Environment and Aviation -- Much is Happening

Are you interested in both aviation and the environment? If so, you might be very interested in what's going on in commercial aviation these days. 

Aircraft manufacturers are becoming more environmentally-conscious, or "green," as the expression goes. Boeing and Airbus, as well as other manufacturers, are working to reduce the environmental impact of flying, as well as the cost.

Inside Boeing's exhibit at this year's big Farnborough Airshow in the UK, sits a 75-gallon tank of bright geen algae -- the potential feeding ground for a jet fuel substitute. The algae doubles in size every 24 hours, says the company. (By the way, in case you're wondering, corn-based ethanol is not being considered, because it freezes at high altitudes, nor does it provide the power a jet needs).

Boeing is conducting laboratory tests with four airlines (Virgin Atlantic, Japan Air Lines, Air New Zealand and Continental) to see what may work best as an alternative fuel.

New fuels are not all that's going on. Engines are an important element also; they can be the source of fuel economy improvements and also reductions in carbon emissions. General Electric, a major manufacturer of commercial aircraft engines, is showing a new, more environmentally-friendly engine, to be ready in less than eight years. Another major engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney has a new geared-turbo fan that could be the wave of the future. It uses less fuel, generates less heat and noise and releases less nitrogen oxide than other engines.

The aviation industry is also moving away from traditional metals, such as aluminum and steel, to metals such as titanium and plastic composites made from carbon fiber.

These are not cheap or easy solutions. Lighter materials, new fuels and many other innovations promise to make aircraft more environmentally friendly. 

This is a very exciting time for aviation -- whether you want to be a pilot or an airline dispatcher.   

More Airlines Lower Minimum Flight Hours for New Pilots

Trans States Airlines, a St. Louis, Missouri-based regional airline that operates flights on behalf of American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways has announced that it has lowered tis minimum flying hours requirement for new hires to 500 hours; not too many years ago, the minimum number of flight hours required to be considered for employment as a First Officer was 1,500.

Newly minted pilots at all airlines start as co-pilots, also called First Officers. The Federal Aviation Administration requirements to fly as a Captain, or Pilot-In-Command, of a commercial aircraft include as least 1,500, which is typically about two years of airline experience.

This just indicates continuing great opportunities for those who want careers as commercial pilots. Are you one of those people who picture yourself wearing the sharp uniform of a pilot? Taking your family on trips? It is definitely possible for you, if you are interested enough to take that first step and check out www.pea.com.

Commercial Pilot or Corporate Pilot -- Which Will You Be?

Any idea how many commercial jets fly in the US? At the end of last year, there were about 8,000 commercial jets flying in the US -- and also about 18,000 corporate jets. 

Private jets account for fewer takeoffs and landings and passengers. In general, commercial airlines use about 66 percent of the resources of federal air traffic control and pay about 96 percent of the costs.

There's lots of room for growth for business aviation, however, which is changing from ownership by companies and wealthy individuals to sales of jet time in hourly increments (time-sharing  purchases), as well as an emerging on-demand air taxi business.

Look for more good jobs in the corporate, charter and air taxi business for pilots.

New Class of Jets - Very Light Jets (VLJ) -- Will Need Pilots

There are many different jobs for pilots in commercial aviation. One of them is new -- and getting to be a bigger deal worldwide: With the advent of the Very Light Jet class of aircraft (VJL), commercial aviation may change.

How would you like to be  pilot in a VLJ -- and work for an air taxi service -- flying executives (and maybe celebrities) point-to-point from an local or regional airport to other smaller airports?

Have you heard about VLJs yet? They are just becoming better known, with more of them being available commercially all the time: VLJs are poised to change air travel -- according to some folks in the aviation industry. And as their use proliferates in the air taxi segment of commercial aviation, more pilots will undoubtably be needed.  Will you be one of the lucky ones to pilot this great new type of aircraft?

In addition to cost savings for passengers, use of VLJ air taxis have additional appeal: They use less fuel than other small jets.   Often only one pilot in the cockpit is required. They are also eco-friendly and efficient. And they can fly into more small airports than most other jets can. One VLJ taxi company says they serve 10 times more airports than the traditional commercial airline serves. This can accommodate clients' travel schedules from locations closer to their home base and to their destinations.

Sound interesting? Call Phoenix East Aviation and talk to an Admissions Officer about how you can gain the skills to become a pilot of a VLJ and fly for an air taxi service.  Call 1-800-868-4359 (in the US) or 1-386-258-0703 (Worldwide). or check out www.pea.com.

Corporate Jet Passengers -- Often the Female Boss

This week is a big week for corporate jets in New York, as squadrons of them arrive at area airports with business executives and their customers for the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

So who's really in the passenger cabins of these corporate jets? If you're thinking of becoming a pilot and flying for a corporation, you might find this interesting. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) says about 75% of the approximately 11,000 business jets in the US are operated by entrepreneurs and small to midsize companies. 

One private jet company, XOJET, according to the New York Times, said that about 15 percent of its customers are female bosses and business owners.  And the number of women using private jets is growing. Why? It appears it's not status or ego, but time as the main factor: Using a private jet buys time.  One business owner from Arizona says it allows her to make better use of her time and do more. She owns a seven-seat Hawker 400, which has a 1,400 mile range. 

Another regular user of private jets in Los Angeles, a woman who is a psychotherapist and a real estate developer, uses her eight-passenger Cessna Citation X to save time getting to meetings and to quickly get back home to her business and family. Being in control of your travel time solves logistical problems also.

These women consider the cost of flying in their private jets money well spent, as it gives them time to attend to business more efficiently.

Biggest Commercial Airshow in the World in Full Swing

If your passion is aviation, you'd probably love to be part of the excitement at a big airshow.  Well, if you want to go to the biggest commercial airshow, you may want to fantasize about going to the Farnborough  airshow, now being held outside of London.  In addition to a multitude of static displays (aircraft open for viewing on the ground) and demonstration flight, the Farnborough show is one of the most important venues for aircraft buyers to place orders for new airplanes.

Airbus today announced orders for 143 aircraft -- worth nearly US$16 billion. A320s dominated those orders, accounting for 103 out of the 143 total.

Most of these orders came from Dubai Aerospece Enterprise (DAE) Capital, a rapidly-growing lessor of aircraft.  They ordered 100 aircraft at Farnborough. Tunisair confirmed their commitment for 16 Airbus aircraft.  Another deal for 23 airplanes was from Aviation Capital Group (ACG); their order was for 23 A320s, which is worth nearly $2 billion. There was also a Memo of Understanding (called an MOU) to Airbus from Qatar, valued at nearly US$13 billion.