Air Traffic Control privatization is a very hot topic right now in modern day aviation. Many people say yes it should be privatized, while others say no it should not be privatized. There are many benefits to either side. Personally however, I feel that is should be privatized. Privatizing ATC would mean a fast forward in technology and would introduce new technology into aviation. NextGen is the future of air traffic control and would be a perfect time to be introduced when/if ATC were to be privatized. NextGen is a great piece of technology that adds many benefits to the Air Traffic Control world. According to an online article, "In 2003, Congress created NextGen, a $40 billion program slated to be completed by 2025, to transition the nation's airspace from 1950s ground radar to satellite technology that would allow aircraft to fly more direct routes and navigate around inclement weather, reducing delays. As envisioned, the technology would allow every controller to see the exact position of every plane, no matter where the controller worked." Not to say that what we have now as far as ATC goes is bad, its just that we need to keep up with the times and modern day technology, and the new system would really bring us up to speed on that.
On top of the modern day technology benefit, privatizing ATC has already proven that it works in other countries. "In countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany and the U.K., Mr. Engler said, privatized air traffic control systems effectively provide “a high-tech service that can be funded directly” by users. Privatization plans typically require operators of commercial, business and private aircraft to pay for services." So privatizing ATC has been proven that it works in other countries so why not try it in the USA? It makes sense to switch to the private sector as it is and there's nothing saying that it doesn't work anywhere else.
Now of course there are negatives with anything and this is no different with ATC being privatized. With all of this new technology, someone is going to have to pay for it. This is where it is going to hurt a lot of the GA population. " The proposal to privatize ATC will likely lead to user fees for general aviation, a measure that EAA continues to vigorously oppose." All of the fees that the General Aviation population already pays, to add another one for ATC doesn't really make sense. But in all honesty, if it is going to make the skies safer for everyone than maybe people will consider it. Yes the skies are safe now, but there's no such thing as being too safe, especially when it comes to aviation.
All in all, I believe that ATC should be privatized. There are too many factors that play into the decision that show that it works and it is beneficial for it not to be considered. It will introduce new technologies that bring Air traffic into the modern day society. And it has proven to work in other countries which shows that this system does in fact work. It will be interesting to see what happens and if ATC privatization does in fact happen.
References
1. Should air traffic controllers be privatized? (2015, September 28). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from http://articles.philly.com/2015-09-28/business/66932623_1_air-traffic-organization-national-airspace-system-the-faa
2. Keeping a Close Eye on ATC Privatization | AviationPros.com. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12085497/keeping-a-close-eye-on-atc-privatization
3. House Panel Considers Privatizing FAA's Air Traffic Control System. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-panel-signals-air-traffic-control-privatization-firmly-on-agenda-1416331332
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
ATC Privatization
Air traffic control being privatized is a controversial topic in today's aviation world. Some people are for it while others are not. GA flyers have traditionally spoken against the privatization of air traffic control. An online article said that, "In addition, a privatized air traffic control system would be funded by user fees, which would require the establishment of a whole new bureaucracy to administer these fees, and decimate small businesses that depend on these aircraft and airports for their livelihood." Air traffic controllers are not cheap, and knowing that these GA users would have to pay for it is a big factor in their decision.
Airlines have also spoken out against the privatization of air traffic control. One article spoke out against the privatization of air traffic for the airlines saying that, "Airlines need to pad extra minutes into published schedules to accommodate potential delays caused by the obsolete ATC system’s limitations." Having more direct routes provided by a better ATC system would account for that and make things better. There are some countries around the world that have privatized Air Traffic Control systems. Germany, Canada and United Kingdom are a few countries that have privatized air traffic systems that are doing well and prospering. An article said that, "About 50 countries have privatized air-traffic control during the last 20 years, and there has been no loss in safety." NextGen air traffic control would be a big part of this process of privatization. The FAA would have a big part of this privatization process as well as most of it would go through them. Personally, I believe that privatized air traffic control would be better and more efficient than what it is now. We have already seen other countries doing it and we see that it works. And as I stated earlier it would also involve the initiation of NextGen which is supposed to revolutionize Air Traffic as we know it. All in all, it would be interesting to see the changes that privatization brings if it were ever to happen.
