Eastern Michigan Aviation Discussion

1.) As of now, the current ATC system operates off of RADAR. What this means is that only air traffic controllers can see the position of other aircraft. RADAR sends out a signal, that signal is picked up by other aircraft, and sent back to the ATC facility. This is then displayed on a screen in the ATC facility and this is how aircraft are directed in the national airspace system. With the proposed NextGen system, both ATC and pilots will now be able to see the position of other aircraft. the new system operates off of ADS-B equipment, which is satellite based. Signals are sent out from the ATC facility, refracted off of satellites, and then sent to the aircraft's transponder. These same signals are also sent between other aircraft, so that aircraft are now able to see the altitude, type, and directional trend of other aircraft. 2.) GA has traditionally been against the privatization of ATC is because a few large companies, such as major airlines, could take control of the airsp...

1.) Two organizations I feel as though are important to be a part of as a progress throughout my career are the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) and the Cargo Airline Association (CAA). 2.) OBAP's website states that their mission is that,"We exist to Inspire Excellence: we Support, Transform, Educate and Mentor Black Aerospace Professionals". The overall role of OBAP is to increase the amount of minorities entering the aerospace industry. This is incredibly important as the industry is mostly made up of white people. OBAP has several partnerships with big names in aviation such as United, Southwest, and even Walmart Aviation, to name a few. The CAA's website states that "the Cargo Airline Association is responsible for representing the industry before federal and state regulatory bodies, the United States Congress and, when necessary, in the federal and state courts". The roll of the CAA is essentially the same as ALPA, in that it make...

1.) The US Department of State's website states that "the open-skies policy is designed to eliminate government involvement in airline decision-making about routes, capacity, and pricing in international markets. Open Skies agreements have vastly expanded international passenger and cargo flights to and from the United States, promoting increased travel and trade, enhancing productivity, and spurring high-quality job opportunities and economic growth" (2017). Two carriers that receive government subsidies are Emirates and Qatar Airlines. Emirates is based out of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar Airlines is based out of the nation of Qatar. both of these carriers are involved in the Open Skies Agreement. 2.) Nearly all US long haul carriers have received government subsidies in the past. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the government voted a week later to give airlines $15 billion in bailouts. this was due to the expected lawsuits that the airlines were expe...

1.) According to Bloomberg.com, "John Dunkin has been working for Donald Trump since 1989". . He has managed Trump's private aircraft for that entire length of time. He was also an executive at Trump's short-lived Trump Shuttle Airline. 2.) There are several other candidates that are up for election as the new FAA Administrator. Some of those candidates are Daniel Elwell, who as also the current acting Administrator, and Samuel Graves. On top of being the current administrator, Elwell was a former Air Force pilot that also served with the FAA from 2006-2008. Samuel Graves is a Missouri Republican that is trying to head the Transportation and contruction Committee the following year (Levin et al, 2018). 3.) One former FAA Administrator, Robert Sturgell, was a former Navy pilot who was acting FAA administrator from 2007-2009 and is now a senior vice president at Rockwell Collins Inc. Another former FAA Administrator, Marion Blakely, was the former NTSB Chairwoman an...

1.) On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first to orbit the earth and enter space itself (NASA, 2011). Since then, man has made many accomplishments towards space travel. Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the Moon in 1969. The Space Shuttle Program put many astronauts in space. The International Space Station (ISS) was established in 1998. These amazing accomplishments have not been without sacrifice, though. In 1986, The Challenger Space Shuttle blew up just after launch killing all aboard. Now in the present day, companies like Space-X and Virgin Galactic are ever expanding the possibilities of realistic space exploration for regular people.  2.) Commercial space regulations were first enacted in 1984 with the introduction of the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984. According to the FAA, the purpose of the regulation is that it "authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) and, through delegations, the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of ...

1.) Drones have become a pretty interesting piece of technology that we are starting to use more and more as part of our daily lives. People are starting to use drones for all sorts of tasks. These jobs include filming, surveying, delivery, and potentially in the near future, transporting people. Currently, drones are regulated by the FAA under Part 107 of the federal aviation regulations. There are several laws that must be followed. In order to become a commercial drone pilot, the law states that, "You must be at least 16 years old to qualify for a remote pilot certificate, and you can obtain it in one of two ways: You may pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center.If you already have a Part 61 pilot certificate, other than a student pilot certificate, you must have completed a flight review in the previous 24 months and you must take a small UAS online training course provided by the FAA" (FAA, 2016). 2.) UAVs are being operat...