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