References
1. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeboyd/2015/10/06/time-to-privatize-air-traffic-control-the-right-way/
2. Stop the movement to privatize Air Traffic Control. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/stop-the-movement-to-privatize-air-traffic-control/article_0e6c72ca-1c18-5826-902e-f9f06d46fb0a.html
3. Jansen, B. (2015, June 15). House transportation chairman: Privatize air-traffic control. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/06/15/faa-air-traffic-control-rep-shuster-privatization-aero-club/71244404/
Airlines have also spoken out against the privatization of air traffic control. One article spoke out against the privatization of air traffic for the airlines saying that, "Airlines need to pad extra minutes into published schedules to accommodate potential delays caused by the obsolete ATC system’s limitations." Having more direct routes provided by a better ATC system would account for that and make things better. There are some countries around the world that have privatized Air Traffic Control systems. Germany, Canada and United Kingdom are a few countries that have privatized air traffic systems that are doing well and prospering. An article said that, "About 50 countries have privatized air-traffic control during the last 20 years, and there has been no loss in safety." NextGen air traffic control would be a big part of this process of privatization. The FAA would have a big part of this privatization process as well as most of it would go through them. Personally, I believe that privatized air traffic control would be better and more efficient than what it is now. We have already seen other countries doing it and we see that it works. And as I stated earlier it would also involve the initiation of NextGen which is supposed to revolutionize Air Traffic as we know it. All in all, it would be interesting to see the changes that privatization brings if it were ever to happen.
References
1. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeboyd/2015/10/06/time-to-privatize-air-traffic-control-the-right-way/
2. Stop the movement to privatize Air Traffic Control. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/stop-the-movement-to-privatize-air-traffic-control/article_0e6c72ca-1c18-5826-902e-f9f06d46fb0a.html
3. Jansen, B. (2015, June 15). House transportation chairman: Privatize air-traffic control. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/06/15/faa-air-traffic-control-rep-shuster-privatization-aero-club/71244404/
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Medical Reform
Medical Reform is changing right before our eyes. On November 18th of this year, this new reform (The Pilots Bill of Rights 2) was introduced to the Senate commerce. This new reform has amendments on it that could change general aviation as we know it. In an online article, it stated that this Bill had a few changes in it, one of those changes being, "If you’ve held a regular or special issuance medical within the past 10 years, you may never need to get another medical certificate. Although this is just a bill that has not been passed yet, it has been getting good reviews.
Another topic of discussion in this proposed Bill is that, "Among other things, the law requires the FAA to give written notice to these individuals of their rights when the FAA is investigating them." As far as being "for" this proposed idea, it informs pilots being investigated of their rights which would help a lot of pilots who don't necessarily know the law. And personally that makes sense because every pilot should be informed when being investigated. Now if someone were to be against this idea, one could say that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Which although ignorance is no excuse, being informed of one's rights can and probably will save many people when being investigated.
Personally, I believe that medical reform isn't really necessary. The way it is now where pilots need to keep renewing their medical is a huge positive considering people's medical status can change. And if this were to change, if someone were to pass their medical once than their medical status could change without anyone knowing, which could potentially have mazy hazards. It will be interesting to see what comes about this.
References:
1. Closer than ever. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/November/18/Closer-than-ever
2. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoglia/2015/03/11/why-proposed-pilots-bill-of-rights-could-affect-air-safety/
Another topic of discussion in this proposed Bill is that, "Among other things, the law requires the FAA to give written notice to these individuals of their rights when the FAA is investigating them." As far as being "for" this proposed idea, it informs pilots being investigated of their rights which would help a lot of pilots who don't necessarily know the law. And personally that makes sense because every pilot should be informed when being investigated. Now if someone were to be against this idea, one could say that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Which although ignorance is no excuse, being informed of one's rights can and probably will save many people when being investigated.
Personally, I believe that medical reform isn't really necessary. The way it is now where pilots need to keep renewing their medical is a huge positive considering people's medical status can change. And if this were to change, if someone were to pass their medical once than their medical status could change without anyone knowing, which could potentially have mazy hazards. It will be interesting to see what comes about this.
References:
1. Closer than ever. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/November/18/Closer-than-ever
2. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoglia/2015/03/11/why-proposed-pilots-bill-of-rights-could-affect-air-safety/
Sunday, November 8, 2015
COMAC
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) has released their own mid size airliner the C919. I do not believe that this aircraft will receive FAA certification on the basis of this companies previous airliners. This corporation has also released a different type of aircraft called the COMAC ARJ21, which has also not been certified by the FAA. According to an online website, "It’s always a great thing to see a new entrant into the market, but this one feels like it is designed not to fill the global niche of mid-size, narrow-body aircraft. Instead, it seems to be designed to fill the need of urgent lift for the Chinese market." Which makes sense considering the Chinese market was in need of an aircraft of this nature.
If it were to be FAA certified, I don't see any challenge for US carriers. If anything its another aircraft for them to choose from. American carriers would still be considerate and faithful to Boeing and Airbus, but if another cheaper aircraft was certified I could see them exploring that option. But public perception wouldn't go over so well. Many people are afraid to fly and I feel like adding a new aircraft to the mix would only make this fear worse. People have learned to somewhat trust the aircraft that American carriers choose to fly and adding a foreign aircraft with hurt the public perception of flying. COMAC is a Chinese government owned company. The Chinese government also owns the Chinese airlines making it perfect for the airlines to purchase their own aircraft. COMAC has the ARJ21 which was also released but has not been FAA certified.
