The initiation to industry given the young graduate by Boeing Aircraft is typical of the industry: "Now engineers go though a training period of six months or more which consists of actual, on-the-job, useful work in the Engineering Department's Testing or Development Labor atories. The neophyte engineer's first assignment is usually as assistant to a test engineer in one of the experimental laboratories. At the close of the training period, a definite assignment will be given suited to the individual's background, experience, and capabilities. Whenever possible, assignment is made to a field of the individual's selection."

High Wages

Pay scales for engineers are a high in the aircraft industry as in any other field. Lowest pay for a Bachelor of Science operating tenting devices is $305 a month to start, with advancement and raises according to labor contract. Wages range from the low through the middle range, $425-650 for B.S. or M.S. men with general electronics or mathematical background, to the upper brackets, $800 and up, for organizational or administrative positions. In addition, all major companies in the aviation industry offer fringe benefits equal to or higher than other industries, paid vacations, employee's group life and accident insurance, aid in finding living quarters, and in some companies, free baby sitting services.

One of the brand new fields opened up by the last war is the study of rockets. Guided missiles and rocket-assisted take-off units are but two of the innovations to come out of rocket research. Experiments in this field opened up new avenues of approach to problems in aerodynamics, metallurgy, fuel chemistry, and electronics.

Despite the seeming preoccupation with science in the aviation industry, the liberal arts graduate is not forgotten. Many opportunities are open in administration, management, advertising, clerical and accountancy fields. There is, however, little emphasis upon obtaining or training white collar workers.

The white collar man, a prospective management official, seems a different bread from the technically trained men who produce the industry's bread and butter, airplanes. Little advice can be given about job opportunities, starting salaries, or benefits for the desk man compared to the laborer or the technician. The lack of recruiting at the college level is starting because these are the men who will eventually run the concern. There is often no definite way in which the liberal arts graduate gets into the concern. He may know a family friend who will give him his initial chance, or he may enter one employment office with nothing but his references and obtain a junior administrative post.

Training Programs

Curtiss-Wright is one of several companies that have recognized this lack, and the firm is running a two year intensive Management Development Program which puts qualified young men in first level supervisory positions after an initial five to six months training at company expense. Starting salaries at this level are $80 to $90 a week, or just about what the beginning engineer can make. Requirements, however, are much stiffer, as the competition is better. Optimum requirements set by Curtiss-Wright: "must be 21 to 27 years of age, married, a veteran, must have majored in Commerce, Business Administration, Industrial Management, Industrial Engineering, or the Liberal Arts." The inclusion of liberal arts is the admission by most companies that specific training is not always the best qualification for a specific job.

Additional opportunities in the aviation industry are available in air transportation. Job opportunities in the field range from junior secretaries to flying captains.

Airplane pilots must be at least high school graduates, although most companies will only accept men with college degrees. Before becoming an officer, a pilot must have a minimum of 100 hours of flying time, and held a commercial pilot rating, an instrument rating, and a third-class radiotelephone operator's license.

Pilot trainees undergo complete ground courses, covering Civil Air regulations, CW code reception, meterology, navigation, airway traffic control, radio, and study of the aircraft that is to be flown (Including fuel, oil, electric, and hydraulic systems, engines, and their overhaul) and a refresher course in instruments. prospective pilots practice orientation and beam bracketing. A pilot starts as third crew member and works his way to captain.

Radiotelephone

a radiotelephone operator may go as to become chief operator in charge of a terminal station or to be a functional or technical staff assistant at the headquarters of the Communications Department. The main requirements for this job are a high school diploma and a second class radiotelephone operator's license. Starting salary for junior radio operators is $263 per month. Before completion of six months' service, employees must pass qualifying tests for a radio operator's position, with salary of $288 per month. The maximum salary in this field is $363 a month.

Postilions as reservation clerks and ticket agents are open to men and women who have had two years of college or two years of some business training. Selected agents receive one week of initial training at the station for which they are employed, after which they receive six months of continuation training on the job until fully qualified. Duties require not only knowledge of their own company's air routes, policies, and procedures, but also those of other airlines, bus, and railroad facilities. They are required to handle ticket sales, confirm space availability, issue tickets, and make up cash reports on tickets, sales. An agent's starting salary is $239 a month, with maximum of $360 possible.

Airlines employ large crews of ground service men to inspect, equip, and overhaul aircraft. Included in this group are radio maintenance men. Requirements for these positions are one year of experience in construction, maintenance, and repair of aircraft, but not necessarily a college degree.