Two significant organizations for me to be a member of are AAAE (American Association of Airport Executives) and AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association). With aspirations of being in airport operations and eventually a Part 121 certificate holder, it will be significant for me to be involved with an organization like AAAE to be connect with the industry. As an aircraft owner, AOPA is an important organization for me to be a part of to help support the growth of aviation as a whole and not just general aviation. I am currently a member of both.
From AAAE's website, "AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C. and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities including training, meetings and conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program." AAAE exists to support airport executives in their job functions by keeping them connected with innovation and advancements at other airports.
AOPA is the worlds largest support group of GA (general aviation). They are the collective voice for pilots and owners of aircraft other than 14 CFR part 121 owner/operators. AOPA lobbies in Washington, D.C. against agenda items and actions affecting GA pilots and aircraft supporting the growth of GA in the United States. There are membership benefits such as low cost insurance policies for aircraft, life, flight instructor and renters. Members receive discounts on pilot supplies, rental cars, hotels and a number of other items. AOPA also provides low cost legal services from aviation attorneys to it's members. AOPA takes approximately 400,000 voices and turns them into one loud voice that is heard in Washington, D.C.
The benefit to joining any group is to be part of like minded individuals coming together to create one voice. Both of these organizations, AAAE and AOPA are highly respected in there industries and provide benefits that an individual couldn't possibly achieve on their own. Both provide training respective to their industries, job opportunities and up to date information on their industry. If you are expecting to be in airport management, joining AAAE is a something that should seriously be considered. If you intend to become an aircraft owner, life long flight instructor, charter or corporate pilot, then AOPA should be on the top of your "to do" list. The benefits of both of these organizations will heavily out-weigh the annual cost of membership.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
Flying cheap and Professionalism, A Regional Pilots mission.
To answer the first question, President and owner of Pan American Airlines.
As for the second question, the title is fairly self explanatory but to elaborate, I have been following Pan Am's ownership history for the last 12 years or so. At one point the name sold for $1 million dollars. The love affair airline has been reduced to a training academy and there are still Pan Am memorabilia being sold under a different owner. Ideally I would buy all parts of the name, the training center, the charter service and the sellers of Pan Am logo items, get issued a Part 121 certificate, and recreate what Juan Trippe once had. I would like passengers to again be able to fly as much for the experience and joy of flying as for the utility of getting from here to there quickly and safely.
There are certainly safety concerns when operating aircraft under a Part 121 air carrier certificate. From every aspect of flight crews, airplanes, maintenance, selection of routes, selection of missions, training, ground handling and operations there are safety concerns. To ensure safety, I would strictly adhere to the FAR's, provide industry leading training for crews, keep up to date with maintenance functions and training, provide cutting edge technology in all of the aircraft to give flight crews the best possible opportunity for success in completing missions. I would allow the crews to have a voice and speak up without repercussion when safety issues arise, and actually listen to what they have to say. The crews are the front line and if they are not comfortable, we are not maximizing efficiency as industry leaders.
Professionalism is to be proficient at a skill and be able to teach that skill conscientiously to others. It is to respect others related to your industry and your customers, know when you are right, know when you are wrong and listen to corrections. Professionalism is to be diligent, forming a knowledge bank that constantly improves your skill helping you to become an expert in your field. Professionalism is to be humble remembering that no one is perfect, anyone can have an off day and when they do be there to help if they ask. Do not be forceful but do not be weak. Find the balance of power that comes with your superior knowledge of a skill or work area. Professionalism is to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Professionalism is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Professionalism is doing the right thing even though there may be personal consequences such as losing a job, at least you will sleep at night. Lastly professionalism is doing the right thing when everyone else is doing wrong because it is easier and "not that big of a deal".
