Aviation Organizations - Due April 1st @ 11:59PM

The topic is Aviation Organizations. Please answer the following questions: 


Do not use AOPA or ALPA in your answers.

1. What associations will it be important to belong to when you are employed and engaged on your career path?  Identify at least two organizations. 

2. Research the associations that you identified. Discuss the mission and functions of each association. 3. Also discuss the role of these organizations in the overall industry, including their support for other sectors of the industry.

3. Discuss why is it important for you to belong to these associations.

Exploring Other Paths: Management and Flight - Due Sunday, March 19th

So far, through guest speakers and discussions, we have explored airlines, the cargo industry, airport management, air traffic control and a little but of general aviation. I would like you to explore some of the other sectors of aviation by answering the following questions:

1) Find a corporate aviation department. Give basic details about the company, including both flight and management opportunities for employment. List any current jobs that may be available with that company.

2) For flight students, find a job in the general aviation sector that is not flight instructing. Give details about the company and the job.

3) For management students, describe a job that could be potential employment opportunities for you in the general aviation sector.

4) For flight students, compare and contrast a pilot job in the airlines vs. flying corporate.

5) For management students, find two positions other than GA, airlines, airport management or corporate that you may be qualified for upon graduation.

6) For both flight and management students, has this assignment changed your current plans? Why or why not?

References required. Most likely, they will be links to the companies.

Global Airlines: Is it a Fair Playing Field - Saturday,March 11th @11:59PM

US Airlines are known for attacking foreign long-haul carriers, often attributing their success solely to the government subsidies that these carriers receive. Please answer the following questions:

1) Describe the US-UAE Open Skies Agreement. List and describe two long-haul carriers that are a part of this agreement that also receive government subsidies.

2) Do any long-haul US carriers receive subsidies or have received subsidies in the past? If so, which airlines? Why?

3) Another complaint is that long-haul foreign carriers have made aircraft purchases at "below market interest rates" that are unavailable to US carriers. How is this possible? Please discuss the Export-Import Bank.

4) Are there any current issues with Norwegian International Airlines and the Open Skies Agreement?

5) Finally, critically analyzing the above information, do you feel that the global "playing field" of long-haul carriers is fair?

Enjoy!

A Chinese Competitor to Boeing? - Due Saturday, March 4th @ 11:59PM

On Monday, November 2, 2015, the first Chinese larger-airliner aircraft rolled out - the C919. This aircraft was built by COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) and will compete with the A320 and the B737, seating about 168 passengers. Although the hope is for western certification, the C919 has yet to be FAA-certified, currently limiting the countries where the aircraft can operate. Given this information, please answer the following questions:

1) Do you believe that the C919 will ever receive FAA certification? Why or why not?

2) For sake of argument, if the C919 receives FAA certification, what challenges do you see for US carriers? Look at various aspects - for example, what would in mean in terms of aircraft purchases? What would it mean in terms of public perception?

3) Discuss COMAC a little and its relationship with the Chinese airlines and the Chinese government. Are there other aircraft in the works? If so, what are the specifics?

4) If this aircraft were to receive FAA certification, do you feel that other companies would enter the market as competitors to Boeing and Airbus?

5) Finally, has Boeing or Airbus responded to this rollout in any way?

Have fun!

The Commercial Space Industry - Due Saturday, February 25th @ 11:59PM

Is Commercial Space Tourism a viable industry? Please answer the following questions:

1) Historical background: When did the idea of "space tourism" begin? How has it developed? What have been the hurdles and accomplishments? Start in the 1960's - present day.

2) Give a brief summary of the rules and regulations that currently govern the commercial space industry. When and why were they developed? Start with the first rules developed in the 1980s. Do you feel that they are appropriate or that the need to be more or less restrictive?

3) Where do you see space tourism headed and in what time frame? I.e., do you think it will be accessible to the general public, not unlike the commercial airline industry? Do you think it will develop into a means of transportation or do you think that it will perpetually exists as a one-time, bucket list adventure? Why?

4) What are the qualifications to work in the space tourism industry  - either from the pilot or the management perspective? This may require some research, perhaps even making a phone call.

The Current Status of UAVS - Due Friday, February 10th @ 11:59PM

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are frequently in the news, most often for their military applications or the random story of a college experiment gone wrong, which inadvertently placed a UAV in controlled airspace. However, rumor has it that their practical application in the civilian world is becoming more of a possibility. Please answer the following questions for this week's topic:

1) What civilian purpose, if any, are UAVs currently being used for in United States? How are these civilian UAVs currently regulated (if they are regulated)? What are some of the details of the regulations that apply to the commercial use of UAVs?

2) Do you foresee UAVs integrating into the NAS? If so, how? Also, what problems do you foresee resulting from this? Be sure to include not only logistical problems, but also potential perception problems.

3) As for the military application of UAVs, how have they transformed military strategy? Has their integration been efficient (consider all aspects - from financial to ethical)?

4) Finally, do some research and find out if their are UAV jobs that are advertised for civilians (both flight and management students). If so, include this as your link. If you are unable to locate a job posting, reference your above answers to brainstorm the potential for types of UAV jobs in the future.

Cargo Carriers Are Exempt from Revised Flight/Duty Rules…Should They Be? Due Friday, Feb. 3rd @ 11:59PM

Please answer the following questions:

1) As a result of the Colgan Air accident, the FAA institute new flight and duty regulations. Summarize  these new regulations and describe how they are different from the old flight and duty regulations.

2) Cargo carriers are exempt from the Part 117 rules. What are the current flight and duty limitations for cargo carriers?

3) Why do you feel that cargo carriers have been excluded from the new changes? Value of life? Public perception? Too much money for the carrier? Other reasons? All the above? You may find that reading the preamble of the final rule is helpful in answering this question.

4) Do you believe cargo carriers should be included in the new rules? Why or why not?

5) Finally, what would be the impact to your career if cargo carriers were to be included in these new rules - Pilots, address this from a pilot perspective, management address from a management perspective.