Current Status of UAVs - Due Sunday, February 13th@ 11:59PM

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are frequently in the news, most often for their military applications or the random story of a college experiment gone wrong, which inadvertently placed a UAV in controlled airspace. However, rumor has it that their practical application in the civilian world is becoming more of a possibility. Please answer the following questions for this week's topic:

1) What civilian purpose, if any, are UAVs currently being used for in United States? How are these civilian UAVs currently regulated (if they are regulated)? What are some of the details of the proposed ruling?

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.

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)?

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.

The Cargo Industry - Due Tuesday, February 9th @ 5pm

Please answer the following questions:

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.

2) Cargo carriers are exempt from the new rules. What are the current flight and duty limitations for cargo carriers?

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? You may find that reading the preamble of the final rule is helpful in answering this question.

4) Do you believe cargo carriers should be included in the new rules? Why or why not?

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.

Third Class Medical Reform - Due Sunday, January 31st @11:59PM

What's going on with GA medical reform these days?

Please answer (in your own words or with appropriate citations) the following questions:

1) What is on the current agenda for GA medical reform?

2) Where is the reform it in terms of the regulatory process? Is it a bill, a law, a regulation, a NPRM, etc.?

3) Pick one aspect of GA medical reform and list at least one "for" and one "against" point.

4) Do you feel that GA medical reform is necessary? Why are why not?

Failure to have an in-text citation for writing that is quoted or paraphrased will be considered plagiarism and will result in the following consequence: 1) 0 points for the assignment and 2) a potential plagiarism filing with the university.

Also, the assignment must contain a majority of your own work. Even with appropriate citations, a majority of the assignment must contain your own words and ideas. Failure for a majority of the assignment to be based on your own words and ideas will also result in 0 points for the assignment.

Please see me for clarification if you have any additional questions about these requirements.
Prof. Wall

PIlots and Depression - Due Monday, January 25th @ 11:59PM

In March of 2015, Germanwings Flight 4U9525 crashed into a side of a mountain, killing all passengers and crew. The cause of the accident has been determined to be suicide by the first officer. Upon investigation, it was determined that the first officer did have a history of mental illness.

This accident brought the questions of pilot mental health to the forefront. Please answer the following specific questions in regards to this topic:

1) What are the specific details of the Germanwings accident? Was the pilot's metal illness documented? Prior to the accident, had he ever had issues that were a result of his mental condition?

2) In addition to the Germanwings accident, find a discuss another incident/accident where the pilots mental condition was a contributing factor.

3) How is mental health currently screened for and address amongst the pilot population? Do you feel that this method is sufficient or that there is need for reform? If you feel that there is need for reform, what specific processes would address pilot mental health more efficiently?

4) Expanding on 3), look at the issue from the FAA and airline perspective. What may be some challenges for the FAA and airlines if a more liberal approach was implemented in regards to mental illness acceptability and treatment?

Please include two references in APA format along with appropriate citations.
Enjoy!

ATC Privatization - Due Sunday, January 17th@11:59PM

ATC Privatization- Please answer the following questions:

1) Describe the fundamentals of our current ATC system vs. the proposed NextGen system. Include details. i.e. "Next Gen is satellite-based." is not enough detail.

2) Why has GA traditional spoken against the privatization of ATC? What is the stance of US airlines on ATC privatization and why? Find two aviation organizations/lobby groups/think tanks (not individual companies) etc. and report their response to privatization.

3) Is ATC privatized in any other countries? If so, where? Write about the details of how this system works. How is it funded? Who are the private operators? Etc..Does the privatized ATC system run more or less efficiently than our current system?

4) What would be the process for converting our current system into a privatized system? i.e. would it have to go through Congress, the FAA, etc..Where is the discussion at? i.e. is there a passed bill or law allowing ATC privatization? Does it have to be an act of Congress or can the FAA make this decision on its own.

5) Finally, do you feel that the current ATC system would be more efficient if it were privatized. Why or why not?

