Final blog, revisiting UAVs

The blog topic I am revisiting is the topic on UAS, UAS is such a huge and wide range topic and I believe we only covered a small portion in the blog. I was helping my girlfriend with her NPRM assignment and going over the NPRM, I realized that there was more to the UAS then what I originally wrote. You have the Drone regulations that fall under part 107(knowbeforeyoufly) which originally was under the 333 exemption. In class we talked about integrating drones into the NAS, The FAA has been trying to incorporate drones into the NAS but we believe it will be a long time because the whole process of being able to have it connected to ADS-B, transponder, or radios. We are sure that the technology will be there one day, just not today. ‘The FAA has a dream to incorporate UAS with the NAS. In 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a comprehensive plan and subsequently the FAA issued a roadmap of its efforts to achieve safe integration of UAS operations into the NAS. To determine under section 333, we must assess “which types of unmanned aircraft systems, if any, as a result of their size, weight, speed, operational capability, proximity to airports and populated areas, and operation within visual line of sight do not create a hazard to users of the national airspace system or the public or pose a threat to national security.” (Operations and certification of a small UAS)

 Now in my blog I was saying how it will not be integrated but I believe that with the upcoming technology that it will be and right now a lot of people see it as a risk and there are dangers with incorporating UAS into the NAS.  We talked about the pros and cons, but even after talking about all this, did we ever stop and ask ourselves, “Is this right? Do we really need to regulate another thing? Do we have to stop young kids from having fun with remote control helicopters or drones? Do we have the right to tell them how to fly their drones around their houses? What happens to people and privacy? Can we shoot down drones if we think they are invading our privacy?”

I believe that everyone has the right to do what they want on their property, if they want to fly UAS then that should be their right, but I also believe that you also have the right to shoot down a drone that is over your property because of privacy and you should not be in trouble due to the fact of shooting down a drone such as a case in 2015 when a man in Kentucky shoots down a drone that was flying over his property. William Merideth in July shot down a drone that was flying over his house, he thought the drone was spying on his 16-year-old daughter who was sunbathing in their garden so he took out his shotgun and blasted the drone out of the sky. (Matyszczyk,2015) so this right here is an example of something you should not do with your drone but if it is over your own property then you should have every right to fly a drone at your own will.

Now I do think that with operating a UAS you should think of the potential risk and dangers that come from operating UAS and should state it on the box or something. There is a risk to the public associated with UAS operations. Small UAS operations pose risk considerations that are different from the risk considerations associated with manned-aircraft operations. The potential to prevent significantly less risk to persons and property than comparable operations of a manned aircraft. The typical total takeoff weight of a general aviation aircraft is between 1,300 and 6,000 pounds. The total takeoff weight of a small unmanned aircraft is less than 55 pounds. Since a small unmanned aircraft is significantly lighter than a manned aircraft, in the event of a mishap, the small unmanned aircraft would pose significantly less risk to persons and property on the ground. There are so many risks when it comes to operating anything that flies. (WilleyRin,llp, 2015)

Resources

Matyszczyk October 28, 2015 11:13 AM PDT @ChrisMatyszczyk, C. (2015). Judge rules man had right to shoot down drone over his house. Retrieved December 13, 2016, from https://www.cnet.com/news/judge-rules-man-had-right-to-shoot-down-drone-over-his-house/

Regulations.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2016, from https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2015-0150-4721

Summary of NPRM on Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2016, from http://www.wileyrein.com/newsroom-newsletters-item-5247.html

RECREATIONAL USERS. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2016, from http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/for-recreational-users/

Job Plan

1) What were your  job plans at the beginning of the course? Have they changed? Why or why not?

    My job plans were to work probably as a dispatcher, maybe a flight instructor on the side. i never had any real desire to be an airline pilot. The more class went by and school I still do not really see what lies ahead but I'm still sticking to dispatch and operations. If being a pilot is what is meant to be then life will lead me in that direction.

2) What is your action plan upon graduation?

   After I graduate I plan to start working, start saving for a house. Go to Italy with my girlfriend and possibly do the whole get married thing after school. Go home to Arizona for awhile and spend time Ive missed with my family. I have not thought much on it, but since I will graduate in the summer time, it is something I really need to start focusing on.