If the C91 were to get FAA certified, I do believe that other companies would enter as competitors. They would see one successful company and all try to do the same thing. Lastly, I do not believe Boeing or Airbus has responded to this new rollout. I do not believe they need to respond as they have already proven themselves and have a huge share of the market. They both have respectable aircraft that can compete with the C919.
References
1. A Closer Look at the Comac C919 - Why Does it Exist? - AirlineReporter. (2015, March 18). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.airlinereporter.com/2015/03/closer-look-comac-c919-exist/
If it were to be FAA certified, I don't see any challenge for US carriers. If anything its another aircraft for them to choose from. American carriers would still be considerate and faithful to Boeing and Airbus, but if another cheaper aircraft was certified I could see them exploring that option. But public perception wouldn't go over so well. Many people are afraid to fly and I feel like adding a new aircraft to the mix would only make this fear worse. People have learned to somewhat trust the aircraft that American carriers choose to fly and adding a foreign aircraft with hurt the public perception of flying. COMAC is a Chinese government owned company. The Chinese government also owns the Chinese airlines making it perfect for the airlines to purchase their own aircraft. COMAC has the ARJ21 which was also released but has not been FAA certified.
If the C91 were to get FAA certified, I do believe that other companies would enter as competitors. They would see one successful company and all try to do the same thing. Lastly, I do not believe Boeing or Airbus has responded to this new rollout. I do not believe they need to respond as they have already proven themselves and have a huge share of the market. They both have respectable aircraft that can compete with the C919.
References
1. A Closer Look at the Comac C919 - Why Does it Exist? - AirlineReporter. (2015, March 18). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.airlinereporter.com/2015/03/closer-look-comac-c919-exist/
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Aviation Organizations
In modern day aviation, there are many organizations that people can become apart of. Having already received my private pilot certificate, I became a member of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.) According to AOPA's website, "AOPA protects the rights of general aviation pilots and aircraft owners to fly while keeping general aviation safe, fun, and affordable." AOPA deals mostly with general aviation and offers numerous benefits for its members. They offer flight planning services on their website which is always a helpful tool. Another major benefit they offer is many different types of insurance. Everything from aircraft owners insurance to hangars insurance and even CFI insurance plus many more. Being a member of AOPA even offers car rental discounts and even pilot protection services. And we all know being in aviation can be very expensive, but being a member of AOPA offers financial services and help for people pursuing a career in aviation or even just buying and owning an aircraft. Being a member in AOPA is very important for any aviator not just for these reasons already mentioned, but the fact of being a member in such an established organization is very helpful knowing that they can help you with pretty much anything you need help with in your aviation career.
Being an aviation management major, there is another organization in which it its beneficial to be apart of. American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) is "the world's largest professional organization for airport executives, representing thousands of airport management personnel at public-use commercial and general aviation airports." Being an airport manager or in management, this organization is the one for you. Once you become a member, you get an accreditation next to your name saying you are a member. Working in the aviation industry it is a nice honor to have the accreditation next to your name. Other benefits that come with this membership, is a automatic subscription to Airport Magazine as well as all of the latest information in the aviation society. They also offer 80 different types of seminars and workshops that members get discounted rates to attend. All in all being a member of either organization only offers benefits which can only help someone pursuing an aviation career.
References
1. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/
2. Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from http://www.aaae.org/
Being an aviation management major, there is another organization in which it its beneficial to be apart of. American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) is "the world's largest professional organization for airport executives, representing thousands of airport management personnel at public-use commercial and general aviation airports." Being an airport manager or in management, this organization is the one for you. Once you become a member, you get an accreditation next to your name saying you are a member. Working in the aviation industry it is a nice honor to have the accreditation next to your name. Other benefits that come with this membership, is a automatic subscription to Airport Magazine as well as all of the latest information in the aviation society. They also offer 80 different types of seminars and workshops that members get discounted rates to attend. All in all being a member of either organization only offers benefits which can only help someone pursuing an aviation career.
References
1. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/
2. Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from http://www.aaae.org/
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Global Airlines
In aviation today, long haul carriers are a big part of traveling. And there is a big dispute from the American Airlines saying international airlines are receiving subsidies. The big 3 international airlines competing for government subsidies Emirates, Qatar as well as Eithad airlines. American Airlines, Delta Airlines as well as United Airlines all had their executives meet with the Obama Administration to talk about how the big three international airlines are receiving these subsidies. According to an online article, "They allege that since 2004, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways have received $40 billion in hidden subsidies from their governments." 40 billion dollars is no small number especially when you think about how many passengers fly these airlines every year.
Airlines based in the united states are no strangers to receiving subsidies either. Boarding Area.com says that, "Between 1918 and 1998 the federal government spend $150 billion in support of aviation." $150 billion spread over 100 years is not on the same scale as $40 billion spread over the last few years but its still money to consider. Another topic of discussion in this debate is when aircraft are purchased under market interest rates. Selling aircraft through the Export-Import Bank is something both American as well as international airlines do. "Boeing, which has sold hundreds of large jets to Emirates and other Middle Eastern airlines, strongly defends the Ex-Im Bank." So it is possible for American airlines to sell through the bank, but purchasing aircraft via this option is not as available. All in all, I don't believe that the global playing field is fair. I do feel like the field is tipped in the international favor as they are more susceptible to receiving larger amount of government subsidies. This is a very controversial subject that has been an ongoing issue for years and will probably continue to be an issue for years to come.
