Our annual Career Days offer students a chance to explore pathways to a career in aviation. Students get to tour the SIU Transportation Education Center facilities and meet with SIU's School of Aviation faculty and staff. They also get to learn what it's like to work for major airlines like United and American, hearing from SIU alumni who are now leaders in the industry.
- AMERICAN AIRLINES CAREER DAY
- United Airlines Career Day
- 25th Anniversary United Airlines Career Day
AMERICAN AIRLINES CAREER DAY
Announcing the return of American Airlines Career Day!
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Watch for more information soon.
United Airlines Career Day was a Huge Success
United Airlines Career Day was held on October 22, 2022. The day was enjoyed by 126 Chicago-area students and more than 30 United employees, many of them alumni of the SIU aviation programs.
The 737 Max 8 arrived in Carbondale a few minutes before 9:00 a.m. The visiting students disembarked to fanfare and handshakes from School of Aviation administrators, faculty, staff and students. A group picture was taken by the plane before the students boarded buses to tour the SIU campus. There were lots of smiling faces and excited discussion as they enjoyed lunch served by members of the SIU Women in Aviation student group. After lunch, United employees presented information to students about aviation and current opportunities available to pilots and aviation maintenance technicians.
After a walking tour of the School of Aviation, students were screened to board the plane for the return trip to Chicago. They were treated to pizza before boarding the plane.
United Airlines Career Day 2022 is in the books and we are looking forward to the next one. Please watch our website for news on the next Career Day.
The 2019 United Airlines Career Day, held on October 19, 2019, was a special one indeed. This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the first United Airlines Career Day at SIU. The day was enjoyed by 116 Chicago-area students and 30 United employees, many of them alumni of the SIU Aviation programs.
The Airbus 320 arrived in Carbondale a few minutes after 9:00 a.m. The visiting students disembarked from the plane to fanfare and handshakes from SIU administrators and SIU Aviation faculty, staff and students. A group picture was taken by the plane before the Aviation Ambassadors guided visitors on tours of the SIU Aviation facilities. Students were taken on introductory flights, and students who had never flown before were able to experience an Airbus 320 and Cessna 172 for the first time. There were lots of smiles on faces as they enjoyed lunch served by members of the SIU Women in Aviation student group. After lunch, a presentation by the interim chair of the SIU aviation departments, Mike Burgener, and various United employees informed students about aviation and the opportunities that abound at this time in both pilot and maintenance fields.
After a walking tour of the SIU campus, students were screened to board the plane for the return trip to Chicago. They were treated to pizza before boarding the plane.