Global Airlines

The domestic American airlines (including United and American) are currently lobbying the government for renegotiated international agreements which govern foreign airspace. This comes in response to reports that foreign airlines are receiving government subsidies while domestic American airlines are not. These agreements attempt to eliminate government interference and allow domestic American airlines to compete with foreign carriers without as many restrictions.

Emirates has already confirmed receiving government subsidies. The latest reports indicate the amount to be in the billions. Qatar has also received government subsidies. The latest reports indicate that the foreign carriers (including Emirates and Qatar) have received over 40 billion dollars in the last few years (Arnold 2015).

There are some reports that claim the domestic American airlines have received government subsidies as well. The latest report was 150 billion dollars over the last one hundred years. This report have do not account for what the money is spent on (around 140 million was spent on a trust fund that supported Federal Aviation Administration spending). American based airlines have even contributed money towards the fund. American based airlines contribute around 10 million annually to the fund (Reed 2015).

The foreign airlines have also taken advantage of below market interest rates. The United States Export Import Bank provides reduced interest rates to foreign purchases in an attempt to reduce credit risk to potential buyers. This has created a lot of controversy. Boeing was strongly lobbying Congress to have the United States Export Import Bank discontinued. Boeing manufactured jets are purchased by these foreign airlines at reduced interest rates.

I think this problem should be addressed. This provides an unfair advantage to foreign airlines. They have a better overall infrastructure due to massive government subsidies and are able to purchase large quantities at reduced interest rates (the American based airlines do not benefit from either of these).

Arnold M. (2015 June 23). American Air CEO says Government Should Address Subsidy Spat. Retrieved October 25 2015.

Reed T. (2015 April 14). U.S. Airlines have Paid the Government Billions. Retrieved October 25 2015.

Cargo Pilot Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released an updated flight and duty time regulation following the Continental Connection (Colgan Air) crash. The new regulation requires a minimum rest period of ten hours (which is an increase over the previous requirement of eight). The regulations goes on to state that a pilot must have the opportunity to receive eight hours of uninterrupted rest within each ten hour rest period. The new regulation also limits a pilot to a maximum eight hour flight period (or nine depending on the start time) and a fourteen hour duty period. A pilot must also provide a statement saying he is fit for duty prior to each duty period. These new regulations were adopted to attempt to minimize pilot fatigue (a factor associated with the Continental Connection crash).

The cargo industry has been exempt from this new regulation. The flight and duty time requirements for cargo operations require eight hours between required rest periods (Carroll 2014). They also require ten consecutive hours of rest for every eight hours of flight time (nine consecutive hours below eight hours of flight time and eleven consecutive hours above nine hours of flight time). There is no requirement for uninterrupted rest. The requirements also limits a pilot to one thousand hours a year and one hundred hours a month.

The cargo operations have been exempt from this new regulation because they do not conduct passenger carrying operations (FAA 2011). This is stated directly in the preamble of the final rule. A number of other factors may have also contributed to the exemption. The added costs may be too high for some cargo operations. The public perception may have also played a role.

I do feel the new regulation should apply to cargo operations. The pilots of cargo carrying operations endure similar stresses as passenger carrying pilots even though they are not carrying passengers. The pilots of cargo carrying operations also tend to work non-traditional schedules (including throughout the night or longer legs). The new regulation is relatively similar to the old one but the change should be uniform throughout the industry.

I would consider becoming a cargo pilot if this new regulation applied to all operations. The tough and inconsistent schedule of a cargo pilot along with high flight and duty time requirements make this opportunity relatively unattractive.

Carroll J. (2014 March 13). UPS pilots urge more rest for cargo crews. Retrieved October 18 2015.

FAA. (2011 December 21). FAA Releases Final Rule on Pilot Fatigue. Retrieved October 18 2015.

The Regional Airlines and Professionalism

The regional airline industry has been receiving a lot of attention lately following the release of new regulation which increases ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) time requirements. The regulations now require a pilot to log 1,500 hours (1,000 hours with a 4 year aviation degree) prior to being able to apply for an ATP certificate. This has caused a pilot shortage in the industry. There have already been reports of shortages by many regional airlines. Envoy (operating as American Eagle) has already had a fleet reduction as a result of pilot shortages while other regional operators continue to discontinue routes and reduce operations. There are those that argue that the pilot shortage does not have to do with a lack of pilots but a shortage in pay (more people would become pilots if they increased starting wages at the regional level). The wages of regional airlines are primarily controlled by mainline partners (American controls the wages of their regional partners operating under American Eagle including Envoy). I believe that both arguments play a strong role in the increasing pilot shortage. The mandatory retirement age has permitted regional pilots to flow through to mainline operations leaving the regional industry with a lack of pilots (Jansen 2015). The new ATP requirements have reduced (or delayed) the number of new pilots completing the training requirements preventing the regional operations from hiring replacements. The low starting wages have also contributed to the pilot shortage (Miller 2015). There are less people willing to commit to expensive pilot training with starting wages so low for pilots at the regional level (the pilots who do are now looking at other options such as corporate operations).

