Medical Reform

Historically, the medical requirements for pilots have been very stringent, but overall, have not improved the safety of flight.  Within the last year, the FAA, under heavy pressure, released proposals regarding the third-class medical.  This proposal would have included such heavy restrictions, that it would not positively affect most pilots.  Eventually it fell to Congress to step up. 

Congress has a bill on the floor that simplifies the third-class, making it uneccessary for most.  Some of the major ways that this bill is improved include: "­allowing pilots to fly airplanes up to 6,000 pounds, which includes the vast majority of the light GA fleet. Pilots can fly IFR under the proposed rule, they can carry a reasonable number of passengers, and they can fly fast airplanes, up to 250 knots." (Goyer, 2015)

 It comes as no surprise that this bill was not put on the table by the FAA, but rather became Congress mandated.  Congress saw the need to step in and force the issue.  This can be good and bad, because with the good, you also have the potential to see the bad, or the silly... "You might get good rules, like the Pilot's Bill of Rights, and you might get silly ones, like the expensive and scientifically insupportable requirement that new ­airline pilots have 1,500 hours of flight experience." (Goyer, 2015)

I do think that medical reform is necessary, as the restrictions and the requirements put on those who wish to fly can be quite ridiculous.  In my personal experience, it seems that if you have anything in your past that the FAA can use against you, they will do so.  Easier to just say no than to look a little deeper into a situation.  For example: after having spine surgery in 2010, I was on VA (Veteran's Affairs) prescribed pain medication for a long time.  The surgery was less than successful, and this seemed an easier solution than to look at the root of the problem.  Fast forward three years (2013), and I stopped taking the pain meds.  This was my choice.  No addiction, I just hate taking medication, and needed to seek alternate ways to manage the pain.  Since 2013, I have been fighting with the FAA to obtain a medical.  I have met every one of their requirements, but have been unsuccessful in obtaining my certificate.  The last seven responses from them have been exactly the same letter, with only the date being changed.  The only thing it asks for is my current list of medications, including any pain meds, or the date that I stopped taking them.  Oh, after denying me (again) of course.  My list of medications have not changed since 2013, and I have not taken any medications that would DQ me, but still I am unable to be cleared medically.  Reform is necessary!

References

Goyer, Robert. (May 5, 2015) Medical Reform - Finally! (Flying Magazine) Retreived from                http://www.flyingmag.com/blogs/going-direct/medical-reform-finally

C919

The fact that the new Comac C919 has yet to gain FAA certification could lead us to believe that it will NEVER receive it.  The whole "Made in China" bit can in many cases make us think twice about their products, as many, if not all of us, have seen lower quality standards at work in regard to toys, clothing, automobiles, etc.  However, with that said, if they prove themselves as a quality option for air travel, there is always the chance that the FAA will come calling.  In my opinion, based on my personal experiences with Chinese made products, I am skeptical, at best.

In the event that the C919 does receive FAA certification, it will remain to be seen how the U.S. carriers will be affected.  An example of this is seen in their orders for aircraft.  "Huaxia Financial Leasing signed a letter of intent for 20 C919s. Though not an order, the deal is included in Comac’s tally of 450 orders, which actually means orders and options. Use of such loose definitions mean that Comac’s order book is not at all comparable with the contract records of Western manufacturers." (Perrett, 2015)  Of those 450 orders, all but 20 of them are domestic orders.  It lends to the question of whether or not the C919 is capable of success on an international level.  "At face value, Comac’s goal of breaking the Boeing/Airbus narrowbody duopoly is a noble, if not extremely challenging, task." (Leighton, 2015)  It appears that Comac's interests lie more on the national level, rather than international.  China has the fourth largest country in terms of land-mass.  The middle class in China is rapidly expanding, and the second most-populated country.

While there is an Airbus factory in the country (Tianjin), it serves to cover the short-term demand.  China has aspirations of being an economic powerhouse, but also from a technology aspect as well.  "To get there, your nation needs to prove that it can produce state-of-the-art anything, especially aircraft. The C919, in a broad-strokes way, is a matter of national pride." (Leighton, 2015) The fact that 430 out of 450 orders for aircraft are coming domestically, this tells us that the relationship is very good between the airlines and government.

