Professionalism, and the Regional Airline Industry

            The regional airline industry is currently in a state of chaos. This is very evident by all the changes we have been able to very clearly observe and identify. The hot topic surrounding this chaos, currently, is the subject of the current pilot shortage. The signs of this shortage are seen through the incredible signing bonuses, and the first year wages, for regional pilots, raising significantly. These signs are being interpreted differently, and the answer may be different based upon who you may ask. There are two main opinions shared. The opinions stated are the following:

1.      There is a pilot shortage, and this shortage is due to the projected retirements of pilots, and the underwhelming number of pilots entering the industry.

2.      There is no pilot shortage. There are plenty of certified pilots, but due to low wages, pilots are unwilling to fly in the United States.

It is difficult to say whether one or the other opinion is wrong. Both beliefs are based upon fact, and have proper evidence to back it up. The belief that there is indeed a pilot shortage, is one that is shared by many, especially those entering the industry currently, or in the next few years. In an article written by Mary Schlangenstein and Michael Sasso, it is stated that the, “looming pilot deficit will soar to 15,000 by 2026, according to a study by the University of North Dakota’s Aviation Department.” (Sasso, Schlangenstein, 2016). This is what is leading to the incredible signing bonuses, and increases in wages that I mentioned earlier. There wouldn’t be as much of an issue with the mass retirement of pilots turning 65, if there was a consistent flow of young pilots entering the industry. In the same article, they believe that the, “top three reasons would-be pilots are changing their career plans are the cost of flight training and certification, low pay at regional carriers and a 2013 regulatory change that mandated a sixfold increase in flight hours required to become a first officer.” (Sasso, Schlangenstein, 2016) The airlines are doing their best to sweeten the pot, hence the raised wages.

            The other opinion shared, is the stance stating there is no pilot shortage at all. This belief does have evidence supporting it, but as wages at the regional airlines increase, it is becoming less and less relevant. The president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Tim Canoll, was recorded saying that, “any changes that may occur to smaller community air service are the result of airline business decisions, not pilot availability.” (ALPA, 2015). This statement supports the ALPA belief that the pilot shortage is an attempt for airlines to reduce the qualification and pilot training minimums. The airlines want to make money, and if the qualification minimums were changed, this would be easier for them to accomplish.

            Based upon the evidence stated above, I tend to favor the idea that there is, indeed, a pilot shortage. It is truly difficult for a young student attempting to emerge in the industry, to do so without exceptionally large amounts of financial assistance. The result of how expensive training is, is that the dream of becoming a professional pilot is not as feasible of an option anymore. With less and less people entering the industry, and a large amount leaving, naturally you will have a shortage of pilots.

            The regional airlines have good reason to be concerned with the hiring pool in the coming years. This is from what was previously stated about the new regulations on the minimum hour requirements for pilot training, and to be qualified to fly for a part 121 carrier. This is what is leading to the solution that all the regionals are coming to. The solution is raising wage. By doing this, they are providing more incentive for their prospective pilots. It is a little more difficult for the aspiring pilot to find a solution to the new regulations. The clearest possible solution is to be trained at an established part 141 flight training center, and receive the 500 hour exemption from the minim hour requirement. They should do their research to assure the school isn’t advertising as 141 approved much earlier than they actually are.

            Just as ALPA represents many of the regional airline pilots, there are organizations who represent other portions of the aviation industry. A couple of these organizations are The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). GAMA’s role is to represent aviation manufacturers. They state that their purpose is, “to foster and advance the general welfare, safety, interests and activities of general aviation.” (“About GAMA”, no date.) The American Association of Airport Executives is the largest organization in the world representing Airport management officials. “AAAE's members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support airports.” (About AAAE, no date)

            Professionalism is, and should be very important in the aviation industry. By watching the documentary “Flying Cheap” we could see a lack of professionalism, and the result was a huge hit on the aviation industry. First, when discussing the topic of professionalism, there must be a definition of what professionalism is. I would define professionalism as the ability to act and present yourself in a way that proves absolute competency of your skills.

In the case of the Colgan accident, which was highlighted in “Flying Cheap,” there was a clear lack of professionalism presented. One example is the first officer taking her flight, knowing that she was sick. Using my definition of professionalism, it is hard to prove the competency of her skill when she is clearly sick, which leads to fatigue, which she was facing anyway, due to her long commute to her departing flight. This lack of professionalism fits in with the lack of professionalism shown by the airline. The low wages that the airline was paying the first officer, was her motivation to get on the very flight that crashed. If the airline was demonstrating professionalism, they would be paying their pilots a wage they can live on.

As I just stated above, the pilot pay is a direct reasoning for the poor professionalism shown in the documentary. These pilots did not have the option to miss a flight, no matter how they felt. If a pilot commutes across the country, just to miss their flight, they are pretty screwed, hence the determination to fly, no matter how you feel.

