Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Job of the Future

     Growing up I ultimately wanted to join the military, soon after being excepted into college at Eastern Michigan University, I took part in the Army ROTC program. Though the program does not require soldiers to take part in obtaining a degree which is relevant to the job they are wanting to get, I still choose something that was interesting. Aviation Management Technology was the degree I choose to pursue, and this degree is a great fall back plan if things were to go wrong.
     As of know I have recently received my results, and know what job I will be getting for the Army. I branched Infantry, also the branch the I wanted, upon graduation will start the position full time. Infantry is the heart of the Army, they are specialized in armed combat, and tactics to overtake enemy forces. This is so appealing to me because it gives you first hand experience to lead soldiers, and put you as the decision maker as being a lieutenant. The Army is somethings I want to engage with as a sign of patriotism, and a way to directly serve my country.
      The direction the Army is heading in, seems to be that of on oncoming downsize. Currently the Army in the process of pulling the soldiers form Iraq, and have a current plan to be out of Afghanistan some where around 2014. The future of the Army is also going to be downsizing their mainstream forces, by turning those who aren't needed as much to reserve units, away from being full time. The US Army is still leading as being the number one army in the world.
 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Emission Trading Scheme

The Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is where Europe is charging other airlines for the CO2 emissions they pollute into the air for the for length of the flight to Europe. On 25 October 2011 the US House of Representative passed a bill restricting the US from participating in the Europe's ETS. With the US restricting air carriers to participate in this, will likely give other countries a view on weather they should follow the US stand on the matter. China also is taking on a similar action compared to what the US has done preventing them to take place in the ETS.

China has said that they will not put up the ETS and is in the process of filling a lawsuit. Despite the United States efforts to change Europe's minds, China plans to take a route in persuading them from not doing this. China has said that if Europe does not back down from this, they will increase airfares and penalties for European carries to combat the ETS. Chai Haibo, the president of China Air Transport Association has confirmed is planes to do this in order to combat ETS.

ICAO has finally spoken up and have given some guidance with the situation. ICAO is stating that Europe should exempt non-European carries from the rules. French new sources state that ICAO seems to be backing the US, China, Japan, and Russia on this one. Europe's ETS guidance for countries who feel indifferent about this is that if countries do what they can to reduce their CO2 emission to meet EU's standards, then they will not have to pay a tax. 

Sunday, November 13, 2011

James McNerney

James McNerney has influenced today's aviation in a number of ways. McNerney works for Boeing as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. McNerney is a member of the Northwestern University Board of Trustees and also a Chairman of the President’s Export Council by Barack Obama. McNerney served with the Boeing board since 2001, and was elected in 2005 to be the head chairman of Boeing. As Chairman of Boeing, McNerney oversees the strategic decisions and directions the company makes as a whole.
McNerney is a very influential person in aviation because he made sure Boeing was a continuing success to this nation. McNerney lead Boeing to be the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners, and military aircraft’s. While doing that McNerney also has an employee staff of over 160,500 employees. McNerney had contributed to the American economy by create one of the most popular airliners used today in the commercial world of aviation. McNerney also contributed to the world’s greatest military by create a number of things for the national defense of America.  
McNerney background to how he got to such a position is followed by an outstanding resume. Spend time being a manager from 1975-1988, soon after that he became president for General Electric (GE) Information Services. He spent time in GE as president under many different departments, but in 1997-2000 he became President and CEO of GE Aircraft Engines. From 2000-2005 he spent his time being President and CEO for 3M. After that McNerney was elected to be the President and CEO of Boeing from 2005 to present. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

China's Airline Industry

China's Corporate aviation is lacking a few things in its industry. China as very few private jets in its country because of a low altitude law in affect. This law prevents aircraft's from flying at such low altitude, which keeps out a lot of private jets from being able to fly. China is in the process of dropping that law and allowing private aircraft's to fly in China. China is planning on short term to achieve 150 jets short term and long term to obtain about 700 jets.  

