FAA's NextGen Air Transportation System

The FAA defines NextGen as a comprehensive and ongoing transformation of our National Airspace System. It is a transformation process of the radar-based air traffic control system of today to a satellite-based system of the future. This transformation is essential in order to safely accommodate the number of people who fly in the United States. NextGen will provide information in real-time to pilots in the air and to controllers on the ground. It will guide and track air traffic more precisely and efficiently, reduce aviation environmental impact, allow for more on-time arrivals and departures, reduce fuel use/cost, and many more other benefits.

The FAA Investment in NextGen was $128 millions in 2007, $216 millions in 2008, $695 millions in 2009, and $868 millions in 2010. According to Aviation Week, general aviation advocates are pleased that the Obama administration’s budget request didn’t include user fees... The FAA will get as much as $18.66 billions for fiscal 2012, including a boost in funding for NextGen modernization... The FAA is currently promoting NextGen among aviation community partners (e.g. general aviation, manufactures, State/local governments, operators, private carriers, etc.) asking for their collaboration and investment in the system.

In fact the benefits of NextGen are genuine and tremendous and will truly modernize our air transportation system. Currently, investment in NextGen is almost entirely done by our government (tax payers). So far no user fees have been included in next year’s budget but that might change in the near future as more investment in infrastructure and equipments will be required.

In the meanwhile, I think the government should continue its funding and implementing NextGen up until the system becomes more effective and efficient before requiring user fees. Ultimately, users of NextGen should be required to pay for it, but I think users/operators should be somewhat subsidized for using the system during the initial years. Also user fees should be charged based on the type of operation and type of aircraft utilizing the system. I think everyone should pay for NextGen in the future, but we have to charge users fairly and according to the type of operation. Finally, the government should promote NextGen to private investors and to aviation community partners so that the FAA get all the funding it needs to complete the transformation process of our national airspace system within a reasonable time-frame.

Airport Security, Intelligence, and Information-Sharing

“Could airport security officials properly use intelligence if they could receive it. ”
                                                                                                 __ Robert T. Raffel

I would like to focus my analysis on airport security and on how intelligence and information-sharing can enable airport operators and security managers to become proactive in deterring crimes and terrorism threats. In my opinion, the Federal government through the Department of Homeland Security have been quite successful in deterring terrorism threats following the Sept. 11, 2001 tragic terrorist attacks. Even though our government is doing a fine job in protecting us and the nation's aviation operations and infrastructure; we citizens of this great nation have an obligation to be vigilant and proactive as well. We must work together as one body, one community, and one nation regardless of our religious, ethnic and cultural differences.

Also, I would like to share the following article, Intelligence and Airport Security: Intelligence in Homeland Security, written by Robert T. Raffel, Director of Public Safety for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. Mr. Raffel brings up a significant point in this article regarding finding ways that enable the community to be more effective in sharing what it knows with public and private entities with security concerns. Currently, airport security relies on several means for intelligence and information-gathering from various governmental and organizational sources. The article stated at least three main methods or products of information-sharing (e.g. open-source information, local intelligence, trend analysis, etc.). Click on the above link If you like to familiarize yourself with these information-sharing products or if you like to read the full article.

One important aspect with respect to airport security is intelligence and information sharing on an international level. Often intelligence and information is gained from international sources regarding possible terrorism threats, but how often is it analyzed and shared from one country to another or from one agency to other agencies. I think that our success against terrorism depends largely on the reliability of the information and intelligence that we obtain, and also how we analyze it. Therefore, we need "quality, not quantity" security and terrorism experts to enable us to accomplish this mission.

Regarding the security approach of Mr. Isaac Yeffet, the former head of security for El Al, I think it will work in terms of enhancing security to a certain degree, but it will create lots of problems and events that will lead us into racial profiling. If we follow his approach and start to interview every passenger, then the process will become very costly. If we only choose a random number of passengers, then I guarantee you that the process will lead the majority of security officers into racial profiling practices and lawsuits. This is simply my opinion, and I welcome your comments and constructive feedback.

An Analysis on the Ramifications of Automation

In my opinion, most flight schools and aviation institutions are doing the minimum required in training and educating pilots with respect to avionic systems and automation issues. I strongly agree that modern pilots are not trained thoroughly on avionic systems and that they lack the skills and ability to adequately deal with and overcome failures or malfunctions of avionic systems during flight. Unfortunately, pilots are becoming more and more dependant on sophisticated avionics that their knowledge of these system is often limited to basic operations and interface functions.

As an Aviation Management student, I think a thorough analysis of this issue is an essential step for underlining the causes of this phenomenon and how it is negatively impacting the aviation industry both nationally and globally. According to Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), “A draft FAA study found pilots sometimes 'abdicate too much responsibility to automated systems.’”The article further states that loss of control accidents in which aircraft stall or get in position where pilots are unable to recover are now turning to be the most common type of airline accidents.

Also, the EAA reports in the above linked article that the FAA has recognized and identified top two issues following an analysis of flight deck automation issues that was completed several years ago: 

1. Pilots may not understand the structure and function of automation or the interaction of automation devices well enough to safely perform their duties.
2. The behavior of automation devices - what they are doing now and what they will do in the future based upon pilot input or other factors - may not be apparent to pilots, possibly resulting in reduced pilot awareness of automation behavior and goals.

Possible solutions to automation issues are numerous yet require  financial and time investments. I think that the FAA and other international regulatory agencies along with our global aviation industry must take this issue seriously both in terms of funding and in terms of enforcing and implementing new regulations to enhance pilots knowledge and trouble-shooting skills of avionic systems.

 Airline managers will be concerned or even frightened by such proposal, and they may even reject and fight-off any attempt to implement such regulation. Airlines management's main concern will evolve around the financial cost and time-loss in re-training and re-certifying current pilots. The solution to this matter is simple; before a new regulation is enforced, the FAA or other international regulatory bodies must give enough time (a year or two if necessary) for airlines, general aviation, and other affected agencies and organizations to re-train, re-certify and recruit new qualified pilots before enforcing the regulation.

Eagle iView Introduction Blog

Hello everyone and welcome to my introductory blog.

Currently, I am a senior undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan University majoring in Aviation Management Technology, with a minor in General Business. My short term goal is to finish my B.S. degree and graduate either in the end of the next Winter semester or Spring quarter. My long term goal is to obtain an International Aviation Consultant/Expert career, given the fact that I am already at the top of the ladder of my linguistic career with over seven years of native/professional linguistic and cultural advising experience in support of our U.S. military efforts overseas (e.g. Northrop Grumman, DARPA, NIST, L-3 Communications, etc.).
Flying was a childhood dream that I took seriously once I graduated from high school few years ago. I started with introductory ground school training while simultaneously taking flying lessons during the weekends at the Ann Arbor Airport (ARB). Shortly later that year I decided to attend EMU and major in Aviation Flight Technology, while taking flying lessons at Eagle Flight Center. I successfully completed my first solo flight on May 12th, 2004. Later that year I put school on hold and deployed overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II & III. In fact this opportunity opened new doors for me and in 2006 I changed majors from Flight into Management.

I hope that all of us will take this blogging assignment seriously and learn from each others experiences and knowledge. Wish you all success in this course and in your aviation careers, and I would like to conclude this posting with the following quote:
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." _Leonardo da Vinci