Don't forget to include at least two references in APA format as well as corresponding in-text citations. There must be at least one in-text citation for every reference that you list.

Personal Introduction -Due Sunday, January 13th@11:59PM

Please create your blog using the following steps:

1) Go to www.blogspot.com.

2) Hit the "Get Started" button.

3) Fill out the required information. Your "display name" is the name that will come up as your signature when you comment on other blogs. You can use your actual name and pick something else. Remember to keep it professional and preferably aviation-related if you choose not to use your actual name. Also, you will be required to create a blog name (the title that will show at the top of the blog) and blog address. Remember, keep it professional and aviation related. It may take you a few tries to come up with something that isn't already taken.

4) Select a template. Don't worry if you don't like the choices.  You will be able to change this at some point if you'd like.

5) You are now ready to write your first post!  In the upper right corner, select "New Post". Title it and type away. 
 
For your first post, please write a personal introduction. This introduction should include the following:

1) Background - how/when did your interest in aviation begin?

2) Current status - what major and when do you graduate?

3) Future plans - you must address this specifically. Points will be deducted for answers such as "I will fly anything for anyone".  A more appropriate answer would be something like "I will flight instructor and then would like to fly for Express Jet. Upon upgrading to captain at Express Jet, I would eventually like to retire from Southwest Airlines.". I realize that many of you may not have this narrowed down at this point. That's okay. Just write something specifically. Research shows that having a specific goal provides more motivation and success than non-specific goals, even if the specific goal stated does not end up coming to fruition. You will look at this goal again at the end of the semester and comment about if your original goal has changed and if so, for what reasons.

4) As stated, this course is comprised of two parts - career development (which will include a series of guest speakers) and current topic discussions. Please state if there are some specific areas that you would like to be represented by guest speakers. Please address this even if that particular type of guest speaker is already listed in the syllabus. If there is a lot if interest in one or more particular areas, I may try to secure multiple speakers in that area. I would also like you to list at least two areas of current aviation topics that may be of interest to you. Although I have laid out several topics in the syllabus, I am flexible about changing them in order to meet your interests.

No references are required for this week's post. Also, you are not required to comment on other people's posts this week.

Enjoy!
Prof. Wall

Introduction to Blogs

Introduction

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to AVT 422 Senior Seminar! My goal in this course is to give you some practical and useful tools that hopefully will give you an edge as you venture into your aviation careers...or any careers for that matter.  One way I have decided to do this is through the social media of a blog. I know a several people in the aviation world who have utilized blogs to advance their careers in various ways. Like other social media tools, (such as Facebook and Twitter) writing, reading and commenting on blogs allows you to create a social network of aviation professionals that you may not have otherwise created. Also, this is yet another thing you can put on your resume - "aviation blog writer". I'm not kidding. As long as you keep the topics professional, many employers would be quite impressed with this initiative.

I will assign a weekly aviation topic - which I will post on this blog. In addition to career development, I also use senior seminar as a course to discuss current and global topics in aviation.  Each week you will be required to do the following:

1) Write a post about the topic, approximately 3-5 paragraphs. I will usually provide a list of 4-5 questions that you need to answer through research of the topic. In addition, opinions are encouraged. Proper grammar and spelling is expected - remember that all of your class peers (and, if you wish, other aviation professionals and employers) will have access to your blog. Use in-text citations when necessary and remember that there must be at least one in-text citation for every reference. Failure to use in-text citations or plagiarism will result in 0 points for the post. Posts must be up by the Sunday before class (@11:59pm) to allow time for peers to read and comment.

2) You must include APA references and citations in each blog post (2 references minimum).  Please make sure that the sites are reputable and include a link so that your classmates may easily access our information.

3) Each week, in addition to your own post, you are required to read and comment on at least 2 of your classmates' blogs. Please email me these comments (indicating which blog they were posted to) by Wednesday before class (4:59pm) to receive full credit.

4) Come to class each week prepared to have an in-depth discussion of the topic.

Have fun!