Final Blog

I remember starting my first day at EMU's aviation program two years ago not really knowing of what I was getting myself into.  Throughout my two year career here at EMU I have learned a lot and it has really made me realize how broad aviation industry can be.  Going back to my first introduction blog about me finally getting employed with Delta airlines this past summer has been a dream come true for me.  I've always had a passion for working inside an airport, being around people, and working for a major air carrier.  My career plans have not really changed since the beginning of the semester.  Hopefully when I earn my bachelors this spring I will continue to pursue my career with Delta Airlines and work my way up to an upper management position one day.

A lot has influenced me throughout the class this semester.  This class has been really fun and at the same time interesting.  The blog topics that we've discussed over the weeks were beneficial and having to talk about them and sharing our thoughts with our classmates is what made the class more interesting.  Having guest speakers also come to our class was also another great influence because with them coming from the aviation industry and talking to us about there everyday duties and how they pursued their career goals helped give us an idea of what to expect once we graduate.

For me I think that the most interesting blog topic was the article about "How Can We Compete 7 Plus Ways To Level The Playing Field."  The reason I chose this blog topic was being probably the only management student in the course this semester it really talked about the business side of aviation in depth.  Since I'm also taking minor business classes along with aviation classes here at EMU I was able to relate the topic with the business classes.  The least favorite of my topic was the NPRM that's going to make changes because of the Buffalo accident that occurred a few years ago.

For me I think that all the guest speakers that we had this semester were all interesting and it was great to have them all come to our class and share their experience with us.  But if I had to choose of the bunch I would choose the two ladies from the Detroit Metro TRACON.  ATC has always been an interest to me, and with them coming and giving us a presentation behind the scenes of what's going on made me that much more interested, and who knows maybe one day I could end up leaving Delta and work inside the tower at Detroit Metro.  Another guest speaker who was also one of my favorites was Mark Johnson manager of Livingston County Airport.  Going into the management side of aviation I was able to gain a lot of information from him and what he does.

After graduation I hopefully will continue working with Delta Airlines and reach my life long career dream of becoming and upper management personal.  I've been there for half a year now but it seems like just yesterday I was in the credentials office filling out paperwork, going through extensive screening and a background check to earn my DTW badge.  Working within the airport has always been a dream of mine and being employed with one of the best if not the best U.S air carrier is a dream come true.  Other then working for an major airline I would like to pursue my career one day with working within the Wayne County Airport Authority.  Taking AVT 315 Airport Management this semester and having a professor who comes from that profession field has really influenced me in a great way.

EU ETS

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of the European Union's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions cost effectively.  It is the first and biggest international scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowances.  The EU ETS covers roughly eleven thousand power stations and industrial stations in thirty countries.  The European Union Emissions Trading System was launched in 2005 and works on the "cap and trade" principle.  It limits the total amount in total emitting carbon dioxide (CO2).  By 2020 the emissions for international aviation are projected to be around seventy percent  higher than when the trading system started in 2005.

The United States and other countries are heavily opposed to this.  The reason being is the amount of taxes that's going to be paid while flying over their own airspace and not just into Europe.  Because of the EU ETS policy the Chinese government has threatened to have Chinese airlines from buying up to 45 Airbus aircraft.

President Obama closed the legislative loop on U.S. by signing the Senate Bill 1956 in refusal to comply with the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme to prohibit U.S. aircraft operators from participating in the carbon tax plan.  Ed Bolen  CEO and president of National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) stated that "this is an issue that should be rightfully handled with the framework of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

By 2050 ICAO forecasts that emissions could grow further by three to seven hundred percent to what they normally are right now.  ICAO has made forward progress on regulating aircraft CO2 emissions.  ICAO has proposed four market based measures to reduce emissions.  The first proposed indication is global mandatory offsetting,  second is global offsetting that would include revenue generation through the sales of offsets,  third is emissions trading in a cap and trade system, and lastly emissions trading through a baseline and credit model.

From my perspective I think that a global solution is essential for reducing aircraft emissions.  Nevertheless, taxing other airlines and having them pay the consequence isn't the right resolution.  ICAO seems to have the resolution for the situation by innovating new sources to reduce CO2 emissions rather than global effecting the world.  