Current status of China's aviation industry is that their is a law where aircraft's can not fly below a certain altitude, which is currently killing private aviation and general aviation. The future outlook on China's aviation industry is that they are about to open a law which allows low altitude airspace in 2015.This will create a lot more job opportunities for those people in china in many different areas. Jobs will open all the way from manufacturing to pilots slots. The biggest area that will  open the most jobs will be corporate business to take off in china. There will be a big need for pilots, as well as managers in this area because of businesses wanting to enter into corporate aviation which posses more business opportunities.

The impact on the US industry from China's new low altitude airspace coming into affect is that China will have more of a demand for new aircraft's. That being said, Boeing is being looked to by China to manufacture potential aircraft's for those corporation that are going to engage in the new low altitude airspace. Money will be put into Americas economy from other countries, improving our state. Also this will help bring more work and jobs for Boeing, create an even better opportunity for Americans to receive more job opportunities.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Corporate Delta

Delta has many things you can find by looking through the cooperate information.The majority of the Delta's fleet has a total of 790 aircraft's, which compose of Boeing, Airbus, and McDonnell Douglas aircraft's being the majority of them. Delta has a total of 80,000 employees globally, including everything from pilots to management. Delta flies more than 160 million customers to their destination weather it be passenger transportation or cargo. Delta also controls their own FAR part 135, with access to a wide variety of jets.

As a CO-OP Project Manager, one is to assist with other airport customer service, gathering and analyzing information, formulating and testing hypothesis, developing and communicating recommendations, developing measurement system, and implementing performance improvements and assisting change management. Qualifications for this job are solve unstructured problems, work on multiple project with strict deadlines, and function under pressure. Well experienced with Microsoft Office applications, and  database software as well as simulation programs. Work experience in process analysis and redesign.

As Pilot is to take off and land safely and on time. Requirements  are at lease 21 years old, have four year degree, have a current passport. Flight time requirements are a minimum of 1,200 hours of total documented flight time, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of fixed wing turboprop of turbofan time. FAA requires commercial fixed wing pilot license with instrument rating, FAA first class medical certificate, and a passing score on FAA ATP written exam. Other things looked at are FCC radiotelephone operator's permit, drug test, and TSA background check.

Under both the job descriptions, Delta does not have benefits, pay, or anything listed about the job pertaining to income. The job descriptions and qualifications are almost set up in a way where delta doesn't want potential employee's seeing what pay rate and benefits are. I believe they set this up like this, is probably because they are trying to encourage other to apply first to find out. Delta does mentions that they are investing more than 2 billion in 2013 to enhance technology and customer service needs, which would potential create more jobs for future employees.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Space Travel

The new space economy is getting real, and this follows a lot of speculation to what this really means. Over the years, NASA went from being the government and the nations biggest organization for space exploration. In recent years, NASA was able to cooperate with no governmental organizations, and now they allot money out to certain private organizations for exploration, and even commercial reasons. This allows the private organizations to be able to come away from some government heavily regulated areas and work around them when trying to create a space vessel. Space programs are becoming a current issue in today's world, and people are trying to break into as a transportation method to tour space.

In the next 25 years NASA will be looking to focus mainly on space exploration, and not so much to things dealing with space directly around earth. NASA if going to expend the bulk of their cash on mainly space exploration, things we have not done yet, a current national goal is to go to mars by 2040. Private companies are receiving funds by NASA to continue on earth based space operations, such as the international space station. Doing this allows NASA to focus on the big picture, space exploration, while stuff directly around earth isn't ignored. The main focus for NASA is space exploration, looking for new resources all the way to inhabitable planets, before in the past NASA was in a space race to achieve an over hand on the Russia's to being the first country to get to the moon. 

 I believe the exploration of space is beneficial as a quote from this article said, "Space holds the future for humanity. The frontier is out there; it's waiting for us." There is a lot for us to discover and explore behind or direct reach from earth, being able to extend the reach will allow us to see things from a different perspective. In the direction space exploration, and commercial space flights are heading, their are a few jobs that may need to become into effect. Spaceport traffic control, this job would be big for coordinating with space crafts like our current air traffic control does at a regular airport. Human-rated spacecraft maintenance, just like current aviation mechanics, special licensed mechanics would have to work on your space vessel.  In the future space travel is headed towards a more accessible career field than it used to be.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Aviation Emission Trading Scheme

Europe is now regulating the amount of Emissions that is put into their air, not only by ground vehicles of transportation but now aircraft's. Europe is going to charge the aircraft by the amount emissions the aircraft puts off into the atmosphere. The United States are feuding this with Europe saying that such a thing is outrages, especially with how how much they are charging and the fact that it doesn't have to be emitted in Europe to get charged for it. The United States is in the process of passing a bill which will prohibit air transportation through Europe.