3) What was the most useful topic that we discussed and why?

 

   To me I really think the Topic on professionalism was the best topic we went over, for pilots and even if you're not flying for a living you still need to maintain that professionalism in any work environment you are placed in. 

4) What was the least useful topic that we discussed and why?

   I think the topic on space was the least useful topic, it was an entertaining blog topic but that is all it was, I do not think it was really valuable that much.

Aviation Organizations

Two Aviation Organizations that I believe are beneficial for those in the Aviation industry to belong too are AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Air Line Pilots Association) and the second would be to the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association.)

AOPA is an organization that deals around General Aviation, their mission statement is, "We protect your freedom to fly." They accomplish this by:

1. ·         advocating on behalf of our members,
2. ·         educating pilots, nonpilots, and policy makers alike,
3. ·         supporting activities that ensure the long-term health of General Aviation,
4. ·         fighting to keep General Aviation accessible to all, and
5. ·         securing sufficient resources to ensure our success.(“AOPA’s Mission”, n.d.)

AOPA offers a variety of services to members including insurance and financing options, as well as both legal and medical services. You can get anything from scholarships to loans.

The EAA is the Experimental Aircraft Association and is a community of aviation enthusiasts who promote and support recreational flying. More than 180,000 members worldwide share a common passion for all things aviation. EAA is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and hosts the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Fly-In & Convention every July. Their mission is to grow participation in aviation by promoting the “Spirit of Aviation.” (“EAA, Who we are,”n.d.) They serve the community by:

1.       Inspiring new participants in aviation
2. ·         Inviting the public to experience flight
3. ·         Providing a compelling view of possibilities
4. ·         Nurturing interest in aviation
5. ·         Supporting clear pathways to participation
6. ·         Enriching the participation experience
7.       Protecting rights and the freedom to fly
8. ·         Encouraging affordable flying in a local environment
9. ·         Cultivating and providing knowledge, information, and resources
10. ·         Embracing diverse interests, camaraderie, and fun
11. ·         Supporting and promoting aviation events and activities.(“EAA, Who we are,”n.d.)

I believe in the aviation industry is it nice to know that you have organizations to have your back and I am a member of both organizations. AOPA is free for military personal and veterans and EAA is $40.  

References:

AOPA's Mission, Vision and Values. (n.d.). Retrieved from

            https://www.aopa.org/about/mission-vision-and-values

Aviation Admissions

Carbon dioxide emissions is a hot topic and the impact it has on the environment. According to Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) flights worldwide produce 781 tonnes of CO2 in 2015, and globally humans produced over 36 billion in CO2. 2% all human induced CO2 is produced in the aviation industry. 12% is responsible from all transports sources, 35% of the CO2 is thanks to companies wanting value commodities being shipped by air. 70% of jets now are more fuel efficient. 80% is by alternative fuels, and if commercial aviation were to get 6% of its fuel supply from bio fuels by 2020, this would reduce the carbon footprint by 5% the aviation industry has invested nearly over $1.3 trillion dollars to improve fuel efficiency and to improve overall emissions. (Facts and Figures, 2016)

The UNs agreement that we read states that ‘it sets carbon emissions limits on international flights’ according to Joan Lowy. She also says that, “Airlines that exceed that limit in future years, as most are expected to do, will have to offset their emissions growth by buying credits from other industries and projects that limit greenhouse gas emissions” (2016) I believe this will motivate Airline companies to make sure to keep their emissions low and not waste their money and keep spending money on emission credits.

President-Elect Donald Trump has spoken against the Paris agreement; he intends to cancel the Paris Agreement because he feels that it would be bad for business. He stated, “he would ‘renegotiate’ the global agreement involving nearly all countries” the President-Elect Trump has made it pretty clear that he would pull out of Paris Agreement. (“Donald Trump would cancel”, 2016)

Are these laws necessary? I would have to say yes I agree with the laws to an extent because we have to do all we can with our carbon footprint. No we may not release as much CO2 as road transportation which is 74% more of CO2 emissions and I think that even though they focus on Aviation, they need to work on the other industries that release a lot more.