Sure, other companies will look at Comac (if they have success) as a potential threat to Airbus or Boeing, but I think these companies will wait and see how the C919 shapes up.  There will be growing pains for at least a few years once they are up and flying, and I think that based on that, these companies will want to see what those pains are, and learn from them, in hopes of potentially avoiding some, or all of them if they decide to make the leap.

I could not find anything specific about any changes in response to the C919.  I found that it says Boeing and Airbus have projects in place to update/upgrade their fleet in order to stay ahead of the curve.  One thing they have going for them is that they have aircraft in the market that the C919 is trying to break into, and they will have less hiccups to deal with.  Also, if Comac has to push their anticipated dates of completion, it just pushes them further back in attempts to gain a foothold in the industry.

References 

Leighton, Bernie. (March 18, 2015) A Closer Look at the Comac C919 - Why Does it Exist? - AirlineReporter (AirlineReporter) Retrieved from http://www.airlinereporter.com/2015/03/closer-look-comac-c919-exist/

Perrett, Bradley. (June 15, 2015). Comac C919 Nears Roll Out (Comac C919 Nears Roll Out) Retreived from http://aviationweek.com/paris-air-show-2015/comac-c919-nears-roll-out

Aviation Associations

Belonging to different associations throughout your career can make a huge difference in moderate or major success.  A couple of the associations I am interested in joining are AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) and ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association).

AOPA is an organization that protects the "freedom to fly by:

• advocating on behalf of our members,
• educating pilots, nonpilots, and policy makers alike,
• supporting activities that ensure the long-term health of General Aviation,
• fighting to keep General Aviation accessible to all, and
• securing sufficient resources to ensure our success." (AOPA, n.d.)

ALPA has a mission statement that says "to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation..." (ALPA, n.d.)

"AOPA's first political activity was to urge passage of a Senate bill that would establish the Civilian Pilot Training Program." (AOPA, n.d.)  This helped thousands of people to earn pilot certificates utilizing government subsidies.  G.A. interest and aircraft sales skyrocketed, and provided training for pilots who later flew in World War II.  They were also instrumental in getting a reduction in the cost of medical examinations.  They advocated for the construction of more airports to handle higher numbers of pilots flying.  AOPA also started studies to show improving safety records, hoping to attain lower insurance rates. 

ALPA is the world's largest union for pilots, providing representation for over 50,000 pilots in the U.S. and Canada.  "ALPA represents pilots' views to decision makers, including Congress and federal agencies, and ALPA pilot groups have negotiated hundreds of contracts with airlines." (ALPA, n.d.)

It is important to belong to organizations because they can be a great resource in the course of fixing any issues that may arise in one's career.  In addition, membership can be a great source of networking.  The airline industry is relatively small, all things considered, and you never know what may be the piece of the puzzle that makes you stand out next to others. 

References

Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.aopa.org/About-AOPA/Governance/Mission-and-History-of-AOPA

Air Line Pilots Association. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.alpa.org/about-alpa/what-we-do

ALPA represents pilots’ views to decision-makers, including Congress and federal agencies, and ALPA pilot groups have negotiated hundreds of contracts with airlines. - See more at: http://www.alpa.org/about-alpa/what-we-do#sthash.IIJwdMqh.dpuf

ALPA represents pilots’ views to decision-makers, including Congress and federal agencies, and ALPA pilot groups have negotiated hundreds of contracts with airlines. - See more at: http://www.alpa.org/about-alpa/what-we-do#sthash.IIJwdMqh.dpuf

to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation - See more at: http://www.alpa.org/en/about-alpa/what-we-do#sthash.Ls1OilWG.dpuf

to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation - See more at: http://www.alpa.org/en/about-alpa/what-we-do#sthash.Ls1OilWG.dpuf

to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation - See more at: http://www.alpa.org/en/about-alpa/what-we-do#sthash.Ls1OilWG.dpuf

to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation - See more at: http://www.alpa.org/en/about-alpa/what-we-do#sthash.Ls1OilWG.dpuf

to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation - See more at: http://www.alpa.org/en/about-alpa/what-we-do#sthash.Ls1OilWG.dpuf