The video Flying Cheap pointed out many unprofessional activities. The two that stuck out the most in my mind were from management. The first was the pilot that was given the opportunity to have his on duty time reflect a 20 minute later start time. The idea was that the plane still flew, the mission would have been completed and the pilot would have been home a day sooner. This reflects a poor corporate culture of adherence to regulations. The rules are built on previous expert experience and are not there to be bent or broken. The second issue of unprofessionalism was managements scheduling and crew expectation to fly missions at nearly all cost. As pointed out in the video, some Regional Carrier contracts are based on completed flights and not the number of passengers flown. There are other unprofessional acts committed by crews in the documentary but they are isolated to bad pilots. To me management sets the stage for the promotion of safety and adherence to regulation. This is a corporate culture issue that impacts the entire operation of the Regional Carrier.
Two specific ways I can improve my professionalism will be to listen to those before me. I can learn and grow from there mistakes, I do not need to repeat them. This is having respect for the individuals that made the mistakes before me and not believing I can always do it better than them. They tried and failed, I will try another path. Another way is to continually train and grow into the position being able to change and adapt with the environment of change. It is easy to get stuck in the mind set that we will do it this way because it is the way we have always done it. I will listen to my front line individuals and adapt to change to become the best airline on the planet.
As for the second question, the title is fairly self explanatory but to elaborate, I have been following Pan Am's ownership history for the last 12 years or so. At one point the name sold for $1 million dollars. The love affair airline has been reduced to a training academy and there are still Pan Am memorabilia being sold under a different owner. Ideally I would buy all parts of the name, the training center, the charter service and the sellers of Pan Am logo items, get issued a Part 121 certificate, and recreate what Juan Trippe once had. I would like passengers to again be able to fly as much for the experience and joy of flying as for the utility of getting from here to there quickly and safely.
There are certainly safety concerns when operating aircraft under a Part 121 air carrier certificate. From every aspect of flight crews, airplanes, maintenance, selection of routes, selection of missions, training, ground handling and operations there are safety concerns. To ensure safety, I would strictly adhere to the FAR's, provide industry leading training for crews, keep up to date with maintenance functions and training, provide cutting edge technology in all of the aircraft to give flight crews the best possible opportunity for success in completing missions. I would allow the crews to have a voice and speak up without repercussion when safety issues arise, and actually listen to what they have to say. The crews are the front line and if they are not comfortable, we are not maximizing efficiency as industry leaders.
Professionalism is to be proficient at a skill and be able to teach that skill conscientiously to others. It is to respect others related to your industry and your customers, know when you are right, know when you are wrong and listen to corrections. Professionalism is to be diligent, forming a knowledge bank that constantly improves your skill helping you to become an expert in your field. Professionalism is to be humble remembering that no one is perfect, anyone can have an off day and when they do be there to help if they ask. Do not be forceful but do not be weak. Find the balance of power that comes with your superior knowledge of a skill or work area. Professionalism is to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Professionalism is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Professionalism is doing the right thing even though there may be personal consequences such as losing a job, at least you will sleep at night. Lastly professionalism is doing the right thing when everyone else is doing wrong because it is easier and "not that big of a deal".
The video Flying Cheap pointed out many unprofessional activities. The two that stuck out the most in my mind were from management. The first was the pilot that was given the opportunity to have his on duty time reflect a 20 minute later start time. The idea was that the plane still flew, the mission would have been completed and the pilot would have been home a day sooner. This reflects a poor corporate culture of adherence to regulations. The rules are built on previous expert experience and are not there to be bent or broken. The second issue of unprofessionalism was managements scheduling and crew expectation to fly missions at nearly all cost. As pointed out in the video, some Regional Carrier contracts are based on completed flights and not the number of passengers flown. There are other unprofessional acts committed by crews in the documentary but they are isolated to bad pilots. To me management sets the stage for the promotion of safety and adherence to regulation. This is a corporate culture issue that impacts the entire operation of the Regional Carrier.
Two specific ways I can improve my professionalism will be to listen to those before me. I can learn and grow from there mistakes, I do not need to repeat them. This is having respect for the individuals that made the mistakes before me and not believing I can always do it better than them. They tried and failed, I will try another path. Another way is to continually train and grow into the position being able to change and adapt with the environment of change. It is easy to get stuck in the mind set that we will do it this way because it is the way we have always done it. I will listen to my front line individuals and adapt to change to become the best airline on the planet.
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