References:

Facts & Figures - Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). (2016, May). Retrieved from

            http://www.atag.org/facts-and-figures.html

Lowy, J. (2016, October 06). UN agreement reached on aircraft climate-change emissions.

            Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-10-06/un-

            agreement-reached-on-aircraft-climate-change-emissions

Donald Trump would 'cancel' Paris climate deal. (2016, May 27). Retrieved from

            http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36401174

Global Airlines and the unfair playground

The US Department of State defines the open skies agreement as, “Open Skies agreements have vastly expanded international passenger and cargo flights to and from the United States, promoting increased travel and trade, enhancing productivity, and spurring high-quality job opportunities and economic growth.  Open Skies agreements do this by eliminating government interference in the commercial decisions of air carriers about routes, capacity, and pricing, freeing carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers.” (US State Dept.) It basically allows the airlines of both countries to freely serve the other country’s airports without having to get individual permission for each and every airport. The United States and The United Arab Emirates have this agreement. The Open Skies Agreement between the United States, and the United Arab Emirates is currently experiencing issues. The three big US airlines, (Delta, American and United) complained that the Gulf carriers are at an unfair advantage due to the fact that they are supported by the government. They also argued that (Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar) all combined have received over $42 billion in subsidies since 2004. (Sumers, 2016) Emirates and Etihad deny receiving any unfair subsidies, due to the fact that American companies receive government subsidies as well. The government subsidizes the airlines is trough Essential Air Service, which is a Federal program that provides airlines subsidizes to fly less profitable routes to prevent a certain location from losing air travel all together. (U.S Department of Transportation, 2016)

The Import-Export Bank allows foreign carriers to purchase US aircraft at favorable interest rates that are lower than the rates that US carriers can obtain.  The reason for this is to encourage foreign companies to purchase American products. Since the Import-Export Bank came to be, it basically allows a foreign carrier to purchase an American aircraft like any Boeing aircraft for example below what the markets interest rates are, which allows them to save millions of more dollars then the domestic carriers. (Weisman & Lipton, 2015)

After reading many articles, I think that the playing field is fair. I believe that with the Export-Import Bank that it helps with the US Economy. It is cheaper for the foreign carrier to purchase the aircraft and since they can, they are able to purchase more. So more money for us, “YEY” I think that since there is more competition out there the big airlines are just being selfish because now people have many more options to go now. I think though, one thing the major airlines want to do is to shut down the Export-Import bank so that the foreign carriers have to pay more. Although in the end, both the US Airlines and the Middle Eastern Airlines are very successful businesses. I think everyone just needs to get along and help each other out because we all fly the same sky.

Refrences:

U.S Department of Transportation. (2016, May 17). Essential Air Service . In Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 4, 2016, from https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-service/essential-air-service

Weisman, J., & Lipton, E. (2015, April 6). Boeing and Delta Spend Millions in Fight Over Export-Import Bank’s Existence. In New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/07/business/boeing-delta-air-lines-export-import-bank.html?_r=1

Sumers, B. (2016, June 28). U.S. Airlines Set to Lose Major Battle Against Gulf Carriers in Open Skies Debate. Retrieved November 4, 2016, from https://skift.com/2016/06/28/u-s-airlines-set-to-lose-major-battle-against-gulf-carriers-in-open-skies-debate/

Kane, F. (2016, January 30). Open skies dispute between US and Gulf airlines escalates.
Retrieved from http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/open-skies-dispute-between-us-and-gulf-airlines-escalates

