Affects on Career Choices

1)         The topic in aviation I chose to consider that I feel will have the greatest impact on my career choice would be user aviation fees.  The general aviation pilots already are paying for ramp fees and gas when traveling as a hobby because they enjoy aviation. The NBAA has supported opposing the $100 per-flight user fee proposed in the administration's fiscal 2013 budget.  The Obama administration has imposed introducing another user fee which the NBAA is currently opposing.  

     This article from the NBAA thanks congress for opposing the aviation user fee introduced by the Obama administration.  In the letter, the Representatives told the President that commercial and general aviation, including the manufacturing sector, are vital industries providing millions of jobs. "We should work together to support policies that encourage job growth and strengthen U.S. economic activity," the Representatives wrote. "Imposing a $100 per flight fee on commercial and general aviation is the wrong approach, and we respectfully request that you abandon this idea once and for all."                                                                                                                            

     The general aviation community has long supported the well-established and efficient fuel tax now paid for use of the aviation system. At the same time, the industry has long opposed new user fees, which would require a large bureaucracy for management and collection of the fees, and would also impose an onerous compliance burden on many small and mid-size businesses that rely on aircraft for business.

2)         The Obama administration has imposed introducing another user fee which the NBAA is currently opposing. The NBAA is concerned that this new aviation user fee being introduced will put a burden in general aviation.  General Aviation pilots are already paying for fuel charges at an efficient per-gallon amount.  They feel the this will create a costly new federal collection bureaucracy. They state that the current way of collecting fuel fees is efficient and fair. There is no simpler and more accurate way to distinguish between heavy and light users of the system than to measure the amount of fuel burned. Small aircraft use less fuel and pay lower taxes; large aircraft use more fuel and pay higher taxes. If an aircraft flies a longer distance, it will pay more in fuel fees.  In addition they mention fuel fees impact on the environment as well, A surcharge on fuel use provides an incentive for general aviation users to purchase newer, cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft. Additionally, fuel fees by their nature penalize operators that use congested airports which require more fuel use for increased taxi and air time.

3)         I feel this issue could affect my career choice wanting to be employed at a local airport, as the manager.  It could also be a factor in being able to become an Operations Manager at a larger, mid-sized airport. Imposing additional user fees on general aviation pilots will discourage people from getting involved in this expensive industry.  This could affect people just starting to take lessons or fly realizing there are older less expensive aircraft available to purchase, which are more affordable.  Once they discover the many additional user fees involved with the hobby or industry it may turn them away.  This in turn would affect the local airport manger, if fewer people are operating on the field.  It could also affect the larger airports where people might travel for dinner or lunch by the user fees turning them away resulting in a reduction of business.

Export-Import Bank

     According to the Export-Import Bank of the United States website, the Export-Import Bank of the United States is the official export credit agency of the United States. Their mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.  This bank plays a key role in the United States companies, in order to turn export opportunities into real sales.  This in turn will create jobs and help build a stronger economy.  The Export-Import Bank does not compete with private sector lenders but provides export financing products that fill gaps in trade financing. They assume credit and country risks that the private sector is unable or unwilling to accept. The Export-Import Bank, also help to level the playing field for U.S. exporters by matching the financing that other governments provide to their exporters.  

     The Export-Import Bank plays a key role in the aviation industry, as aircraft manufacturing is one of our nation’s biggest exports, it is not surprising that U.S. jobs depend on our government helping to maintain a level playing field.  Since these aircraft manufacturers rely on the Export-Import Bank for international trade, if it were to disappear it would hurt these businesses.  They would most likely lose business and find it difficult to get financial support, as not all banks support international trade.  Aircraft manufacturing companies looking for international business financing go specifically to the Export-Import Bank.  This bank has dealt a lot with exports and business in other countries.     

      I don't have any problems with the Export-Import Bank.  They are an important aspect of international trade especially for aircraft manufacturers. I was unable to find evidence that stated the Export-Import Bank  is hurting the United States economy. It seems that overall the Export-Import Bank of the United States promotes the export of our goods. Their website mentioned that, With 80 years of experience, Ex-Im Bank has supported more than $600 billion of U.S. exports, primarily to developing markets worldwide.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

1) What civilian purpose, if any, are UAVs currently being used for in United States? How are these civilian UAVs regulated (if they are regulated)?

     Once the drones are certified they are used a few different ways.  These include universities that have drone programs to train interested students for their various uses, how to build them, and how to maintain the drones.  An example would be Northern Michigan College, in Traverse City, they offer a class or program to learn about drones.  Farmers could use drones to monitor their crops in fields.  Farmers could use drones for things like observing hunting areas to see if animals are living or moving in the area a hunter is going to be hunting.  Also earths scientists may find it useful to use drones for research and gathering data.  According to CNET, drones that are about the size of a shoe box or smaller are only regulated as they have to be operated within viewing distance.  Any drone that is larger than this is still currently prohibited.

2) Do you foresee UAVs integrating into the NAS? If so, how? Also, what problems do you foresee resulting from this? Be sure to include not only logistical problems, but also potential perception problems.

     I think that drones could be used with the National Security Agency.  For things like monitoring the United States borders along with more advanced tasks involving law enforcement.  They use larger type drones, mentioned that are about the size of a Cessna aircraft to monitor the United States borders for people crossing over illegally.  I found that, NASA and the Forest Service, use the drones for fighting wildfires.  They were able to use the drone for finding and mapping the fires.  The police departments were using the drones for taking photos of accident sites and also searching for criminal suspects. 

     The problems that come from using drones for security would involve interrupting ones privacy rights.  A drone could be overhead any location taking photos or monitoring things without anyone in the area knowing.  This concept, although it could be great for security and used for many things may disturb the population as a whole.  At least I believe it would cause mixed views and opinions about the government spying or invading in on ones privacy, until drones become more popular and have more regulations.

3) As for the military application of UAVs, how have they transformed military strategy? Has their integration been efficient (consider all aspects - from financial to ethical)? 

     I think that UAVs have transformed the military strategy by not having to send actual people to different areas without knowing what is going on.  The UAV can allow the military to have eyes in a sense of what is happen in the location they intend in going to investigate or move to.  This could be more of a financial consideration in the fact that if in an unstable location it might cost more to build a large UAV for the job, but if the military was just using vehicles to move to this location they could risk damage or explosion of vehicles not knowing what they are going into.  According to a FCNL, drones are seen by some as low cost for both the human and financial war alternative.

4) Finally, do some research and find out if their are UAV jobs that are advertised for civilians (both flight and management students). If so, include this as your link. If you are unable to locate a job posting, reference your above answers to brainstorm the potential for types of UAV jobs in the future.   

4) Finally, do some research and find out if their are UAV jobs that are advertised for civilians (both flight and management students). If so, include this as your link. If you are unable to locate a job posting, reference your above answers to brainstorm the potential for types of UAV jobs in the future.   

    I was able to find a job for a UAV pilot, they are looking for someone with military experience and also someone that has few years with operating a UAV.  This job, which I found from Monster does not seem like an entry level job.  A few of the other pilot UAV jobs, I found are require additional years of experience operating a UAV.  Another company Tyonek, I found was hiring for a pilot UAV position, they would like one to have a Bachelors degree and that experience could be substituted for education.