nature. If someone likes a challenging job with the highest possible accuracy and on-time performance, then the aviation industry is the best field for them. I enjoy aviation because I like to challenge myself and increase the benchmark.

5. What obstacles did you face on your journey to becoming an Aviation Project Lead?

The foremost obstacle I faced was balancing between professional life, academic journey, and family life. Managing all of them together was quite challenging. Secondly, the implementation of forward-thinking to ensure timely solutions for issues in the aviation engineering field and such situations are tackled by design thinking methodologies. The next most obvious challenge was the optimization of resource and cost-saving. Here my academic knowledge, research paper analysis, and project management skills helped me to achieve the highest possible optimization of resources and minimization of cost.

6. What advise will you offer for people who want to become an Aviation Project Lead?

The aviation project lead is the most demanding role in the aviation industry which includes detailed exposure in services or manufacturing domain. When we talk about the services domain, you need to have an aircraft maintenance engineer’s license as prescribed by the aviation regulatory authority of the country along with academic qualification and professional certifications. This is because of the challenging nature of a job which demands up to date knowledge of the latest trends and technology in the aviation industry, informed decision-making skills along with project management experience. Research and innovation-oriented approach will be an added advantage.

7. How important are best practices when it comes to Aviation Management?

The aviation industry is very famous for its highest possible aviation standards established by cooperation between aviation regulatory authorities from different countries around the world. Such standards are regulated and monitored by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Maintenance Steering Group (MSG), and Industry Steering Committee (ISC). These groups are formed by aircraft manufacturers, aircraft owners, and aircraft operators. Most widely followed regulations are established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

8. Would you like to mention mentors who contributed to who you are today?

Yes, I like to mention those as per below.

• Nagesh H
• Arbind Jha
• Rishikesh Kumar
• Devendra Yadav
• Mohammed Nadeem
• Bhagwan Singh Negi
• Imran Ahmad
• Vikash
• Ayush

JobsTablet.com is very much thankful to Deepak Chandra Chandola, for participating in this initiative of interviewing professionals around the world to help aspirants in the same career. If you would like to contribute as well, please feel free to contact us.

The post Aviation Career : An Interview with Deepak Chandola (Aviation Project Lead) first appeared on JobsTablet.com.