Aviation is a large and varied industry, and offers a wide range of trades and careers. The most obvious of these is the need for pilots to fly the aircraft, but there are a great many other options. Larger aircraft require flight engineers to monitor their in-flight systems, and airlines also require trained service staff to interact with passengers. Aside from flight crew there are technical trades including the airframe and engine technicians who maintain the aircraft, the avionics technicians who install and calibrate the instrumentation, and the air traffic controllers who direct airborne traffic.
Education opportunities in aviation range from a single pilot with a private flight school, to large institutions with millions of dollars in infrastructure. Florida's Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest aviation school, is a fully accredited university in which all programs have an aviation emphasis. Other individual schools and programs, depending on their focus, may be accredited by bodies such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), Aviation Accreditation Board, International (AABI) or the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) in the case of management courses.
Many careers in the aviation industry receive FAA oversight and certification. The agency sets and monitors standards of airworthiness, certifies pilots, mechanics and instructors, and also administers education standards for air traffic controllers through the Air Traffic-Control Training Initiative (AT-CTI). The FAA itself is a major employer within the industry. Most of the country's air traffic controllers are employed directly through the FAA, and the Agency's various inspection programs require a large number of trained staff.
The military is also a major source of training in all aviation-related fields. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines all operate significant flight establishments. While some specialized trades are unique to military aviation, the majority of military-trained personnel are able to transfer their skills directly to civilian life. Military air traffic controllers, for example, may apply directly for civilian employment with the FAA upon completion of their service. A large number of helicopter and jet pilots, in particular, are trained by the military.