ATC Privatization - Due December 6th at 11:59PM

GA has spoken out against the privatization of Air Traffic Control. However, recently, the airlines have made a statement for the privatization of ATC. Please answer the following questions:

1) Why has GA traditional spoken against the privatization of ATC?

2) Why have the airlines recently made a statement for the privatization of ATC?

3) Is ATC privatized in any other countries? If so, where? Does the privatized ATC system run more or less efficiently than our current system?

4) What would be the process for converting our current system into a privatized system? i.e. would it have to go through Congress, the FAA, etc..

5) Finally, do you feel that the current ATC system would be more efficient if it were privatized. Why or why not?

FAA GA Medical Reform - Due November 29th @ 11:59PM

What's going on with GA medical reform these days?

Please answer (in your own words or with appropriate citations) the following questions:

1) What is on the current agenda for GA medical reform?

2) Where is the reform it in terms of the regulatory process? Is it a bill, a law, a regulation, a NPRM, etc.?

3) Pick one aspect of GA medical reform and list at least one "for" and one "against" point.

4) Do you feel that GA medical reform is necessary? Why are why not?

Failure to have an in-text citation for writing that is quoted or paraphrased will be considered plagiarism and will result in the following consequence: 1) 0 points for the assignment and 2) a potential plagiarism filing with the university.

Also, the assignment must contain a majority of your own work. Even with appropriate citations, a majority of the assignment must contain your own words and ideas. Failure for a majority of the assignment to be based on your own words and ideas will also result in 0 points for the assignment.

Please see me for clarification if you have any additional questions about these requirements.
Prof. Wall

A Chinese competitor to Airbus and Boeing? - Due November 8th @11:59pm

On Monday, November 2nd, 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!

Aviation Organizations: What's Their Role? Due November 1st @ 11:59PM

This week's topic is a little less intense. The topic is Aviation Organizations. Please answer the following questions:

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.

Global Airlines - Is it a Fair? Due October 25th @ 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) List and describe two long-haul foreign carriers that 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) Finally, critically analyzing the above information, do you feel that the global "playing field" of long-haul carriers is fair?

Enjoy!

Cargo Industry Exempt from Flight/Duty Changes: Should They Be? Due October 18th @ 1159pm

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 new 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.

Flying Cheap: The Regional Airlines and Professionalism - Due Sunday, October 11th @ 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.

Enjoy!