References
1. LINDENBERGER, M. (n.d.). American Airlines leading fight against three foreign rivals. Retrieved October 26, 2015, from http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20150304-american-airlines-leading-fight-against-three-foreign-rivals.ece
2. US Airlines Have Received More Subsidies than Middle East Ones - View from the Wing. (2015, April 8). Retrieved October 26, 2015, from http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/04/08/us-airlines-have-received-more-subsidies-than-middle-east-ones/
Airlines based in the united states are no strangers to receiving subsidies either. Boarding Area.com says that, "Between 1918 and 1998 the federal government spend $150 billion in support of aviation." $150 billion spread over 100 years is not on the same scale as $40 billion spread over the last few years but its still money to consider. Another topic of discussion in this debate is when aircraft are purchased under market interest rates. Selling aircraft through the Export-Import Bank is something both American as well as international airlines do. "Boeing, which has sold hundreds of large jets to Emirates and other Middle Eastern airlines, strongly defends the Ex-Im Bank." So it is possible for American airlines to sell through the bank, but purchasing aircraft via this option is not as available. All in all, I don't believe that the global playing field is fair. I do feel like the field is tipped in the international favor as they are more susceptible to receiving larger amount of government subsidies. This is a very controversial subject that has been an ongoing issue for years and will probably continue to be an issue for years to come.
References
1. LINDENBERGER, M. (n.d.). American Airlines leading fight against three foreign rivals. Retrieved October 26, 2015, from http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20150304-american-airlines-leading-fight-against-three-foreign-rivals.ece
2. US Airlines Have Received More Subsidies than Middle East Ones - View from the Wing. (2015, April 8). Retrieved October 26, 2015, from http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/04/08/us-airlines-have-received-more-subsidies-than-middle-east-ones/
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Cargo Carriers
After the Colgan accident, a lot of regulations changed in the industry. Some of what changed is flight and duty requirements based on when the pilots day begins. According the FAA website, "The new rule incorporates the latest fatigue science to set different requirements for pilot flight time, duty period and rest based on the time of day pilots begin their first flight, the number of scheduled flight segments and the number of time zones they cross." This is different from the previous regulations because they did not take into account time zones and other factors involved in the new regulations. There is also a 10 hour minimum rest rule. Within this 10 hour minimum rest rule, pilots must be able to get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. This regulation has changed since the old rule was only 8 hours of minimum rest.
Cargo carriers have a different set of rules and regulations which has caused a bit of controversy. According to ALPA.org, "U.S. domestic pilots have a flight-time maximum of 30 hours in 7 days, while flag pilots are allowed up to 32 hours in 7 days. Supplemental pilots can fly 48 hours in a 6-day period, or 60 percent more than domestic pilots." This has caused a controversy because cargo pilots believe that isn't fair that they don't have the same rules as domestic carriers. I feel like cargo carriers were excluded from this rule for more then one reason. The main reason is that it would cost the carriers a lot more to hire more pilots to fill in the absence of the pilots they would have had if they were to switch to the new regulations. The other rule that I believe the cargo carriers have been excluded from the rule is because they do not carry passengers. Personally I don't agree with this rule because there are still lives on board the aircraft and all lives matter. With that being said, of course I believe they should be under the new rules. It isn't fair for them when they are doing the same job but they aren't carrying any passengers.
If cargo carriers were to change over to these new rules, from the management side you would have to hire more pilots immediately. All of the extra hours that would have been filled with pilots can no longer be filled because pilots get longer rest requirements. Also, needing more pilots affects your budget as a company which means you would have to increase your prices, or some aspect in order to make up for the new budgeting.
References
1. Press Release – FAA Issues Final Rule on Pilot Fatigue. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2015, from https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=13272
2. Flight Time/Duty Time for Air Cargo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2015, from http://www2.alpa.org/alpa/DesktopModules/ViewAnnDocument.aspx?DocumentID=5524
Cargo carriers have a different set of rules and regulations which has caused a bit of controversy. According to ALPA.org, "U.S. domestic pilots have a flight-time maximum of 30 hours in 7 days, while flag pilots are allowed up to 32 hours in 7 days. Supplemental pilots can fly 48 hours in a 6-day period, or 60 percent more than domestic pilots." This has caused a controversy because cargo pilots believe that isn't fair that they don't have the same rules as domestic carriers. I feel like cargo carriers were excluded from this rule for more then one reason. The main reason is that it would cost the carriers a lot more to hire more pilots to fill in the absence of the pilots they would have had if they were to switch to the new regulations. The other rule that I believe the cargo carriers have been excluded from the rule is because they do not carry passengers. Personally I don't agree with this rule because there are still lives on board the aircraft and all lives matter. With that being said, of course I believe they should be under the new rules. It isn't fair for them when they are doing the same job but they aren't carrying any passengers.
