Sunday, November 23, 2014
Little Airlines, Big Ideas
WOW Airlines and La Compagnie are airlines that are challenging the high cost international ticket the legacy carriers are charging. La Compagine flys 757's with 74 seats all business class between New York City and Paris, charging about $2,000 round-trip vs. $5,000 to $11,000 for the same seat on a larger carrier. The next carrier is WOW. WOW uses Airbus 320's to fly between Baltimore and Boston to Reykjavík, then connecting to 18 different cities, all starting at around $400.00 round trip. WOW has a very Spirit Airlines or Peoples Express feel to them. You buy a seat and everything else is purchased, like luggage fees, food, beverages, ect.
WOW Air, as of February 2014 operates 3 A320's and has orders for 3 more. They also have orders for 2 A321's WOW is based in Iceland and flys into 13 countries including the US. WOW has 170 employees and estimated passengers carried this year at 450,000. La Compagnie operates 1 Boeing 757 with 74 all business class seats. They are based out of CDG Paris and fly to EWR Newark, NJ. The Pilots are all under a French employment contract.
I think both models will be successful. Spirit and Southwest have already proven that low cost coach carriers are desired by the value driven public. WOW having such discounted lower fares to international destinations will put the airline in a position where it can fly at higher capacities than most other airlines. La Compagnie will be a hit with the business traveler and corporations who book business fares. A first class seat to Paris that costs less than the major US carriers, yet offers the same frills, without the lack of bin space and crowded aircraft that coach seats bring, should appeal to many business travelers and couples.
These airlines will definitely make it hard on the US international airlines. Airlines like Delta make a lot of their money on their business class seats on international flights. There's no doubt that these low cost carriers will hurt profits from the major carriers.
https://www.lacompagnie.com/en/the-company/who-we-are
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Compagnie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOW_air
http://wowair.us/the-wow-experience/our-story
Monday, November 10, 2014
Space Tourism
1) In a short paragraph describe the details of the accident.
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo broke apart a few minutes after separation from the launch vehicle. It happened at around 50,000 ft, killing one pilot and injuring the other. Pilot error seems to be the early focus for the accident. It is believed that the feathering system was deployed at around mach1 which caused the ship to break apart. The surviving pilot fell from the sky in -59 degree temps and extreme pressure changes. He was released from the hospital with a shattered shoulder and damage to his lung.
2) Give a brief history about space tourism and specifically, Virgin Galactic.
Richard Branson is the CEO and founder of Virgin Galactic. The space project has approximately $490 million invested and has received $80 million in tickets sales on pre order. The project has not yet taken passengers into outer space and at around $250,000 per passenger, has a a small niche of people that can afford it.
3) Are there any regulations, FAA or ICAO, that specifically address space tourism and/or space flight in general?
The FAA has a minimal regulatory framework for commercial spaceflight. Companies have to get test permits. Congress imposed a moratorium on burdening the fledgling sector with additional red tape back in 2004, with the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act. And in 2012, Congress extended the measure to October, 1, 2015.
3) Where do you see space tourism headed and in what time frame? I.e., do you think it will be accessible to the general public, not unlike the commercial airline industry?
I think that we will see space tourism at a level where it will be more affordable in the future. Its early in the stages now and has a lot of kinks to work out. I think it will be something the masses could afford in the next 20 or 30 years. Traveling in airplanes used to be only for the wealthy, but now anyone can afford a flight.
4) What are the qualifications to work in the space tourism industry - either from the pilot or the management perspective? This may require some research, perhaps even making a phone call.
I found a job listing on Glassdoor for a Business Manager for Virgin Galactic. The qualifications are; * 8 plus years of financial and contractual management experience is required
* Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or related field; MBA is desired
* Strong budget/forecast and financial analysis skills
* Strong understanding and abilities in procurement processes
* Business Management experience supporting aerospace/newspace companies are
highly preferred
* Exemplary written and oral communication skills
* Familiarity with ITAR regulations and compliance
* Solid negotiation and influencing skills
* Strong administration/time management skills
* Familiarity with FAR financial requirements are a plus
http://www.glassdoor.com/job-listing/business-manager-JV_IC1146850_KO0,16_IE486741.htm?jl=1216084400&paoIdKey=MA== http://www.newsweek.com/commercial-space-travel-virgin-galactic-nasa-space-spaceshiptwo-virgin-282199
http://qz.com/290722/the-real-problem-behind-virgin-galactics-flight-test-disaster-is-bad-business/
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo broke apart a few minutes after separation from the launch vehicle. It happened at around 50,000 ft, killing one pilot and injuring the other. Pilot error seems to be the early focus for the accident. It is believed that the feathering system was deployed at around mach1 which caused the ship to break apart. The surviving pilot fell from the sky in -59 degree temps and extreme pressure changes. He was released from the hospital with a shattered shoulder and damage to his lung.
2) Give a brief history about space tourism and specifically, Virgin Galactic.