NextGen

By the beginning of early 2014 Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) will change how flights are operated and controlled in our National Airspace.  According to the FAA the purpose for this new integrated system is to be able to guide and track air traffic more precisely, and efficiently in order to reduce noise and pollution and also to save fuel.  NextGen has been built upon "four major pillars" economic impact, sustainability, flexibility, and safety.

1.) For me first and for most I think that safety is probably the most important of the four pillars.  With the policies and procedures that's being implemented  it was produced to ensure that the U.S. air transportation systems will remain the safest.  Live updated weather and airspace status information will be directly delivered to the cockpit which allows operators to make safe and better decisions.

2.) Sustainability and Economic Impact would have to be the next two important pillars.  NextGen will play a huge role in helping to better our global environment.  It will reduce fuel burn and decrease carbon dioxide and the aircraft exhaust emissions that can harmfully impact the air quality.  With us taken care of our environment in can also better our economy.  The U.S. economy is strongly dependent on the aviation industry.  Civil aviation nearly contributed to 1.3 trillion dollars annually to the national economy.  With the economic growth always a main concern for many citizens  NextGen will sustain the growth of aviation and will add more then 10 million jobs.

3.) Flexibility:  NextGen technologies and procedures are helping restore flexibility to the air transportation system.  Performance Based Navigation (PBN) will allow aircraft's to no longer have to rely on ground based systems.  With PBN it allows more direct, fuel efficient routes and provides alternatives for routing around bad weather, or unexpected congestion.

NextGens funding sources are not guaranteed.  According to the FAA NextGen expenses coming from its budget could reach anywhere from 15-25 billion dollars by 2025.  The Obama administration is now is working on these funds by requesting a 275 million dollar or increasing the funds by 30 percent.

General Aviation in China

Hawker Beechcraft which is a company based out of Wichita Kansas filed for protection bankruptcy during May of 2012, with plans to sell the civilian Aviation company to Superior Aviation Beijing Co. for 1.8 billion dollars.  According to CBS news the sale had collapsed. this past Thursday and the U.S plane maker said the company now plans on emerging from bankruptcy as a slimmed down company within the first quarterly year of 2013.  CEO Robert "Steve" Miller said in his own words, "despite our best efforts, the proposed transaction with Superior could not be completed on terms acceptable to the company.  To protect themselves the company obtained 50 million dollar deposit that is fully non-fundable and property of the company.  The company plans on changing its name to Beechcraft and focus on most profitable products.

To get back on topic another U.S general aviation company that has ties with China is Cessna.  Cessna signed agreements in March with Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) along with the Chengdu government.  Cessna came to agreements with China because it expects it to become one of the top ten countries for business jet ownership by 2025.

China's rapid growth is due to all the aerial work and training and private flying that will be done within the next ten years.  Their general aviation aircraft will increase well over 10,000 by 2020 with a rapid growth rate of 22 percent.  They will need 1,997 general aviation aircraft's for aerial work, and 1,415 aircraft's for training and private flying.

The relationship between the U.S. general aviation manufacturers with the ties to China's rapid growth is by Cessna coming with agreement with the Chinese general aviation they would produce mid-size and light business jets, utility single engine turboprops and single engine piston aircraft and transfer them over to China where they would be sold.

With all this happening people who work for Cessna and produce those aircrafts for the Chinese general aviation will continue to be employed for the upcoming years.  With China rapid growth with general aviation and high demand for aircraft being produced I think they will continue to flourish.  As for the U.S. general aviation they should be fine if they could continue to remain in partnership with China in producing and selling aircraft's.

Com-air

This week's topic that's being discussed in class is about Com-air.  Com-air was established in March of 1977 and began its 25 year operation on April 1, 1977.  Com-air began its operations with three Piper Navajo planes and a two room office at the Cincinnati/Kentucky International airport. Com-air was founded by Patrick Sowers, Robert Tranter, David Mueller, and his father Raymond.  It later became a Delta connection carrier in 1984, and by October 22nd, 1999 Delta Air Lines had taken full ownership which cost them over two billion dollars.

