Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Assignment due February 19

One of the more pressing political issues in the global aviation industry right now is the EU ETS (European Union Emissions Trading Scheme).  Please answer the following questions:

1) What is the EU ETS? Describe how it works and how it will effect the aircraft flying into Europe.

2) Why is the US (among other countries) upset about the implementation of the EU ETS? What steps is the US government taking right now in response?

3) What is ICAOs response to the EU ETS?

4) What is your response to the EU ETS?

5) How do you feel that ICAO should manage global aviation emissions?

Have fun!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Assignment due February 12

We 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.

Keeping this documentary in mind, please answer the following questions:

1) What is the specific job and company in the aviation industry that you would like to end up at? You must be specific on both to receive full-credit for this question. Remember - you have the freedom to change down the road...

2) Provide a basic description of the job and company that you listed in 1).

3) Are there any safety/liability concerns with the job you listed in 1)? If so, what are they and how do you plan on mitigating these concerns? (*Hint: there are always concerns in this industry.)

4) 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) 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.

Have fun!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Assignment due February 5

It's hard to describe the future business models of the airline industry without using the word "merger". This assignment will focus on past, current and future airline mergers.

1) Describe a post-1978 merger. Include basic details, such as name of the companies, reason for the merge, challenges of the merger and consequences or benefits of the merger (such as furloughs or new routes, for example).

2) Describe a current merger - i.e. one that is in the process. Some choices would be United/Continental or Southwest/AirTran, but you aren't limited to these choices if you can find others. Answer the same questions listed in 1).

3) Describe the future of American Airlines. What lead to bankruptcy? Who's interested in merging with them and why? What do you predict for the future of this company?

4) Looking at these mergers throughout history, how do you see them affecting your future - either in aviation management or as a pilot. Keep in mind- you don't have to have interest directly in the airlines to answer this question.

Have fun!