commercial airlines

Flying on commercial airline will never be a luxury. Common sense and logic should tell us that the cost of flying on commercial airlines will continue to rise. This assertion is due mainly to two critical issues: (1) high price of fuel oil and (2) airport security. The high cost of fuel has become a major expense for the airline industry. Fuel remains our largest and most volatile costs, says John Heimlich, chief economists for Airline for America. A Deutsche Bank analysis estimated that every penny increase in jet fuel prices on an annualized basis equals additional fuel expense of $170 million for the U.S. airlines industry. In turn, these costs are passed on to consumers.

            Another major area of concern is airport security. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, security at airports around the world has become a nightmare for commercial airline passengers. Besides the long lines, waits at airports, removal of articles of clothing, loss of personal privacy, pat downs, airports have been forced to purchase advanced imaging technology and other safety equipment and hire security personnel. These costs have also been passed down to passengers in terms of ticket price increase.

            I am not sure about the assertion that one can now fly on a route for cheaper or equivalent to the cost of driving that route. At one point, it was possible for passengers to travel cheap on start-up airlines. With the availability of capital and lax rules and regulations, many start-up airlines suddenly became available to passengers. These airlines cut into the price of major airlines, but most of them soon went out of business because they did not have sound and well-though out business plans. Finally, raising prices on commercial airlines will change this industry forever. More and more passengers will begin searching for new means of travel.


Cubbin, K. (2009). Airline economics: Is there a formula for success? Cubbin Consulting

Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2010

Summary of the Act

            On August 1, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a major federal legislation, The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act (P.L.111-216) into law as a means of strengthening airline safety standards. Among other things, the Act specifically required that all commercial airline pilots complete a minimum of 1500 flight hours before they begin piloting commercial passenger airlines. 

Practical Potential of the Act Upon my Career and EMU’s Future Flight Program

             If this Act is enacted, it was caused a serious financial hardship upon my career and that of EMU’s future pilot program. Tuition will skyrocket far beyond my limited financial means. Now instead of paying tuition on two hundred and fifty  hours, pilots will be struggling to find tuition for 1500 credit hours. As for EMU’s future pilot program, there will probably be a massive drop out of students from the program due to prohibitive cost.

Potential Benefits and challenges to Issues listed in Question #2

              There are potential benefits and challenges of the Act.  Increasing the number of hours will honed skills and help to become a better pilot, thus increasing the chances of finding a quality job with major regional airline. On the other hand, it will benefit EMU to streamline its future program making it more competitive.  The challenge of the program is just by increasing the number of hours to fly does not guarantee that it will improve.

Are the Changes Necessary or Merely Reactive

            I do not believe that the changes are necessary. Some provisions of the Act are nebulous. It does not specify the type of conditions the pilot must complete the training in or type of airline to be flown. Furthermore, the Act will take years to go into effect which does little  help to pilots now.

Leveling the Playing field in Global Aviation

Leveling the Playing field in Global Aviation

            The global aviation industry is essential to the global society. It is a change agent and the driver of economic, social and cultural development on the global stage. The global aviation industry has changed how people travel and interact with each other and do business.  It would be inconceivable to envisage a world without global aviation industry. However, the global aviation industry is at a cross road and faces old and new challenges from every directions. For the level of playing field to occur in the global aviation industry, it will require an incredible amount of willingness and cooperation among many parties: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations, member states, specialized agencies and non-governmental entities. Some of the issues to be tackle by these agencies for a level playing field include: (1) reduce speculation in the oil market and search for new renewable sustainable energy, (2) establish global emissions level, (3) enhance customer experience at airports and (4) Strengthen new entrance for new start-up airlines, Enhance international aviation safety regulations.

            Oil is perhaps the largest expensive item for the global aviation industry. In most instances, it is not driven by the producers of oil, but by speculators. The price for oil has increased substantially over the years and brought stress on an already beleaguered industry. To level the playing field, the above organizations must find ways to curb oil speculation, on the one hand, and on the other, pool their collective expertise and wisdom to create a regulatory framework to find new renewable clean energy. Likewise, these agencies must find better ways to reduce global emissions level that causes greenhouse gases.  All member states must find ways to reduce emission at an annual basis.

            Customers experience is another issue that must be addressed to level the playing field. Airline travel has become time consuming means of travel due to security related concerns which is viewed negatively by the majority of travelers. Member nations should shift their resources to focus on those few passengers who pose a threat to the air industry. This can be done through high technology. The combination of low barriers to entry and the availability of capital made it possible for new start up airlines to enter the global aviation market. However, many of these new entrants soon went out of business due to a number of reasons and they left the financial market in worst conditions. To avert such circumstances, global aviation industry should strengthen requirements to new entrants and require that new entrant applicants have sound business plans.

           

           

           

Hello everyone

My name Idries Yacoub

it always been a lifetime dream of mine to become a pilot, it seems to be the most suitable career for me.Why? I don't know, maybe because i love airplanes, and flying, or it might be because of the most influential person in my life who is a pilot (uncle), and I would like to fellow in his foot steps, and make him proud. I started trying to pursue my dream the first day I got the United States of America 2007, . I attended Wayne County Community College District and got my associate in General Studies, then I enrolled in the Aviation Flight Technology program at Eastern Michigan University. Hopefully i will be graduating this semester.