Since Delta had taken over Com-air pilots had went on strike, flights were being delayed, and the company had to file for chapter eleven bankruptcy on September 2005.  Com-air was forced to cut down its costs by a million dollars annually by reducing their aircraft's, flights, and employees.  Delta had close to five hundred fifty passenger planes in 2008 and was forced to cut it down to 125 planes within two years.  Most of the flying will be the with the new jets (CRJ 900) that seat 76 passengers along with the Boeing 717 that will be leased from Southwest Airlines.

After searching with all the regional airlines for management positions, Pinnacle Airlines had some management positions open.  They're hiring an in-flight inspector, a senior quality inspector, and a quality control inspector.  I think within the next few years will grow in a positive way as the economy progresses.

Should Airfare Be A Luxury?

A lot has changed over the past forty years.  Nothing is like it used to be and everything seems to be more technological nowadays.  The average gallon of gas cost about $0.35 back in the 1970's and in today's economy a gallon of gas cost about $3.80.  One thing that though that has remained the same and has even become cheaper then what it used to be back in the 1970's is Airfare travel.  Ever since the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 airfare has become two times cheaper then what it normally was and has changed the airline industry in many ways.

According to travel insider the Airline Deregulation Act as positively impacted the industry in six major ways.   Firstly being it has increased air travel having three times the people travel and twice as many flights as we had in the 1970's. Secondly it allowed the Airline industry to start a rewards program called the frequent flier which gives people who travel a lot extra perks and rewards within the carrier that they travel.  Thirdly which is probably the most important to all the people is that airfare pricing has dropped over the past forty years.  Fourth thing is hundreds of thousands of new jobs were being added within the airline.  Fifth thing is the airlines are motivating and developing of better planes.  Lastly is the Airlines are vastly safer and have reduced the accident departure rate by thirteen times of what it used to be.

With all this being said.  I really don't think that airfare prices should increase.  I think everybody should be able to travel and go on vacation where ever they please to.  Some people are able to travel on vacation more often then other families in today's society.  Growing up and coming from a middle class family I never had the pleasure of traveling by air like some people are able to today.  A lot has changed within the industry and it will only continue to grow and without these people traveling I wouldn't be employed at the airline like am today.  Without more people traveling nowadays other businesses like resorts, hotels, car rentals, taxi cab service, and restaurants wouldn't be in high demand as they are today.

Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2010

President Barrack Obama signed PL 111-216 on August 1, 2010 and is supposedly take effect either in August or September of 2013.  The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2010.  The main purpose for this law being passed is because of Colgan Flight 3407 that happened on February 12, 2009 in Clarence Water, New York.  This law that President Obama passed has two parts.  Title one: Airport and Airway Extension which is broken down into several sections. Section 102 Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure authority, Section 105 FAA operations, Section 106 Air Navigation Facilities and equipment, and Section 107 Research, engineering, and development.  Title two: Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement which consists of more sections and goes more in depth and deals with, Section 203 FAA pilot records database, Section 205 Aviation Safety Inspectors and Operation Research Analysts, Section 209 FAA rule-making on training programs, and Section 211 Safety inspections of regional air carriers.  These are just some of the sections from both titles that's being stated within the law.  If you would like to find out more information about PL 111-216 click here.

For me being on the management side of aviation I can see this law having an effect on my aviation career in a more stressful way.  With all these sections being enforced under each of these titles working for the FAA to update these regulations and revise them would not be the easiest thing.  Section 203 under title two FAA pilot records database is broken down into many sub-parts.  Working as a Human Resource personal within the aviation field and trying to keep record of each pilot information needed would be a huge responsibility.

From my perspective I think this can have an effect on EMU's future in flight training for those students who plan on pursuing their career flying for a 121 domestic air carrier.  In today's domestic air carrier a first officer could have a minimum of 250 hours of flying.  With this ATP certificate which sets the flight hour requirements to over a 1000 hours which is a lot higher then normal standards it can impact a student attending a four year college whose trying to become a pilot.  AOPA has an artical that elaborates on proposed first officer requirements and talks about the pilots training, eligibility and qualifications without having a negative impact on the general aviation side.  I personally think that if this law was to be passed by next year it would mainly impact the students who want to pursue their career's within the 121 domestic air carrier more so than the general aviation.