Open Skies Agreements. (n.d.). Retrieved November 04, 2016, from

http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tra/ata/

China taking flight: COMAC C919

I honestly do not believe that the C919 will get FAA certified anytime soon. Maybe in the future it could be possible but if you look back at COMAC's (commercial aircraft corporation of China) earlier aircraft you will see that it is highly unlikely unless they really put forth the work. In a bid to challenge aviation giants Airbus and Boeing, China embarked on an ambitious mission to build their own aircraft, the COMAC C919 for civilian service. The COMAC C919 is the second aircraft model that is being built by the company with the first being the ARJ21 Advanced Regional Jet. (Powell, 2015) Currently, the Chinese are having difficulty with the certification of their regional jet, the ARJ21-700 which entered service this past June and has not received any FAA certifications. With its current specifications, the ARJ-21 failed to receive FAA certification which severely limits its markets as it can't be flown in the U.S. Some believe that the FAA is taking their time in the certification process because of political and economic issues between the FAA and the CAAC (Gavindasamy & Miller, 2015). Although there has been setbacks, according to some emails the FAA was reported to have said that, “The FAA enjoys a good working relationship with CAAC and will continue to work together to develop a path to work towards certification of the derivative model of the ARJ-21 and, possibly, the C919.” (Govindasamy and Miller, 2015) Even though there are difficulties with the manufacturing process, the FAA, “Could certify an airplane after it enters service if it can be shown to comply with all relevant airworthiness and manufacturing standards.” (Govindasamy and Miller, 2015) So it will not be anytime soon, if they do get FAA certified, it will be down the road in a few more years possibly.

Let’s say that by chance China is able to get certified by the FAA, I do not think that it will take off with the major airlines right away. According to a report by China National Radio in June predicted that C919 was likely to be priced at £32 million (US$50 million), which was up to 30 per cent cheaper than a Boeing 737 or an Airbus 320. (Mailonline, 2015) Now with the price of the aircraft I can see it being desirable for regional carriers or a company interested in starting up a 121 operation. I think the majors will hold off due to the fact that they would have to send their pilots to china, they would have to get all systems and the ops specs and MELS in English, it would be more pain then it is worth since already having Boeing and Airbus aircraft at their disposal. Now when you think of China, or things that are “Made in China,” you automatically think cheap, a knock off from the real deal. You go to china and spend 100 on a Rolex and then you think, “oh wait a minute? How does a Rolex cost so little?” Next thing you know it breaks in a week. So I think when the American population realize that our aircraft are coming from China they may hesitate in purchasing a ticket. So I think that Major airlines will wait and see how the airplane is for a certain number of years see how regional carriers operate it, if it is used in the US at all. 135 carriers might even try to get in on the aircraft and try and convert them into cargo planes to save cost on purchasing any 737s or 747s. So if they are introduced into the market with Airbus or Boeing then they are going to really step up their game.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) is a state-owned limited liability company, which is formed with the approval of the State Council and jointly invested by State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) and was established on May 11, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Since they are owned by the government it means also that COMAC is all funded by China and so is the rest of the Chinese airlines so I believe there is a good relationship there. COMAC has the ARJ-21 which is a 90 passenger jet that made its' first flight commercial flight on June 28, 2016.

In my search through Google I have not really found anything on Airbus or Boeing responding about COMAC’s aircraft. I believe that is due to the fact that they know that it will not be much of a threat.

Refrences:

Govindasamy, S., Miller, M. (2015, October 21). Exclusive: china-made regional jet set for delivery, but no U.S. certification. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-aircraft-arj21-exclusive-idUSKCN0SF2XN20151021

COMAC. (n.d.). Company profile Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. Retrieved October 27, 2016, from http://english.comac.cc/aboutus/introduction/

Powell, S. (2015, November 9). China’s COMAC C919 aircraft running behind schedule – First commercial flight not before 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2016, from http://loyaltylobby.com/2015/11/09/chinas-comac-c919-aircraft-running-behind-schedule-first-commercial-flight-not-before-2019/#disqus_thread

Commercial Space Industry

April 12th, 1961 was the biggest day in the space race. Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space after making a 108-minute orbital flight in the Vostok 1 Spacecraft. (Jim Wilson, NASA) Shortly after this and two months later an American went up into space, Pam Am Airlines decides to start selling tickets for a trip to space. Customers were placed on a waiting list and the ‘First Moon Flights’ Club was born – attracting more than 93,000 members over the next two decades” (Pan Am and the waiting list). Most space travel that has been done so far has been by the wealthy and private companies who would take Russian rockets to the International Space Station. The last private trip was in 2009 by a wealthy Canadian name Guy Laliberte, who went to space by the company SpaceAdventures. (Taylor Dinerma, Observer. 2015) The most promising I woud have to say would be the work that Virgin Galactic is doing, who is working pretty hard to make the dream a reality. Only 557 people have been to space and Virgin Galactic has been working to make it a reality; well for $250,000 a seat that is.  (Virgin Galactic, Fly with us.)