If cargo carriers were to change over to these new rules, from the management side you would have to hire more pilots immediately. All of the extra hours that would have been filled with pilots can no longer be filled because pilots get longer rest requirements. Also, needing more pilots affects your budget as a company which means you would have to increase your prices, or some aspect in order to make up for the new budgeting.
References
1. Press Release – FAA Issues Final Rule on Pilot Fatigue. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2015, from https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=13272
2. Flight Time/Duty Time for Air Cargo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2015, from http://www2.alpa.org/alpa/DesktopModules/ViewAnnDocument.aspx?DocumentID=5524
Friday, October 9, 2015
Flying Cheap
Watching Flying Cheap documentary was very informative. It really opened my eyes to how bad the regional airlines specifically Colgan Air is. There are also other problems with the aviation industry as well. Right now is the beginning of a pilot shortage which is great for all of the current college students who are in training to become pilots. In an article that was written this year found online, "Boeing, the plane manufacturer, projected a need for 558,000 new pilots worldwide during the next 20 years, including 95,000 in North America." A lot the baby boomers that all came back from the war and entered the aviation industry are now reaching the age of retirement, which is good for us college aviation students but not good for the industry that is going to need to fill these vacancies. Although I agree with the second statement I still believe that pilot pay is also an issue with today's aviation society. According to Bloomberg business, "The starting salary for a first officer at a regional airline is a little more than $21,000 per year—about $40,000 lower than the same job at Delta (DAL) and United (UAL), according to the Air Line Pilots Association, the largest U.S. pilot union." Personally, I wouldn't want to spend thousands of dollars to become a pilot and then start off making next to nothing. Even though their pay does not stay like that, it is rough for the first few years not making a lot of money.
After the Colgan accident in 2009, a lot of the regulations changed. People are now concerned because people say that the new pilots wont have enough experience. After the Colgan crash, people were upset about the requirements needed to become a pilot. Possible solutions for regional airlines as well as prospective pilots would be to have a training period where they just observe the flight deck for "X" amount of hours and once they feel comfortable they take the right seat and become a first officer.
As we already know, ALPA represents regional pilots. There are other organizations that represent the rest of the industry as well. American Association of Airport Executives represents a lot of the management side of the industry. And the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) also represents a lot of the industry as well.
If I had to define professionalism in my own words I would say that it is how well mannered someone carries themselves in the workplace. In the documentary, there were many ways that lacked professionalism. The first major example is when they altered the documents to make it seem like the flights they were operating were legal as far as weight and balance goes. The second example is when one of the first officers spoke out against one of the Colgan captains and how he was unethical and how Colgan still decided to back the unethical Captain instead of the first officer who was trying to do the right thing. I do feel like pilot pay plays a big factor in professionalism in the regional airlines. If pilots don't feel like they are being properly compensated, they wont work up to the standards they are supposed to be at. The documentary talked about how some regional pilots live with up to 8 other people at a time because they cant afford anything by themselves. So its hard to keep a level of professionalism when that is their living standards. Being an operations manager at an airport, having professionalism means treating people with respect and being on time. Being on time is huge considering it creates a big first impression and being late to meetings shows that someone isn't professional and creates the wrong first impression. Also being fair to all of your employees and treating them with respect goes a long way. If someone treats their employees with respect then they will turn around and be loyal employees for you.
References
Jansen, B. (2015, August 27). Airline fears of pilot shortage spark Congress fight over required training. Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/27/pilot-shortage-faa-1500-hours-required-colgan-crash-alpa/32008451/
Pilot Shortage: Regional Airlines Are Cutting Flights. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-02-11/yes-theres-a-pilot-shortage-salaries-start-at-21-000
After the Colgan accident in 2009, a lot of the regulations changed. People are now concerned because people say that the new pilots wont have enough experience. After the Colgan crash, people were upset about the requirements needed to become a pilot. Possible solutions for regional airlines as well as prospective pilots would be to have a training period where they just observe the flight deck for "X" amount of hours and once they feel comfortable they take the right seat and become a first officer.
As we already know, ALPA represents regional pilots. There are other organizations that represent the rest of the industry as well. American Association of Airport Executives represents a lot of the management side of the industry. And the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) also represents a lot of the industry as well.