Richard Branson is the CEO and founder of Virgin Galactic. The space project has approximately $490 million invested and has received $80 million in tickets sales on pre order. The project has not yet taken passengers into outer space and at around $250,000 per passenger, has a a small niche of people that can afford it.
3) Are there any regulations, FAA or ICAO, that specifically address space tourism and/or space flight in general?
The FAA has a minimal regulatory framework for commercial spaceflight. Companies have to get test permits. Congress imposed a moratorium on burdening the fledgling sector with additional red tape back in 2004, with the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act. And in 2012, Congress extended the measure to October, 1, 2015.
3) Where do you see space tourism headed and in what time frame? I.e., do you think it will be accessible to the general public, not unlike the commercial airline industry?
I think that we will see space tourism at a level where it will be more affordable in the future. Its early in the stages now and has a lot of kinks to work out. I think it will be something the masses could afford in the next 20 or 30 years. Traveling in airplanes used to be only for the wealthy, but now anyone can afford a flight.
4) What are the qualifications to work in the space tourism industry - either from the pilot or the management perspective? This may require some research, perhaps even making a phone call.
I found a job listing on Glassdoor for a Business Manager for Virgin Galactic. The qualifications are; * 8 plus years of financial and contractual management experience is required
* Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or related field; MBA is desired
* Strong budget/forecast and financial analysis skills
* Strong understanding and abilities in procurement processes
* Business Management experience supporting aerospace/newspace companies are
highly preferred
* Exemplary written and oral communication skills
* Familiarity with ITAR regulations and compliance
* Solid negotiation and influencing skills
* Strong administration/time management skills
* Familiarity with FAR financial requirements are a plus
http://www.glassdoor.com/job-listing/business-manager-JV_IC1146850_KO0,16_IE486741.htm?jl=1216084400&paoIdKey=MA== http://www.newsweek.com/commercial-space-travel-virgin-galactic-nasa-space-spaceshiptwo-virgin-282199
http://qz.com/290722/the-real-problem-behind-virgin-galactics-flight-test-disaster-is-bad-business/
Sunday, November 2, 2014
cargo
1) As a result of the Colgan Air accident, the FAA institute new flight and duty regulations. Summarize these new regulations and describe how they are different from the old flight and duty regulations.
Pilots are required to complete 1500 hours of pilot training to up from 250 hours to obtain an ATP. Requires airlines to track training processes and failures and provide training for more effective pilot monitoring. The rest requirements are now 10 hours rest between shifts with 8 hours of sleep time. The old requirements were 8 hours of rest but that was from shift end to shift start.
2) Cargo carriers are exempt from the new rules. What are the current flight and duty limitations for cargo carriers?
Cargo is exempt from the new rule they have the 8 hours off between shifts, not starting at sleep.
3) Why do you feel that cargo carriers have been excluded from the new changes? Value of life? Public perception? Too much money for the carrier? Other reasons? All the above?
I think cargo was excluded because possibly because of less legs of flights completed, less life loss risk, and the cost would be higher for cargo, having to use more pilots.
4) Do you believe cargo carriers should be included in the new rules? Why or why not?
I think they should be included in the new rule. Fatigue is real and whether or not you have a cabin full of cargo or passengers safety should be the first priority.
5) Finally, what would be the impact to your career if cargo carriers were to be included in these new rules - Pilots, address this from a pilot perspective, management address from a management perspective.
Management- Hiring more pilots, keeping track of times and having standby pilots in more locations with crew scheduling.
https://www.alpa.org/portals/alpa/magazine/2004/Sept2004_FTDTAirCargo.htm
http://skift.com/2013/11/05/faa-issues-new-pilot-training-rule-to-fix-colgan-air-deficiencies/
Pilots are required to complete 1500 hours of pilot training to up from 250 hours to obtain an ATP. Requires airlines to track training processes and failures and provide training for more effective pilot monitoring. The rest requirements are now 10 hours rest between shifts with 8 hours of sleep time. The old requirements were 8 hours of rest but that was from shift end to shift start.
2) Cargo carriers are exempt from the new rules. What are the current flight and duty limitations for cargo carriers?
Cargo is exempt from the new rule they have the 8 hours off between shifts, not starting at sleep.
3) Why do you feel that cargo carriers have been excluded from the new changes? Value of life? Public perception? Too much money for the carrier? Other reasons? All the above?
I think cargo was excluded because possibly because of less legs of flights completed, less life loss risk, and the cost would be higher for cargo, having to use more pilots.
4) Do you believe cargo carriers should be included in the new rules? Why or why not?
I think they should be included in the new rule. Fatigue is real and whether or not you have a cabin full of cargo or passengers safety should be the first priority.
5) Finally, what would be the impact to your career if cargo carriers were to be included in these new rules - Pilots, address this from a pilot perspective, management address from a management perspective.
Management- Hiring more pilots, keeping track of times and having standby pilots in more locations with crew scheduling.
https://www.alpa.org/portals/alpa/magazine/2004/Sept2004_FTDTAirCargo.htm
http://skift.com/2013/11/05/faa-issues-new-pilot-training-rule-to-fix-colgan-air-deficiencies/
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