Spirit of Eastern Michigan Aviation

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ATC Privatization

Over the years, the airspace above has been getting more sophisticated, yet safer. Currently, our system is divided into 21 sections covering 5,282,000 square miles of Domestic U.S. Airspace and 24,101,568 square miles of U.S. Oceanic Airspace. Major components of this include the traffic flow management system; Time based flow management, and en route automation modernization (FAA, 2018). The system implemented now is radar based and uses a transponder between ATC and other aircrafts to display location and altitude with a short delay in the relay. NextGen is a FAA led modernization of our air transportation system to increase the safety, efficiency, capacity, and resiliency (FAA, 2018). NextGen is satellite based and will allow pilots, controllers, and operators to gain better information that help the aircraft get from point A to B faster, while consuming less fuel, and will be more efficient. NextGen is on target to have all components in place by 2025. The biggest reason why

Aviation Organizations

The two aviation associations that come to mind when I think about my career, no matter what path I end up going down in the industry would be AOPA and EAA. Currently, I am already a member of AOPA which provides great advice from other pilots and individuals ranging from GA, regionals, airlines, corporate, and the cargo side. They also have great legal advice information if something may arise, and overall it is the top aviation association with over 500,000 active members. Secondly, EAA is a great association and offers great tips and stories among the aviation community. I enjoy getting the monthly magazines and staying up to date on current topics. They also provide information about fly ins and are really supportive of the youth in aviation, which I always will back up. AOPA represents the largest aviation community, spanning across 75 countries and representing hundreds and thousands of individuals. Members range from people aspiring to fly and people who have been

The New FAA Administrator

John Dunkin has had a professional and personal relationship with President Donald Trump since 1989 when Trump started his own airline that eventually folded in 1992. Dunkin currently fly’s President Trumps Boeing 757. New York Post stated that Dunkin has managed airline and corporate flight departments, certified airlines from start-up under FAA regulations, and oversaw Trumps Presidential fleet, traveling to 203 cities in 43 states over the course of 21 months during the campaign. According to The Washington Post, Dunkin does everything in the aviation side for the President from charting international flight plans and guiding the plane from stop to stop, oversees the delivery of new engine and various aircraft parts, all the way to overseeing interior livery replacements as well as cleaning the inside of the aircraft (The Washington Post, 2018). Trump believes Dunkin will turn the FAA around for the better, claiming that they need a pilot who is a real ‘expert’. Some other FAA

The Commercial Space Industry

Between the 1960s and 1980s, U.S. companies manufactured and produced various launch vehicles and satellites to be under NASA contracts to launch their payloads. According to the FAA, in the late 80’s the need for launches grew to the point where NASA could no longer handle the demand and manufactures expressed interest in commercial launch services. In 1982, Space Services successfully launched the first private American launch testing its prototype Conestoga rocket. This flight also proved how the approval process takes an extraordinary long time. Shortly after the first test launch, Charles D. Walker from McDonnell Douglas became the first non-government astronaut to fly in 1984. This manned flight led to a huge spark in the future of space tourism. Various companies started designing and engineering cabins that could hold individuals and payloads. NASA allowed its first citizen to fly during the shuttle program, Christa McAuliffe. NASA predicted that after this flight two to three

The Current Status of UAVs

Recently in the past couple of years, civilian UAV use in the United States has been on the rise. Companies that produce these products have created UAVs that any ordinary individual can purchase at a relatively low cost, and made it fairly easy to use for someone who may not have any prior experience with one. We mostly see civilians using drones for leisure activities such as aerial photography, and just having fun with it. According to the FAA UAS getting started website, they give you two options. You can either fly under the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (section 336) or fly under the FAA’s Small UAS Rule (Part 107). Section 336 states this is flying for hobby or recreation. You must register your model aircraft, follow community based safety guidelines, the UAV must weigh less than 55 lbs, must be within the visual line of sight, and never fly near other aircraft or notify ATC prior to flying within 5 miles of a controlled airport. These rules would apply to the civilian use.

Cargo Industry is Exempt From Flight/Duty Changes - Should They Be?

In the proceeding months and years after the 2009 Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash and various others, the FAA came to conclusion that something in the regulatory process must be changed. Previously, pilots were landing jobs with a little over the minimum of 250 hours and no ATP due to it not being required. This meant flight crews were severely under-experienced. The FAA instituted the 1500 requirement for the ATP, unless you came from a 141 school, where you are eligible to get the restricted ATP with 1000. With proper military experience, this can be possible with even less. Not only was flight time changed, but rest requirements were too. According to The Balance and FAA, Under the old rules, rest requirements were based on operations such as domestic and international flights. Now there is no difference as all rules apply. Flight hours were limited per day and per year with the old rules and now it are based of week, month, and year. Under old operating rules, the word “fit for duty”