If I had to define professionalism in my own words I would say that it is how well mannered someone carries themselves in the workplace. In the documentary, there were many ways that lacked professionalism. The first major example is when they altered the documents to make it seem like the flights they were operating were legal as far as weight and balance goes. The second example is when one of the first officers spoke out against one of the Colgan captains and how he was unethical and how Colgan still decided to back the unethical Captain instead of the first officer who was trying to do the right thing. I do feel like pilot pay plays a big factor in professionalism in the regional airlines. If pilots don't feel like they are being properly compensated, they wont work up to the standards they are supposed to be at. The documentary talked about how some regional pilots live with up to 8 other people at a time because they cant afford anything by themselves. So its hard to keep a level of professionalism when that is their living standards. Being an operations manager at an airport, having professionalism means treating people with respect and being on time. Being on time is huge considering it creates a big first impression and being late to meetings shows that someone isn't professional and creates the wrong first impression. Also being fair to all of your employees and treating them with respect goes a long way. If someone treats their employees with respect then they will turn around and be loyal employees for you.
References
Jansen, B. (2015, August 27). Airline fears of pilot shortage spark Congress fight over required training. Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/27/pilot-shortage-faa-1500-hours-required-colgan-crash-alpa/32008451/
Pilot Shortage: Regional Airlines Are Cutting Flights. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-02-11/yes-theres-a-pilot-shortage-salaries-start-at-21-000
Friday, October 2, 2015
UAV's
UAV's are becoming a bigger and more prevalent part of modern day technology. Many people believe that one day UAV's will be a huge part of modern day aviation operations. But as of right now, its still a growing business. UAV's originally were just used in military operations but now have started making their way to the civilian side of things. According to a website online, "A North Dakota court has approved the use of drones to help arrest citizens on US soil. UAVs have primarily been used to conduct strikes against purported militants in countries like Pakistan, but their use at home has been on the rise as of late." This is a big advancement and could definitely be applied across the US. Also, many people have heard of Amazon using UAV's to deliver packages via UAV's. Jeff Bezos said that he "estimates that delivery-by-drone, called Amazon "Prime Air," will be available to customers in as soon as 4-5 years." This could be very beneficial but also very hectic seeing multiple drones flying around so close to the ground. UAV's are also regulated by the FAA. Specifically for first responders, "The bill further specifies these UAS must be flown within the line of sight of the operator, less than 400 feet above the ground, during daylight conditions, inside Class G (uncontrolled) airspace and more than five miles from any airport or other location with aviation activities." Which to me makes sense because that's not affecting as much of the NAS as it could be.
As far as UAV's integrating into the NAS I can definitely see that happening. Maybe not until 10-15 years from now but it will happen sometime and at first there will probably be some issues that need to be worked out. Line of sight will be an issue and the fact the drones are a lot smaller then all other aircraft will make them harder to see especially at night. And another issue is that could arise is that traffic at airports is already busy as it is and with UAV's flying around it will only make traffic more congested.
Military is another aspect that utilizes UAV's heavily. Everything from surveillance, to air support and even carrying supplies, drones have been big part of todays military. One of the negatives with UAV's are cost. Not every UAV created for military is still flying today. Being in a warzone, UAV's either are shot down or crash or just aren't able to fly anymore and they are not cheap pieces of technology which makes the cost go up every time one is destroyed.
There are also opportunities for jobs in the UAV markets. I found an interesting article saying the requirements needed to be a UAV pilot with customs and border protection. There were many different requirements but the main ones were that you needed to be, under 40 years old, be a US citizen and have your commercial pilots certificate. Which to me seems fair especially when you realize the type of aircraft you are flying and the kind of operations you will be doing.
References
Amazon Drones: Amazon Unveils Futuristic Delivery Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-unveils-futuristic-plan-delivery-by-drone/
Domestic drone justice: US court green-lights police UAV use. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.rt.com/usa/domestic-drone-court-ruling-743/
FAA Regulations for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.hse-uav.com/faa_regulations.htm
How to Become a UAV Pilot with Customs and Border Protection. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.borderpatroledu.org/become-uav-pilot/
As far as UAV's integrating into the NAS I can definitely see that happening. Maybe not until 10-15 years from now but it will happen sometime and at first there will probably be some issues that need to be worked out. Line of sight will be an issue and the fact the drones are a lot smaller then all other aircraft will make them harder to see especially at night. And another issue is that could arise is that traffic at airports is already busy as it is and with UAV's flying around it will only make traffic more congested.
Military is another aspect that utilizes UAV's heavily. Everything from surveillance, to air support and even carrying supplies, drones have been big part of todays military. One of the negatives with UAV's are cost. Not every UAV created for military is still flying today. Being in a warzone, UAV's either are shot down or crash or just aren't able to fly anymore and they are not cheap pieces of technology which makes the cost go up every time one is destroyed.
There are also opportunities for jobs in the UAV markets. I found an interesting article saying the requirements needed to be a UAV pilot with customs and border protection. There were many different requirements but the main ones were that you needed to be, under 40 years old, be a US citizen and have your commercial pilots certificate. Which to me seems fair especially when you realize the type of aircraft you are flying and the kind of operations you will be doing.