The U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, was passed November 16, 2015.  Which later got renamed to Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015. Which allows The US citizens to engage in the commercial exploration and exploitation of space resources. (SPACE Act of 2015.) This rule gives the companies conducting these space flights time to learn and if they do go up into space that it’s their own risk and that the government is not responsible.

I can see the Commercial space industry becoming more accessible to the public in about 20 years. We have come a long way since 1961, but even with the technology we have now and the test flights that are being done. I believe that companies still need to keep studying and understand as much as possible. It would be nice to one day to be able to go up to a ticket counter like you would do for any Airline and be able to purchase a ticket to go into space.

So in order to be qualified to be a pilot or to work in this field there are some pretty strict rules. For Virgin Galactic these requirements are as follow:

• U.S. citizenship.
• A current FAA commercial  pilot license and FAA medical clearance.
• Degree-level qualification in a relevant technical field.
• Graduate of a recognized test pilot school, with at least two and a half years of postgraduate flight test experience.
• Diverse flying background with a minimum of 3,000 hours flying, to include considerable experience of large multi-engine aircraft and high-performance fast jet aircraft and low lift-to-drag experience in complex aircraft.
• Operational experience in an aerospace aviation project or business.
• Preference given to those with experience in spaceflight, commercial flight operations or flight instruction(“Dozens apply for space pilot jobs”, 2011).

If you are not a pilot and wish to do something else, if you are an A&P, or mechanical Engineer, Electrician, Avionics, any metal or material expert you could probably find a job.

Refrences:

Dozens apply for space pilot jobs. (2011, April 13). Retrieved from

            http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/04/13/6466987-dozens-apply-for-space-pilot-

            jobs

Pan Am and the waiting list for the moon…. (n.d.). Retrieved from

            http://backstoryradio.org/2013/08/19/pan-am-and-the-waiting-list-for-the-moon/

Fly with Us. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.virgingalactic.com/human-spaceflight/

            fly-with-us/

Yuri Gagarin: First Man in Space ((2011, April 13). Retrieved from

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/sts1/gagarin_anniversary.html

2016 Could Be the Year Space Tourism Takes Off: Taylor Dinerman (2015, September 22) Retrieved from

                http://observer.com/2015/09/2016-could-be-the-year-space-tourism-takes-off/

                                                                                                                                                                                           

The Current Status of UAV's

UAV’s are getting more popular day by day and they are also getting more advanced. I remember when you just had the little remote control helicopters and you could barely get those off the ground. Now you have drone companies such as DJI, that have come out with drones that fly to 400 feet, fly by gps, able to hover and take amazing shots with the 720p or 4k cameras. UAV’s are currently being used in the civilian sector for Ariel photography for real estate, weddings, they are using UAV for drone racing and so much more.

UAVs are being highly regulated now, from registering your drone to the small UAS rule (14 CFR 107) if you want to fly commercially you have to get the FAA license. If flying for recreational then you have to fly in accordance with the FAA standards. (Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 2016)

Fly for Fun (knowbeforeyoufly)

Fly at or below 400 feet, keep your UAS within sight, never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports, never fly over groups of people, never fly over stadiums or sports events, never fly near emergency response efforts such as fires, never fly under the influence, be aware of airspace requirements, cannot weigh over 55lbs, and most importantly must be flown for Hobby or recreational use.

Small UAS rule 14 CFR part 107

Class G Airspace, LINE OF SIGHT, Must be flown under 400ft, Can only fly during the day, Cannot reach over 100mph, Must stay out of the way of other aircraft, and NO FLYING OVER PEOPLE

I do not think that UAVs will be integrated with NAS anytime soon, I mean maybe eventually it could be but for now, no. I believe it’s a no because with the limited range you have and how low altitude you have to be at, I think it would be more of a hassle to be trying to be in radio contact with ATC for the 20 minutes you’ll be flying your drone for. I think installing a transponder or ADS-B would be out of the question for now due to the operating system of the aircraft and the weight of the aircraft being 55lbs or under, unless they managed to integrate it inside the drone somehow and have it scaled down. I think the perception on drones is still 50/50 most people do not know the rules or regulations and they get nervous seeing it flying around or they think the government is spying on them.

