Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Assignment due September 30th

So far we have discussed ways to "level the global playing field" for the US airlines and the multiple ramifications of the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2010. One common thread between these two subjects is money. In terms of leveling the global playing field, one question raised is how do we maintain a high level of standards while not increasing the consumer's ticket price. One money-related question in the discussion of the ramifications of the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act is how can there be an increase in training requirements, including more required hours, without increasing starting pay at the regionals? According to management at the regionals, ticket prices would have to be raised to account for an increase in pilot pay and that may be "unacceptable" to the general flying public.

So the topic this week is more philosophical than research-based (although you will probably need to do some historical research; there is still the "one link" requirement).

Answer the following:

-Should the ability to take a commercial flight on an airline to get from point A to point B be affordable to most of the public? Or should it be a luxury? For example, there are many locations which the cost of flying on an airline to that location is the equivalent of or even cheaper than driving to that location. Therefore, if you can afford to drive, you can afford to fly.

-Why is it that you can now often fly on a route for cheaper than or equivalent to the cost of driving that route? What's changed (there obviously may be multiple factors)?

-Let's say that the airlines did raise their prices, making flying commercially less accessible to the general public. What would the industry look like? How would this change the way airlines are structured?

Please feel free to add any additional thoughts.
Have fun!
Ms. Wall

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Assignment due September 23

On August 1st, 2010 President Obama signed PL 111-216; The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2010. This act has multiple ramifications on the industry, however, for the purpose of this blog, we will focus on how this law has the potential to effect your career as well as EMU's future in flight training.

Please address the following questions:

1) Write a one paragraph summary of the law.
2) Address one specific issue that has the potential to effect your career and one specific issue that has the potential to effect EMU's future in flight training. When addressing these specific issues, be sure to indicate what the change is by defining the pre-law status.
3) What are the potential benefits and challenges to the issues that you listed in 2)?
4) Do you agree that the changes that you addressed in 2) are necessary or merely reactive? Why or why not?

Don't forget the following:

1) Address ALL the above questions to receive full credit.
2) Don't forget to add a link and integrate that link smoothly.
3) Your post is due by 11:59PM on Sunday evening.
4) Please proofread your work.

Have fun!
Ms. Wall

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Assignment due September 16th, 20120

Hello all,

This assignment is Sunday due September 16, 2012 at 11:59PM.

You were given an article in class titled "How Can We Compete - 7+ Ways to Level the Playing Field". This article addresses several "threats" to the US aviation industry, specifically US airlines, and lays out ways to help the airlines to compete on a global level.

From the article, choose one of the following suggestions to expand upon:

-Reform aviation tax policy to help increase the international competitiveness of US airlines.
-Maintain the current US foreign ownership control and foreign cabotage restrictions.
-Protect US flying.
-Improve safety and security standards at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
-Curb oil speculation.

For ONE of the above topics, answer the following questions:

1) What is the current situation? For example, if you choose "Reform aviation tax policy to help increase the international competitiveness of US airlines", address (in detail) the current policy.
2) Expand on the suggestion (i.e. give more detail - detail beyond what was in the article or discussed in class) and state any possible barriers to the implementation of that suggestion. For example, if you choose "Improve safety and security standards at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)", what are the specific standards that should be improved and why?
3) Do you agree that this has the potential to be an effective and feasible solution? Why or why not? Don't forget to look at the logistics of implementation.
4) Define a correlation between implementing this suggestion and job security/creation in the aviation industry.

In addition to answering the above questions, don't forget to include a link (to a reputable site), integrating information from that link into your discussion. Also, comment on three of your classmates blogs and send an email to me with your comments and the title of the blogs which you posted them to.

The post is due on Sunday. You have until Wednesday before the start of class to write and email comments.

Grading criteria for blog posts is located on the back of your syllabus. My biggest advice - remember that this is a 400 level course. Write and research accordingly. I'm really looking for original or critical thought. The feedback I have received from past students who have been given full credit for their posts is that this assignment takes between 2.5-3 hours per week.

Please contact me with any questions.
As always, have fun!
Ms. Wall


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Assignement due Sunday, September 9th


Hello all,

I hope your are enthused for the class and, for some of you, your first blogging experience.

Your first assignment is to
1) Create the blog and send me the title and address
2) Write an introduction blog post

Please include the basics
- how you got into aviation
- what your current career plans in aviation: be specific as possible
- current topics that interest you and why

The length of this assignment and all blog assignments should be 3-5 paragraphs. No links are required in this assignment. Please complete by 11:59PM on Sunday, Sept. 9th so that I have time to review your posts.

Next class, I will pass out a list of all the blogs as well as give the first "real" topic for the following week.