Europe is starting to charge airlines for the emissions they produce into the atmosphere. The United States does not like this because Europe states that the emissions are tracked from when they depart in the States, and when they arrive at Europe that all the emission from that flight are charged and payed to Europe. The big conflict is that 80% of that flight was done in the United States, and International waters, so why should they have to pay them for that. Along with the United States, other countries are also outraged, and some have shown sign's to also retaliate this if changes are not being made. Europe is putting a big risk to their countries with this new scheme, especially when the income from this scheme goes to the government to be distributed to the governments favor, which could have nothing to do with making the atmosphere better.

If the air carriers have to participate in this scheme, not only do I believe Europe has gone mad for purposing this but it would only be exceptional under one condition. If Europe only charged the carriers for their emission for the time they travel over Europe instead of the flights entire leg, weather it was not in Europe or it was. This would make a lot more sense considering it is not trying to profit on things outside of there country. Currently with the way things are heading the United States should pass this bill and not participate with Europe's scheme. Europe's money they receive from the emissions isn't even going back into helping the environment, the money goes into a fund were the European government can distribute the way they want. The United States can do just fine without using Europe in their flight paths, and would be a good decision in my opinion for the united states to say clear of Europe and its scheme.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

A380

The Airbus A380 is the new biggest baddest aircraft around in the world of commercial aviation. This aircraft is a Double-Decker, wide body, four engined aircraft build for commercial use. When this aircraft was brought into production and then put on to the line of duty it took over the Boeing 747 of being the largest commercial aircraft. Airbus A380 was in production from 1991, and in 2007 the first Airbus A380 was delivered.

This aircraft has the most allowed seating than any aircraft, which will allow less trips with aircraft's to the same destination, making more money with less flights. Inside the aircraft there is reduced noise coming form outside, which would make more passengers feeling more energetic and rejuvenated upon arrival. This aircraft is also CO2 emission friendly, dispersing the least about of emissions into the air. The aircraft is also built for comfort, it is outfitted with top of line seats to create the greatest customer satisfactions, and this would make more people feel like plane rides are no longer a hassle.

The A380 has delivered to six airlines already, and they have been the first six to recieve this aircraft after production.Their are quite a few more airlines who are placing orders for this aircraft, and we should be seeing more of them in the future. This aircraft on my career can make the management job become easier and more effective. With these aircraft we will be able to save on fuel, terminal space, and open up more flights. this aircraft is able to take on more people people per flight increasing the money brought in per flight, an along with saving on other cost from having to use two aircraft's to do what one can. The A380 is an aircraft that can improve the industry if utilized, and this aircraft makes the commercial industry for air transportation become a more effective business.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Next Gen

There is a way to make today's ATC to more precises and make productivity of airlines go up. This system is called Next Gen ATC, and there our a number of reasons why this is can improve today's aviation world. One of the biggest things is that will increase the space we have in the airports airspace by being able to make aircraft's take more direct routes. This will also give pilots the ability to see were aircraft's our in relation to them and to the ground. This will allow more air traffic to become easily controlled, and increase the amount of traffic they can take in.

ATC will take on less errors with this new system, increasing the productivity of ATC, by use of computers. This will also allow aircraft's to take more direct flight paths to their destination and safer. This is safer because the system can track weather issues and use more efficient and safer paths through airways. This allows air airspace to be more readily and easily traceable by the FAA. With this improved system, this means flights take less time to travel, and take the safest way possible, increasing the productivity of the airport, and keeping costumers happy.