References
Amazon Drones: Amazon Unveils Futuristic Delivery Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-unveils-futuristic-plan-delivery-by-drone/
Domestic drone justice: US court green-lights police UAV use. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.rt.com/usa/domestic-drone-court-ruling-743/
FAA Regulations for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.hse-uav.com/faa_regulations.htm
How to Become a UAV Pilot with Customs and Border Protection. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.borderpatroledu.org/become-uav-pilot/
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Space Tourism
Space tourism is a very interesting topic for me. Space tourism has been evolving and evolving and has always gained interest ever since we put a man on the moon. And ever since then, the general public has been very interested in making scheduled flights into space happen. And personally I believe it will happen a lot sooner then later. Researching this topic online, I found a website that said, "The space tourism industry is officially open for business, and tickets are going for a mere $20 million for a one-week stay in space." Now I don't know about everyone else, but I should have started saving a long time ago in order to save up for a mere week in space. Although, it would be worth it, $20 million is a lot of money to be spending on going to space. According to the same article, "Despite reluctance from NASA, Russia made American businessman Dennis Tito the world's first space tourist." Since then, there have been few other people that have also been lucky enough to get into the space tourism world.
The rules and regulations that govern and very clear cut and concise. According to the FAA website, "The new rules maintain FAAs commitment to protect the safety of the uninvolved public and call for measures that enable passengers to make informed decisions about their personal safety." These rules include, " launch vehicle operators to provide certain safety-related information and identify what an operator must do to conduct a licensed launch with a human on board. In addition, launch operators are required to inform passengers of the risks of space travel generally and the risks of space travel in the operators vehicle in particular. These regulations also include training and general security requirements for space flight participants." These regulations were updated in 2007 and I believe that they are 100% correct. Obviously space flight is very dangerous and the regulations need to be very clear and very strict in order to keep people safe when attempting to do this.
As technology continues to advance I believe that space tourism will become more mainstream and continue to advance. More people will be able to able to access it and I believe it will happen in the next 10-15 years. As far as it becoming a regular form of transportation I don't see it becoming as popular as the airline industry I just see it becoming a once in a lifetime experience type of activity.
As far as the qualifications, the pilots must have a valid FAA and medical certification. Student pilots are not qualified to do this. As far as management side goes, its hard for people to start and create a viable business in something this large of scale. I can only imagine how much would be needed in order to create a business that would operate on such a large scale.
References
Bonsor, K. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2015, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-tourism.htm
New Regulations Govern Private Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2015, from http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/human_space_flight_reqs/
The rules and regulations that govern and very clear cut and concise. According to the FAA website, "The new rules maintain FAAs commitment to protect the safety of the uninvolved public and call for measures that enable passengers to make informed decisions about their personal safety." These rules include, " launch vehicle operators to provide certain safety-related information and identify what an operator must do to conduct a licensed launch with a human on board. In addition, launch operators are required to inform passengers of the risks of space travel generally and the risks of space travel in the operators vehicle in particular. These regulations also include training and general security requirements for space flight participants." These regulations were updated in 2007 and I believe that they are 100% correct. Obviously space flight is very dangerous and the regulations need to be very clear and very strict in order to keep people safe when attempting to do this.
As technology continues to advance I believe that space tourism will become more mainstream and continue to advance. More people will be able to able to access it and I believe it will happen in the next 10-15 years. As far as it becoming a regular form of transportation I don't see it becoming as popular as the airline industry I just see it becoming a once in a lifetime experience type of activity.
As far as the qualifications, the pilots must have a valid FAA and medical certification. Student pilots are not qualified to do this. As far as management side goes, its hard for people to start and create a viable business in something this large of scale. I can only imagine how much would be needed in order to create a business that would operate on such a large scale.
References
Bonsor, K. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2015, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-tourism.htm
New Regulations Govern Private Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2015, from http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/human_space_flight_reqs/
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Pilots and Depression
The Germanwings crash is one of the most saddest aviation accidents in history. On March 24th, 2015, Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed an Airbus 320 into the side of a mountain killing all 150 people on board. During the flight, the captain got up and left the cockpit, prompting Lubitz to lock the captain out of the cockpit so he could take full control of the plane. Lubitz set the altitude dial to 100 feet after ATC instructed the aircraft to fly at an altitude of 35,000 feet and then 21,000 feet. It was noted that the altitude dial was reset back to 49,000 after it was set to 100 feet which made investigators believe that Lubitz almost didn't go through with this disaster. After his altitude selections, the flight data recorder showed that Lubitz increased the aircrafts airspeed to 345 knots on descent and while ATC tried to contact the aircraft they never got a response. The aircraft then crashed into the mountain killing all on board.
Andreas Lubitz was known to have had dealt with depression before this accident. "Last month German prosecutors revealed that Lubitz had researched suicide methods and the security of cockpit doors." (bbc.com). The article also states that, "Lufthansa, Germanwings' parent company, twice refused to renew his medical certificate in 2009 due to depression, the BEA's preliminary report says." (bbc.com). So the company was at least aware that Lubitz had mental issues that he was dealing with.