In order to maintain the level of professionalism required of a professional pilot, I think I would always look for the shortcomings of others around me. By taking notice of where other pilots around me are falling short, it will be easier to avoid the same mistakes. Additionally, by reminding myself that the people I am flying are relying on me to get them from point A to point B, it will be easy to behave professionally.  It is important to not make mistakes when lives are quite literally at stake.

References:

AAAE. (no date). About aaae. Retrieved from http://www.aaae.org/aaae/AAAEMBR/About_AAAE/AAAEMemberResponsive/About_AAAE/About_AAAE.aspx?hkey=17fa23bc-bfe6-4589-9c8b-c362c1e7c303

ALPA. (2015). No excuses: keep u.s. airline pilot qualifications strong. Retrieved from  http://www.alpa.org/advocacy/pilot-pay-shortage

GAMA. (no date). About gama. Retrieved from https://www.gama.aero/about-us

Schlangenstein, M., Sasso, M. (2016, June 30) Even as pilot pay increases, u.s. airlines fear pilot shortage. Retrieved from https://skift.com/2016/06/30/even-as-pilot-pay-increases-u-s-airlines-fear-pilot-shortage/

ATC, The Big Jump

            The Fundamentals of our current Air Traffic Control system are centered around a 40-year-old computer system, known as Host. This system has many aspects that make it work; most importantly, it is based upon ground based radar. This radar is what makes it possible for the air traffic controllers to see the aircraft on their screens. The Host system also connects the entire airspace system and it is functional, however this old system is limited and inefficient. Sara Breselor, the author of the article, “Why 40-Year-Old Tech is Still Running America’s Air Traffic Control”, helps us understand the limitations by stating that, “It can handle a limited amount of traffic, and controllers cannot see anything outside of their own airspace—when they hand off a plane to a contiguous airspace, it vanishes from their radar.” (Breselor, 2014) This is a pretty significant shortcoming to the system, which is leading to the proposed NextGen system. This is a system that will very efficiently connect the air traffic control system, and simplify the lives of both pilots, and controllers. It is also projected by the FAA, that “NextGen will produce an additional $11.4 billion in benefits”. (FAA, 2016) This system works through a satellite based system, known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, or ADS-B. This surveillance system is going to replace the radar that is used currently. This GPS technology will make it possible to have coverage where it does not exist in today’s airspace.

            General Aviation has had a pretty strong opposition to the privatization of Air Traffic Control. Privatization would create a monopoly on the traffic control service in the United States, and would be dominated by the airlines and other commercial aviation operators. The EAA believes that privatization of Air Traffic Control is a “power grab by the nation’s airlines.” (EAA, 2016) In a statement provided by the EAA CEO/chairman Jack Pelton, he is recorded stating, “ATC privatization will put the big squeeze on general aviation in a way that threatens the individual freedom of flight and hands control of America’s airspace to commercial and airline interests.” (EAA, 2016) This opinion is not unheard throughout the industry. The National Business Aviation Association has the same opinion, that, “because airlines and their employees (like pilots unions) will hold a majority of seats on the board of the new non-profit, they will have priority to make "decisions over access to airports and airspace" in their own interest, rather than the interest of the entire public.” (Golson, 2016) It is not unreasonable to believe that the larger carriers will take advantage of the new system and mold it to their liking. On the other side of the coin, Paul Rinaldi, the President of the air traffic controllers’ union, NATCA, believes that the proposed legislation for privatization,

addresses the union's "primary issues of concern." It ensures that air traffic controllers keep their union-negotiated contracts, that safety and efficiency remain priorities, that ATC has a "stable, predictable funding stream," and that air traffic control service "all segments of the aviation community," from commercial carriers to general aviation, and at airports large and small. (Golson, 2016)

Privatization is being viewed by supporters, as a way to modernize ATC, and help increase the efficiency of the system.

            Air traffic control has been privatized in other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom. The private operator in Canada is called Nav Canada. It is a non-profit organization, and as stated by the Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards, “Nav Canada runs one of the safest systems in the world.” (Meyer, 2016) This non-profit organization was actually the model used for the Shuster Bill, proposing privatization in the United States. Nav Canada has won three IATA Eagle Awards for being the world’s best ATC provider. This is a clear depiction of how efficient the Canadian system is. This system is funded through the aviation customers, rather than government subsidies. Nav Canada states that they, “strive to keep customer charges stable, while improving safety and flight efficiency.”  (Nav Canada, 2003) This funding fits into how this organization works. The funding is used to invest in their infrastructure, and upgrade their systems. Nav Canada even developed their own air traffic management technology.

