Aviation Organizations: Who to Join and Why? Due Monday, April 13th--40 Points

I am a firm believer that it is important to belong to your professional associations.  It is important as a student, and even more important as a working professional.  Given your career aspirations . . .

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

4. Be thorough with your answers.  You will be asked to discuss your choices in class

 

Be sure to include your 6 references and comment on at least 3 other blogs.

 

Dr. D

The Business of Aviation--Due Monday, March 30th

Throughout the semester we have had several speakers representative of the diverse businesses and business models found in the world of aviation.  Most aviation companies are facing the growing challenge of adapting to a changing market and the changing needs of a potential customer base.  .  Aviation businesses face numerous challenges that range from increased regulations, the addition of security requirements, unpredictable fuel costs, and ever advancing technology.   For this week’s blog, address the following issues.

1. What is the rationale behind the cliché, “How do you make a small fortune in aviation?  Start with a very large fortune.”  What are your thoughts on how this catchy little phrase came about, and why is this phrase increasingly relevant? Use pertinent information from aviation business plans, and examples of failed or struggling aviation business to address this question. 
2. Given the negative nature of question #1, identify some positive business strategies that upstart aviation business may employ.  Identify some successful companies in your discussion.  Why are these companies successful?

This blog is worth 40 points.  Remember to include at least 6 references and comment on at least three other blogs. 

 

Dr. D

Leveling the Global Aviation Playing Field--Due Monday, March 16th (40 pts)

Last week, Bill Hoffer spoke about a career in the airlines as well as some of the issues facing the industry due to global competition.  In the United States, the industry is facing several challenges or “threats” to maintaining a competitive edge in the global market.  These challenges are especially patent for the airlines.  Examples of some of these “threats” are tax policies, fuel costs, cheap labor, the rapid growth of airlines in countries that formerly did not compete, the looming pilot shortage, an uneven playing field and other political issues.

Your assignment is to research the topic and examine at least four articles, from reputable sources, that address the current global aviation situation and how the U.S. is compelled to compete.  From your research, present three thought-provoking issues.  (Please do not focus on the pilot shortage.)  Post these issues on your blog and present a brief discussion of each.  Provide your ideas and opinions.  Your discussion might address the following questions.  How do you feel about the issues?  Do you agree with the authors?  What do you think are plausible solutions to the issues?  How might these issues affect you in the job market? 

Include links to your articles in your blog post.  In addition, cite your sources at the bottom of your blog post.  

Have at it!

Dr. D

UAV's-Due Sunday, March 1st

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 regulated (if they are regulated)?

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.

Corporate Aviation--Due February 16, 2015

Please address the following questions in regards to corporate aviation:

1) Describe the basic differences between the careers open to you at a corporate company vs. the careers available at the airlines. For flight students, this may be a little more straight-forward. For management students, this may be a little more challenging  - for example, do corporate companies employ crew schedulers or dispatchers? What other positions may be open to you?

2) The argument has been made that corporate aviation departments can actually save a company money. What is this argument based upon? Do you agree?

3) Identify one corporate aviation department. Discuss details: Company, Location, Fleet size and make-up and hiring requirements for your given position (flight or management). Again, this may require some research beyond websites.

NTSB Most Wanted List for 2015 - Due Sunday, February 8th @ 11:59PM

Recently, the NTSB published its "Most Wanted" list for 2015.  While the list includes the broad spectrum of transportation, we will look at two items on their list:  Prevent Loss of Control In Flight In General Aviation and Strengthen Procedural Compliance.  For this blog first go to www.ntsb.gov/mostwanted and review the information contained under those two headings.  In your blog answer the following questions;

1.  Do you think that the issues identified by the NTSB are in fact significant problems?

2. In your opinion what is the greatest factor negatively impacting safety for the general aviation community?  For commercial aviation?

3.  Review the NTSB's list of recommendations for each topic area.  Do they seem reasonable.  How can the industry implement these recommendations?  What, if any, impact do you think the implementations of these recommendations would have on system safety? Would you recommend something else?

Have at it!
Dr. D

Flying Cheap: The Regional Airlines - Due Sunday, January 25th @ 11:59PM

The topic is the regional airlines. Many of you, regardless if you are a management or flight student, will work in some capacity with the regional airlines. Hopefully, through writing this blog, you will have a further understanding of the environment as well as the current issues impacting the industry.

In class, you watched a documentary called "Flying Cheap".  This documentary is about the regional airline industry, focusing on two aspects. First, there is a discussion of the Colgan accident and factors that may have contributed to the accident. Second, the documentary presents information about the career of a regional pilot.

Please address the following topics in this blog:

**First, address the state of the regional airline industry. There is a lot of "buzz" about the possible pilot shortage. There are two sides to the argument: 1) There is not a pilot shortage. The problem is pilot pay. There are plenty of people who want to be pilots in the United States but are unwilling to fly domestically because of low wages, and 2) The pilot shortage is real and based upon projected retirements and the current number of new pilots entering the industry. Which side do you believe and why? To answer this question thoroughly, you must research and provide evidence of research of both sides of the issue. 

**Second, with the new regulations, regional airlines may be concerned with their hiring pool. Why? What do you see as possible solutions - both for aspiring pilots and for the regional airlines themselves?

**Third, ALPA represents most regional pilots. Which organization represents the remainder of the industry, such as management, manufacturers, etc.. 
**Forth, keeping the documentary in mind, please answer the following questions:

-I proposed that one theme in the events that led up to the Colgan accident was the lack of professionalism.  Answer the following three questions related to professionalism:

    * 1) Define professionalism in your own words.

    * 2) List two ways in which lack of professionalism was demonstrated in this documentary. Remember: Both pilots and management can lack professionalism.

    * 3) Do you feel that first year pilot pay and/or the compensation structure of a regional airline is a contributing factor in the lack of professionalism demonstrated in the documentary?

    * 4) List two specific ways you plan on maintain and expand your level of professionalism once you are employed in the job that you listed in 1). These ways must be independent of the requirements of the job.

Here is a link to the PBS Documentary "Flying Cheap" if you would like to review it again.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/flyingcheap/view/?autoplay

Enjoy!