When I was in the Army my unit had a few small UAS systems and we would train with them quite a bit. Some aspects they are used for are Security, Search and Rescue, Monitoring, communications, recon missions, and even munitions. With the military going into dangerous places like Iraq and Afghanistan and future deployment zones. UAS can help soldiers do recon missions and help them with their every day job and it will and has saved lives. So financially I believe it’s a smart move because you are saving cost down by saving soldier lives and they will also be able to get a job done quickly and be able to enter into areas in a safer secured way. So Ethical I believe that is does meet any ethical dilemmas.

UAS JOBS:

sUAS Commercial Pilot/Operator.: Aviation Unmanned

https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=4214&jobId=38604&source=IN

Position is for a UAS pilot position in Addison, TX

UAS Demonstration Pilot: Aviation Unmanned

https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=4214&jobId=38603&source=IN

UAS Operator: Airware

http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=87ba7c36fc7e7169&q=Uas&tk=1av2o4mq7av0sa2g&from=web

Refrences:

RECREATIONAL USERS. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2016, from http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/for-recreational-users/

By The Numbers Air Traffic Plans and Publications Environmental Reviews Flight Information. (n.d.). Fly for Fun. Retrieved October 14, 2016, from http://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/fly_for_fun/

Cargo Industry and duty time, should they be exempt?

According to FARs 14 CFR Part 121 section 471 it states that no certificate holder conducting domestic operations may schedule any flight crew member and no flight crew member may accept an assignment for flight time in scheduled air transportation or in other commercial flying if that crew members total time in all commercial flying will exceed 1,000 hours in any calendar year, 100 hours in a calendar month, 30 hours in a 7-day time period, 9 hours between rest period. (14cfr121.471)

They say that many regulations that we have in the aviation industry are written in blood, so in a terrible way we can thank Colgan Air for the duty hours and regulations. If it was not for Colgan Air we would probably still have exhausted and over worked pilots and the risk for more accidents would be more likely to occur.

Cargo pilots are allowed to fly up to 8 hours (as opposed to 9 hours for passenger carriers under their rules) then legally must have a rest period.  In a situation where there are three crew members or more, cargo pilots may fly up to 12 hours.  While, cargo pilots may be on duty for 16 hours, under no circumstance do they ever fly 16 hours without rest.  There is a very big difference between being on duty and actual flight time flying the aircraft.  These are base line rules – the labor management contract allows for even more rest, but it’s specific to each all-cargo carrier.(Sen. Boxer)

I believe that when it comes to flying the general public believes that lives are more valuable compared to boxes of freight. Another reason is the financial aspect of it all. According to Linda Werfelman, "The FAA, however, said that that the cost of including cargo operators under the new rule would have been too great, compared with the benefits they would have likely received (2012). The FAA analyzed the cost of including cargo carriers in the rules and they said it would cost cargo carriers $306 million (CAA 2012). According to the Cargo Airline Association, the FAA ranged the benefits at $20.35 million to $32.55 million (2012). The costs of implementing the rules would really hurt the cargo industry whose operations are done 24/7. In addition to these financial numbers, the average hours per month at a cargo operation is 45.5 hours and the passenger carrier operation has an average of over 50 hours per month (CAA 2012).

Cargo is also a precious commodity due to freight needing to be delivered due to operations are always being ran 24/7. It would bring down production value due to lack of resources.

I believe that cargo operations should be able to follow different rules due to the fact that there is multiple crew members on board so they will be able to rotate and they are able to fly with different flight rules so it allows for them to fly different routes.

Also If I become a dispatcher for a 121 operation I do not really believe that it will have an impact on my career but if I do dispatch for a 135 operation and do the cargo side it might make job openings more scarce and competitive.

