PL 111-216 Signed to Law

With its roots originating from the families killed in the Colgan Air/Continental Express flight #3407 crash in Buffalo, NY on February 12, 2009, The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2010 aims at improving the training and increasing the requirements for an airplane transport pilot. According to 3407memorial.com, key sections of the law include increasing the minimum number of hours one must have prior to obtaining an ATP license, annual reporting to the Transportation and Infrastructure/Commerce Committees on the status of all NTSB safety recommendations, and the accurate record keeping of airline records. This law will also require a change in the certification process of crew members, resulting in the need for a First Officer of a Part 121 Air Carrier to hold an Airline Transport Pilot certificate.

One potential effect that this law can have on my career is the extended length of time it will take me to become a First Officer. Even though my career is not focused entirely on becoming a pilot with the major airlines (Delta, American, etc), it will increase the difficulty in completing the necessary ratings that I wish to obtain. The point in question is the requirement of a First Officer to hold an ATP certificate. This now requires a minimum of 1500 flight hours. With the increase in flight time, this will mean an increase in the amount of money spent obtaining these hours. The way the national economy currently is will be a huge factor in how I (and other flight students) will go about generating the funds necessary for this extension. Flight schools, such as the Part 141 here at EMU, will benefit greatly from this new law. This will lead to an increase in profit since its students will be required to spend more money on their training. Once the students become properly rated, these hours will need to build. If the schools have rental aircraft, they will see an increase in use (proportionally to the increase in the demand for the aircraft), therefore allowing their profits to rise.

The first and most important benefit will be the increase in profits for these flight schools. There will be a new demand and they will supply the necessary aircraft. Rates will rise, hours will rise, and the flight schools will see their income rise as well. Another benefit is the fact that there will be a new increase in the amount of people flying. With the extension, it will keep more people in the air. More people will be able to enjoy flying and learn more in the process. This will allow the pilots to learn more about the world of flying, which is the ultimate goal in creating more experienced pilots prior to entrusting them with the lives of paying passengers. A challenge will be jus the opposite, and that is actually keeping the pilots in the air. They must find a way to fund their flight hours and if they lose interest or get too far in debt, they will may choose a different career path. 

I feel that the changes addressed do have a good goal. The intention is to allow pilots to learn more about flight prior to them flying passengers. But I feel that the bar has been raised too high. The extension of hours is too high and I feel that it is (secretly) a way for the government to generate more of an economic difference rather than safety influence. With that being said, the pilots that focus on their hours and building the required experience will be highly qualified individuals when they FINALLY get behind the controls of a Part 121 aircraft.

How Do We Compete?

Topic Choice: Improve Safety Standards at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

Safety will forever be a major concern when it comes to aviation. Here in the United States, safety is always a priority. The U.S really does set a high standard on safety and its promotion of its procedures are everywhere. These sources are primarily led by organizations such as Air Safety and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). The problem that the United States faces is that it is not on the same page when it comes to comparing other governments’ aviation structures. This is where that lethal “gray-area” becomes a large void between other nations’ infrastructures. 

I feel that the bar must be raised across the world. This means that everyone must operate to the same standards that are meant to be goals, rather than “minimum acceptable standards.” When there is an accident, the families of the victims will never look at these world airlines for operating to the minimums when their family’s lives are a risk. I think that the ICAO should enforce strict rulings that are even no matter which airline is operating over any and every country. The goal is to be able to coordinate and ordinate these rulings throughout the world. According to the linked source, standardization, monitoring, analysis, and implementation are the keys to providing this new change to ICAO.

I do feel that this solution would be feasible. The problem that would be most apparent would be finding the financials to be able to support this type of change throughout the different operating nations. Many struggle through the down turn of the world economy and aviation is unfortunately an industry where safety is hindered when the money stops coming. I think that the solution is within our reach but all nations would have to devise a plan to be able to support it financially. 

This change will create jobs. The aviation safety sector of the industry has been growing consistently and this solution will allow the creation of jobs throughout the world, allowing many nations to promote the idea of spending money in a positive image. The aviation industry will always be in need of safety supervisors and leaders to be able to promote positive change through out the world’s airlines.

Joe Moore's (Late) Intro!

I have always had the dream of becoming a pilot.  I am blessed to have been born into a family that has aviation flowing through its bloodlines on both my father’s and mother’s side, with myself becoming a third generation pilot once the landing gear touched down on the runway after successfully completing my private pilot check ride.  It was, with out doubt, the most rewarding day of my life and the sense of accomplishment and pride I received from my family was unmeasurable. Currently, I am one cross country and my check ride away from accomplishing my Instrument Pilot certification.  The timing could not have been more perfect since my father is also working on his instrument rating, leading us into conversations and flights that I thought was only a distant dream when I was a child.

Soon to follow the completion of my Commercial Pilot Certification, I will be continuing with my Certified Flight Instructor ground and flight training.  I am impatiently waiting for that portion of my career, with such a strong drive to be able to teach people the joys and rewarding experiences that one could have if obtaining a pilots license. In addition to my flight ratings, I have recently completed my Dispatch Certification, conducted by Eastern Michigan, along with also adding my High Performance Endorsement as well. 

My career goals in aviation vary from most students in the program.  Once completing my degree at Eastern, I plan on attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, majoring in Aeronautical Science and minoring in Flight Testing and Simulation.  My ultimate goal is to become a test pilot for companies such as Boeing, Airbus, or military contracting.  With the developments in private space flight and the approaching of new horizons in that industry, I am focusing on my studies and skills in the cockpit to hopefully become a part of this new and exciting form of flight.  I also have a dream of completing my aerobatic training, eventually perfecting my skills to compete in National and Regional Aerobatic Competitions and airshows.

Current topics that interest me are any that involve the development of aircraft design and the growth of general aviation. People who do not fly can be easily persuaded in joining such a close-knit community if they were simply more aware of the industry. Topics that involve programs such as AOPA, EAA, the Young Eagles, and veteran communities will always have my  interest because I feel it is our job to promote and share this great passion of ours to others.