COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT LEASING AND ITS BOOMING COMPLEXITIES

Abstract

Abstract

Commercial leasing has become increasingly popular among airlines during the past two decades. Airlines are more readily choosing leasing versus buying aircraft due to the fast changes of the global economy and turmoil of events around the world. This increase in leasing practices will require a group of professionals that are educated specifically in the field of aviation management, the requirements of which are often not easily defined. Therefore; this study is designed to explore at the graduate level the academic world of aviation management with the specific goal of determining the topics vital to success for the future of aircraft leasing. Courses that are currently being covered within U.S. aviation management master’s degree curricula are reviewed, but moreover, so are topics necessary for future aircraft leasing and finance that are not currently covered. To accomplish the study fourteen (14) universities were chosen for this evaluation and compared against a prototype curriculum found within the industry. Results of the study indicate that although most of the reviewed universities do offer other related courses that are useful to the field of aircraft leasing and finance, most do not offer courses designed specifically for the current and growing needs of the field of aircraft leasing.