 

Resources

FAA Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs, 14 CFR).(nd). Retrieved October 08, 2016,

from http://www.flightsimaviation.com/data/FARS/part_121-471.html

Senator Barbara Boxer, April 13th 2016, retrieved from http://www.cargoair.org/2016/04/setting-the-record-straight-on-all-cargo-duty-and-rest-amendment/ on October 6th 2016

CAA. (2012, January 17). Flightcrew member duty and rest requirements. Retrieved October 07,  2016, from http://www.cargoair.org/2012/01/flightcrew-member-duty-rest-requirements/

Carroll, J. R. (2014, March 13). UPS pilots urge more rest for cargo crews. Retrieved October      07, 2016, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/13/ups-pilots-urge more-rest-for-cargo-crews/6402615

Flying Cheap

Since starting out at Eastern and working in the aviation industry all I hear about is pilot shortage this, pilot shortage that. There are view points for any situation and for the pilot shortage there is the following; 1) there is no pilot shortage, the real issue is that Regional carriers do not want to pay the salaries that pilots need. 2) The shortage is very real because the cost of flight training is so expensive that students are not able to get the necessary founds that is needed to get there hours and licenses right away so the longer the students take the longer the seat in the cockpit stays open. In my opinion the second argument is the most valid due to the personal experience with finances.

For the regional pilot shortage is not due to lack of funds for flight training or lack of hours, it is due to when students do pass their flight training and they have a substantial amount of debt built up and they are seeking employment that is paying more then what regional carriers are paying. The average pilots sinks well over a hundred thousand dollars into his or her flight training and education. Salaries at the regionals, meanwhile, begin as low as $20,000 dollars a year, and top out at under six figures. Schedules are demanding and benefits paltry; the relationship between management and the workers is often hostile. On top of all that, the regional industry is highly unstable. Carriers come and go in waves of mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies.(askthepilot) 

For my main belief that there is a shortage is due to how expensive it is for flight instruction. The average cost to obtain your private is anywhere between $8,000 to $18,000 nut it all depends on the aircraft you are flying, anywhere from the C150 to a 172 or a Piper. Then you go into your instrument which is around $18,000, commercial is about another $18k or so, then you have your Multi which is about an additional $6,000 and finally but not last you have your CFI which is about $12,000. That adds up, after all the cost you end up graduating with over 300 hours, now where do you get the rest of the 1500? by flight instruction or working for a cargo company. Flight instructor pay is not even 25,000 a year. so I believe this is the main shortage for pilots.

Flying Cheap
1) Professionalism- to me this word means, being able to perform all task that is required with great knowledge and skill
2) First thing I found to be unprofessional with Colgan Air is that there was a lack of CHeck Airmen and that the second huge concern for me was that the FO was sick and tired from travelling across the Country for her duty shift. She was not able to pay for a hotel and she should of called fatigue or the captain should of called fatigue for her.
3) I believe that the compensation structure had a huge part in the unprofessional-ism shown in the documentary because if you are an employee and you are being over worked and under paid you are more likely to not be as motivated by other employees who get paid what the job is actually worth.
4) I plan to keep my professionalism like I always have, stay motivated and work as hard as I can, one thing I am appreciative about being in the Army, the discipline, the structure and the professionalism they taught me I will carry it over to my current and future employers. Also with school it has taught me to be responsible about completing assignments on time so that would help with completing task for a company.

References:
pilot-shortage/
http://mashable.com/2016/04/20/regional-pilot-shortage/#UzoY2m3TCgqE

The airspace that we love so much to fly along with ground, facilities and GPS in is controlled by the National Airspace system or NSA, and it is monitored by Air Traffic control, which was given by the government when the 1958 Federal Aviation Act created the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) to take the responsibility of the NSA. ATC controls all ground and Air movement, and many different systems like VORs for example. To maintain these systems running it is pretty expensive, so they are wanting to start getting rid of facilities when they are in need of maintenance so that it will be a smooth process for when the NextGen system comes into operation. NextGen will be a more cost efficient way to monitor the sky's.

NextGen is a satellite based system that will help ATC monitor the skys and allow pilots to fly a more direct route to save time and money. NextGen is helping make General Aviation safer and more efficient, while finding ways to reduce GA's environmental impact.(FAA) New satellite-enabled approach procedures are providing general aviation pilots and other small-aircraft operators with greater access to more airports across the country, particularly during poor weather. Air traffic controllers have access to NextGen tools that help them make the critical decisions necessary to keep the world’s busiest airspace system working as safely and as efficiently as possible(DOT). Performance Based Navigation is delivering more direct routes, decongestant skies, and increased efficiency in major metropolitan areas through Metroplex and Equivalent Lateral Spacing Operations.  The FAA advertises a savings of 39.7 billion dollars to the airlines in reduced fuel, crews, and the increase in flights available.