These new regulations should cause the regional airlines to be concerned with who they are hiring. An applicant who meets the minimum ATP requirements is not always a good candidate. The new regulations have forced regional airlines to hire anyone who meets these requirements while disregarding other aspects. This could develop potentially dangerous situations for regional airlines. A solution to this problem would be increasing applicant selection standards.

The ALPA (Airline Pilot Association) protects pilots and is currently attempting to increase wages at entry level regional pilot jobs in the United States. The RAA (Regional Airline Association) protects the regional airlines and is attempting to get the new ATP requirements reduced.

The definition of professionalism to me is holding yourself to a set standard. Professionalism comes with proper training and supplemental experience (as a pilot). The Continental accident came as a result of a lack of professionalism on both an operational and management level. The pilot should have called in rather than attempting to commute across the country and complete the flight. The management within the company should have promoted a better safety standard (rather than having a pilot complete a flight at all cost). The management side could have also conducted additional safety measures (that may have caught the pilot stall awareness deficiency). I believe that starting wages at the regional level have contributed to this problem. Poor pay results in a lack of professionalism because any individual who believes they are not being compensated enough does not operate at a high standard that promotes safety. I believe I will be able to conduct myself at a higher standard through personal checklists (understanding personal limits will promote professionalism and safety) and personal standards (not doing anything that I believe compromises safety).

Jansen B. (2015 August 27). Airline fears of pilot shortage spark Congress fight over required training. Retrieved October 11 2015.

Miller S. (2015 July 29). The Regional Pilot Shortage is Real. Retrieved October 11 2015.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Unmanned aircraft systems are currently being used for a number of different applications. This includes everything from aerial survey to law enforcement. The number of applications will continue to increase as the use of unmanned aircraft systems becomes more common. There are some airlines that are already beginning to look at using unmanned aircraft systems to provide increased awareness when conducting aircraft inspections. This practice is already being used by other airlines (including EasyJet) to conduct maintenance inspections in hard to reach areas (including the tail and the top of the cabin). This also provides increased awareness when checking for ice prior to departure (in hard to reach areas).
There are few regulations governing unmanned aircraft systems although this will change as they become more common. There is currently a notice of proposed rule making concerning small unmanned aircraft systems (under 55 pounds). This notice proposes rules which would limit small unmanned aircraft systems to line of sight operations. This notice also includes height restriction and certification requirements (for both the operator and the aircraft). The new regulations are due to be released any day and will include a number of new restrictions.
I do see unmanned aircraft systems eventually being incorporated into the national airspace system. This will be a complex process. Attempting to control unmanned aircraft systems in the same airspace as manned aircraft (including commercial flight operations) will be a long process and will require regulations designed to incorporate the new systems while still promoting safety. Separation requirements (both vertical and horizontal) will be one of the issues that will require additional regulation. The current regulation requires a thousand feet but this may have to be reconsidered. Required equipment will also be a problem. Unmanned aircraft systems (the larger ones) may eventually be required to have transponders. There have already been problems with unmanned aircraft systems venturing into regulated airspace. An American pilot recently reported almost hitting an unmanned aircraft systems on an approach (Wiener 2014). This is a safety issue and must be corrected immediately.
Unmanned aircraft systems have already been implemented within the military. They have transformed the military strategy through a number of different applications. Unmanned aircraft systems are currently being used in both pilot operated (pilot on the ground) and completely autonomous roles (no pilot). Unmanned aircraft systems have allowed the military to reduce the threat to the operator while conducting operations. They have also provided increased awareness to pilots. An F-35 pilot will be able to control autonomously operated unmanned aircraft systems to provide increased awareness through surveillance (Shaw 2015). This is an invaluable asset to maintaining air superiority and provides the pilot with an edge in a combat environment. The incorporation of unmanned aircraft systems in the military has been efficient but has come with some ethical concerns.
The only job posting I could find regarding unmanned aircraft systems was for an engineer (working on unmanned aircraft systems) for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (this probably would require an aeronautical engineering degree).

Shaw M. (2015 June 24). Future F-35 Pilots will Operate Drones from the Cockpit. Retrieved October 4 2015.
Wiener D. (2014 May 9). American Airlines Pilot Says He Almost Crashed into a Drone in Mid-Air. Retrieved October 4 2015.

General Atomics Job Posting