AOPA is looking forward to having the Next Gen system put into aviation in this reading. The cost of the NextGen is estimated to come out to around $15 to $22 billion. This is the kind of money that the airlines and GA will have to come up with in order to implement these systems. In the mean while, the price of flights will have to go up for companies to be able to compensate for the money they spent. This will set there spending founds back for some time, but in the long run it will increase safety and revenue brought in. NextGen will probably not be fully implemented and used by almost every airport till 2025. 

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Security in Aviaiton

Since the 9/11 attack as occurred, there have been many changes in aviation since. Security being the number one choice on the list as far as thing to improve since then. Airport security is no longer taken lightly since the attacks, and now some people think they have gone to far with it. Every person has a comfort zone, an in order to pass security at the airport, many feel like this comfort zone is being broken. Many people believe that this doesn't need to be done this extensively.
As this article and video states that security as gotten completely out of hand as far searches go. Just over  fifty percent of people in a poll stated that these intrusive security checks do make them feel safer, as the other percentage either don't care or don't feel safer. It appears that pretty soon, we will no longer have to take off our shoes when going through security check, as our security equipment has become more advanced. The fact is that these intrusive searches make people feel like they are being wrongfully searched, especially with how in depth they get with there searches. In the near future, technology will allow us, not to have to take off our shoes, like other countries who do not have to do that because there technology can cover that.
Another security threat airports take is that terrorism seems to be coming up with a new way to try and breach airport security. The latest bomb risk is that Al Qaeda is practicing implanting bombs into the flesh of another living human being. The associated risk of this is that the airport security technology can only see through clothing, and not through human flesh. Future security will have to be able to counter this with intelligence, better technology, and even possible a bomb unit with dogs. As terrorism finds ways to pass our security, the industry has to find a better way of implementing technology to not intrusive search others.
   

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Issues with Automation

Automation was brought in to help the pilot relieve his work load, and to reduce the amount of stress a pilot already carries during each flight. Automation has been used in airplanes for quite sometime, and needless to say they have not been perfect. Problems and issues in automation are arising, and it is all too things that can be corrected. Does a problem with an automated system  go bad mean that the flight is going to go over bad or is this something that can be prevented?

Automation is a great system to be used, it takes a work load off of the pilots and does so much to the flight that is being conducted. Not to long ago Air France Flight 447 went down of the south Atlantic Ocean, caused by an error with an automated system. This is something that can be prevent just by pilots to revert to the training they first learn. A good point to make out of this, is that pilots should be retested once a year if not more often on how to operate the aircraft without automated systems. This would help pull this burden off of what happens when the systems go offline, or registers an error.

Pilots need to not be complacent, and watch there automated systems to make sure they are properly operating themselves. Becoming to reliant on them will just cause those using them to not double check the reading and take the system for granted, and as stated in this article, we need to go back to the training we first received when pilots weren't reliant on theses systems. Pilots are almost not actually final a plane when it comes to these automated systems, but they should go back and follow these systems as if they were actually flying the plane the entire time, so when things compute as errors on the systems, pilots are quick to fix them and carry on with the mission.

http://www.examiner.com/airlines-airport-in-national/aircraft-automation-issues-raise-safety-concerns

Monday, September 5, 2011

How I gotten into Aviation

     My first interest peaked in aviation when I was in my youth. My Father had his private pilots license, which gave me the opportunity growing up to leave the ground and explore the skies at a young age. From these experiences growing up, aviation peaked my interested and gave me something to aim for a future career. Not only did I have these experiences but also my father was a great role model for me to follow for many reasons.
     To pursue this career it was now time to decide what schools I should attend for college. When I finally figured out that I wanted to attend Eastern Michigan, I had to begin looking into what would be my field of study of Aviation I wanted to get into. Not every college offers aviation, so I had a unique opportunity to major in Aviation here. I decided to go into Aviation Management Technology, which gives me the chance to go into the management side of things in aviation.
     I Currently in the Army National Guard, and attending the Army ROTC program where I will Receive my commission when I graduate in 2012. I plan on getting into Logistics and Transportation while I serve my time in the Army. When I get out in a couple of years after doing that, I want to use my degree and my life experiences to get into the management side of things for aviation. This is how I got into aviation and how I plan to continue pursuing the career field.