GA has spoken out against privatization of ATC, with The proposal, part of the Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4441) which was approved Feb. 11 by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a vote of 32 to 26. Besides reauthorizing the FAA which not only provides funding for the agency, but also lays out Congressional mandates the proposed bill has a number of reforms, including some long-anticipated by GA, such as third-class medical reform and changes to the certification process.(Wood 2016) Private pilots believe that it will have access restrictions to the skies. Jack J. Pelton, CEO and chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association(EAA) says, "ATC privatization is simply a bad idea on many levels — it will not solve the FAA’s funding dilemma and will create a substantial number of new problems and challenges that would cripple general aviation; Although the bill contains some items that would be beneficial to grassroots aviators, those benefits are overwhelmed by the ominous consequences of a corporatized ATC system without direct federal authority and oversight. Such an ATC privatization plan is simply not acceptable as a part of any FAA reauthorization, especially when there are simple, common-sense ways to solve FAA’s funding issue.” (Jack Pelton)
He is basically saying do not take away our skys and limit us because the FAA cannot figure out other ways to figure out their funding issues.  

According to the New York Times, 'Only two other major countries have privatized air traffic control, Canada and Britain, but their air systems are much smaller. Other countries like Germany and France run air traffic through government-owned companies.' Britain had to bail out its private air traffic control operator after the 2001 terrorist attacks when air travel declined around the world. Even if a private system did reduce costs, there is no guarantee that airlines would pass those savings to passengers. The majority of funding for the private ATC comes from airline ticket tax and user fees.

I do not believe that ATC should be privatized because from the information I found I think that it would cause to many conflicts and that it would really bring down our GA community.



Refrences: 
https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/
https://www.transportation.gov/mission/sustainability/next-generation-air-transportation-system-nextgen
http://generalaviationnews.com/2016/02/17/ga-raises-concerns-over-proposal-to-privatize-atc/
http://www.flyingmag.com/atc-privatization-bill-thrown-out
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/15/opinion/dont-privatize-air-traffic-control.html?_r=0

Who I am, my personal Introduction.

My name is Kenny Mosley, I am a senior here at Eastern Michigan University and I am an Aviation Management student who is also currently working on my private pilots license and also working on the dispatch certification through Eastern. My expected time to graduate should be this 2017 summer. I currently work at American Airlines as an operations agent. My Passion for Aviation began when I was little, my grandfather was a pilot and he took me up a few times in his C152. one of my earliest memories was that we flew close to the mountains and you see the sun start to set and you see the beauty and experience from able to fly, I knew that one day I would be there. Unfortunately that is not what I did right away, at first everyone told me that was  stupid career choice and I couldn't make it so I listened to the negativity and pursed the medical route. I went to a school in Arizona was getting my degree in Biology and I just wasn't happy so I left and joined the Army. I received a medical discharge in 2014 from the Army and I was kind of clueless about what I was going to do next. My grandma suggested that I follow my dreams from when I was little and go the aviation route. So I looked at schools and figured Eastern was my best choice because it was close enough commute from my sisters house.
 
My dream is to get my pilots license but I am not sure I want to be a career Pilot. It is a struggle back and forth dealing with if that is what I really want or not. The reason why I am doing Management and not flight is just in case I do be a pilot and I was to lose my medical I would have a degree that is worth something. Another reason why I am also doing my dispatch because that is also something that has really caught my attention. So my goal right now is to finish my dispatch and once I graduate I can start working as a dispatcher and still continue on working on my license and ratings. I really enjoy teaching so maybe be a flight instructor for some flight school that will be close to where I live, I am not sure if I am going to stay in Michigan so I wont say Eagle or Solo. If I was to be a career pilot then I want to fly cargo to build up my hours, I would try for Kalitta or FedEx and then move to the Majors and work for American Airlines because I currently work there and I would have a good chance of getting a flight slot since already have been an employee.

One thing I would like to learn about is possible more volunteer opportunities or potential job openings that you or anyone in the class will know of.