            On February 3^rd, 2016 the Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act was proposed to congress by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Bill Shuster and the Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo. This is the original bill that calls for privatization. Shortly after the Act was proposed, “House Leadership shelved the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act amid diverse opposition to its air traffic control (ATC) reform provisions.” (Drake, 2016) This left the Senate to concentrate on coming up with their own FAA reauthorization. In July, the Senate passed the reauthorization bill that extends and authorizes the FAA programs at current funding levels through September of 2017. This latest FAA reauthorization extended the FAA’s purview of air traffic control, and this is where the ATC privatization debacle stands right now.

            I really do believe that air traffic control does have a good chance at being more efficient once it is a non-profit, private entity. The ATC system does need to be updated, that is for certain, but in order for that to occur, there still needs to be money flowing to them. It doesn’t matter whether ATC is run by the FAA or a private company if there aren’t huge updates and an effective way to manage them. Clearly, Canada has a good system, and it is comforting to know that the model formed for the bill that went through congress was based upon it. If we, the United States, can keep our system as close to the Canadian system as possible, I think we might be alright, but if we pull the U S of A self-mutilation to our system, as we have seen before in this country, I think we might have a lot of unhappy controllers and a lot of unhappy pilots.

References

Breselor, S. (2015, February 24). Why 40-year-old tech is still running america’s air traffic                              control. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/2015/02/air-traffic-control/

Drake, T., Doersch, P. (2016 February 29). House shelves airr act, senate to pursue own faa reauthorization legislation. Retrieved from http://www.natlawreview.com/article/house-shelves-airr-act-senate-to-pursue-own-faa-reauthorization-legislation

EAA. (2016, February 12). Eaa opposition to atc privatization bill moves to full house. Retrieved from https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/news/02-12-2016-eaa-opposition-to-atc-privatization-bill-moves-to-full-house

FAA. (2016, February 23). Nextgen works. Retrieved from

             http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/works/#content

Goleson, J. (2016, February 12) Congress wants to privatize us air traffic control, but what doesit mean for flyers?. Retrieved from http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/12/10979334/air-traffic-control-privatization-airr-act-congress

Meyer, J. (2016, February 16). Free the skies, privatizing air traffic control. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredmeyer/2016/02/16/free-the-skies-privatizing-air-traffic-control/#48c88d0c46ac

Nav Canada. (2003) Meet nav Canada. Retrieved from http://www.navcanada.ca/EN/about-us/Pages/who-we-are.aspx

Personal Introduction

My interest in aviation began a lot later than most people who have let aviation consume their lives. It is pretty easy to agree that once you fall in love with aviation, there is no going back. This didn't happen for me until my junior year of high school when I was performing in a jazz concert, and there was a gentleman present who was affiliated with Eagle Flight Center in some way. He essentially made it clear that flying was an option for me. That is when I became very interested and began to really fall in love with aviation. Something that I never really paid very much attention to beforehand, was all that I became interested in. So, that is how my interest began, and now I am a senior in the Aviation Flight Technology program, who has plans of graduating at the end of this year's winter semester.

My future plans are not set in stone, but with that said, I do have a rough outline of what I would like to do. I would definitely like to flight instruct. I believe that in order to be the outstanding pilot that I would hope to be, that I should be able to know the material well enough to teach it. I am also somewhat interested in flying for the Air National Guard. I have quite the obsession with the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and having the opportunity to fly it would not only fulfill this obsession, but it could also really help out with my career beyond the military. I have made connections with people associated with the A-10 program and have the proper means to hopefully make this a reality. Beyond the hopes of flying my favorite airplane, I am intrigued by corporate aviation. The aircraft flown in this sector of aviation are easily some of the most impressive aircraft in the world. At the same time though, I am not completely sold on the lifestyle of pilots in some parts of corporate aviation. I am also intrigued by the stability and reliability of the airline industry at the moment. At the moment, the industry looks really promising, and that is a solid selling point for me.

I am very excited for the guest speakers we are going to have this semester. It is definitely a good way to get a look into the industry that we are becoming a valuable part of. Even though I have very little interest in flying UAV's, I am becoming very interested by where this is going to take aviation in the next few years. I believe it would be very valuable to have a speaker who has some insight on where the unmanned aircraft industry is headed. I would also be very interested in having a speaker on the topic of military aviation. I feel that having someone explain the options there are in military aviation, and how available these options are would be very helpful to myself and other students considering military aviation as a career path. This could lead into the current topic that is being
discussed in the world of military aviation. That topic is the discussion of whether the Air Force should retire the A-10. Personally I believe this is a completely idiotic decision to make, but it would be something fairly interesting to put up for debate. I would also like to see a discussion on the newly released movie, 'Sully." I have yet to see it, but have heard great things about it!