Another case of a pilot with mental issues is Egypt Air Flight 990 on October 31st 1999. During this flight, the captain left to go to the bathroom and the co-pilot then locked him out of the cockpit. The NTSB came out with a report that said you can hear the co-pilot say "I rely on God" and then start a steep descent into the ocean killing everyone on board.
As of right now, commercial pilots are screened for physical and mental health every 6 months if you are over 40 years of age and once a year if you are under 40 years of age. Although they do this screening, this is more focused on the physical aspect of the pilots and not necessarily the mental side. As of right now, pilots are supposed to self identify any problems they may have and obviously not everyone self identifies if they have mental issues. Personally, I do not believe this is the correct method because people are not always truthful with their ways. Pilots know that if they do disclose their mental issues then they could possibly lose their source of income which is a huge factor in their decisions with lying about their conditions. If the FAA and the Airlines were to try a more liberal approach I believe in could land them in more hot water this way. If they had the power to tell someone they are not mentally fit to fly I feel like it would only cause more issues if by chance they were wrong about their diagnosis. And it only takes one wrong case to discredit the FAA telling people that they are or are not mentally fit to fly.
References
Germanwings crash: Co-pilot Lubitz 'practised rapid descent' - BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
How Pilots Are Screened for Depression and Suicide. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
Pilots blamed for deliberate plane crash deaths - CNN.com. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
Andreas Lubitz was known to have had dealt with depression before this accident. "Last month German prosecutors revealed that Lubitz had researched suicide methods and the security of cockpit doors." (bbc.com). The article also states that, "Lufthansa, Germanwings' parent company, twice refused to renew his medical certificate in 2009 due to depression, the BEA's preliminary report says." (bbc.com). So the company was at least aware that Lubitz had mental issues that he was dealing with.
Another case of a pilot with mental issues is Egypt Air Flight 990 on October 31st 1999. During this flight, the captain left to go to the bathroom and the co-pilot then locked him out of the cockpit. The NTSB came out with a report that said you can hear the co-pilot say "I rely on God" and then start a steep descent into the ocean killing everyone on board.
As of right now, commercial pilots are screened for physical and mental health every 6 months if you are over 40 years of age and once a year if you are under 40 years of age. Although they do this screening, this is more focused on the physical aspect of the pilots and not necessarily the mental side. As of right now, pilots are supposed to self identify any problems they may have and obviously not everyone self identifies if they have mental issues. Personally, I do not believe this is the correct method because people are not always truthful with their ways. Pilots know that if they do disclose their mental issues then they could possibly lose their source of income which is a huge factor in their decisions with lying about their conditions. If the FAA and the Airlines were to try a more liberal approach I believe in could land them in more hot water this way. If they had the power to tell someone they are not mentally fit to fly I feel like it would only cause more issues if by chance they were wrong about their diagnosis. And it only takes one wrong case to discredit the FAA telling people that they are or are not mentally fit to fly.
References
Germanwings crash: Co-pilot Lubitz 'practised rapid descent' - BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
How Pilots Are Screened for Depression and Suicide. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
Pilots blamed for deliberate plane crash deaths - CNN.com. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Introduction
Hello,
I first got into aviation when I was a child growing up. I've always loved the airport environment and I've always loved watching planes land and take off. And of course I've always liked going on an airplane and still do to this day. I am an Aviation Management Major and I am planning on graduating in the spring of 2016.
After graduation, I hope to get into airport operations. As of right now, I don't really mind where at in the nation. I think it would be cool to be able to go out and see the world so I wouldn't really mind leaving Michigan if I had to in order to find a job. When I first came to college I was originally a flight major. After I obtained my private pilot certificate I realized that the pilot path wasn't really for me and I switched over to management. I am also currently working on my dispatch certificate because it seems like an interesting field and its another certificate to add to my resume.
I like that we have different speakers come in and talk to us. I also like how we have a variety across the aviation field as well. I would like to see someone that works primarily in airport security to come speak to us. I feel like they have seen a lot of different things working in security and would have a lot to share with us.
I first got into aviation when I was a child growing up. I've always loved the airport environment and I've always loved watching planes land and take off. And of course I've always liked going on an airplane and still do to this day. I am an Aviation Management Major and I am planning on graduating in the spring of 2016.
After graduation, I hope to get into airport operations. As of right now, I don't really mind where at in the nation. I think it would be cool to be able to go out and see the world so I wouldn't really mind leaving Michigan if I had to in order to find a job. When I first came to college I was originally a flight major. After I obtained my private pilot certificate I realized that the pilot path wasn't really for me and I switched over to management. I am also currently working on my dispatch certificate because it seems like an interesting field and its another certificate to add to my resume.
I like that we have different speakers come in and talk to us. I also like how we have a variety across the aviation field as well. I would like to see someone that works primarily in airport security to come speak to us. I feel like they have seen a lot of different things working in security and would have a lot to share with us.
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