Airports and Airlines - How Mankind Closed the Gaps and We Became a Global Community

In the twentieth century, nothing could be considered a bigger influence on the advancement of the world's economy and the exchange of people than airports and the airlines that utilized them. For thousands of years man has relied on seafaring to reach the distant corners of the world. We used to rely on the ocean and sea vessels for everything from gold and diamonds to spices to rice and wheat. At the turn of the twentieth century we entered an exciting new era when the Wright Brothers made their successful flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; and flew effectively into history and a new era.

Today's airplanes are a far cry from their humble and rudimentary beginnings. In the 21st century, supersonic aircraft is the norm. Jumbo-jets and the Boeing Airbus are revolutionizing human transport. The mark of every major city is an international airport that allows travelers from the world over to fly in. The distances that used to separate us for months have been reduced to a few hours on an air-conditioned climate controlled aircraft. Airlines have made it their business to make flight a viable option for much of the world's citizens. Big business relies on airports and airlines to seal intercontinental and international deals in a matter of days. To be quite objective, true international business as we know it would be impossible without the advent of the airport.

With the advent of aircraft, the world market has grown exponentially. With this increased growth came an increased demand for affordable, reliable airfare. Thus, to answer these new needs came the advent of the airport and multiple airlines to serve different air routes and destinations. The airlines of today have become a multi-billion dollar industry. Every airline has its niche region and aspires to fulfill the needs of a given market and destination. Almost every developed and developing nation has at least one airline attributed to it, and most nations have many more than one airline that serve them. The air travel industry relies chiefly on airports and airlines to deliver its service to the massive number of consumers who rely on air travel everyday. Each airline has contracts with the airports that they serve. This symbiotic relationship ensures that the airlines will have an effective and efficient place to land and schedule flights from, and the airports will have planes that will bring passengers to and from the city they are in. Without an airport, a city is considered isolated from the global community, and this can have profound effects on the local economy as well as the public and private sector.

Interestingly, along with the growth of airlines came the growth of the cities themselves. Airports have proven to be a major deciding factor in foreign investment and the utilization of a regions resources on the global scale. Investment in a given area is decided not only by the resources available, but the accessibility of a given region as well. Along with airports and airlines, cities have seen explosive growth. What used to be a conglomeration of individual nations and economies has merged into a global community that no longer sees distance as an inhibiting factor, but rather sees distance as a road to new opportunities in business and otherwise. With the growth of available air transport, not only goods and people have been exchanged over massive distances; rather ideas themselves have been propagated to an exponentially growing world economy.

With time, the only direction for the air travel industry to grow is up. As the world becomes smaller and we become more connected, people will rely more and more on air travel for both business and tourism. The 20th century may have seen the explosive beginnings of air travel, but the 21st century will see the true potential of human endeavor realized on a world scale. With the growth of the world economy will come the need for massive air transport, and thus the airline and airport niche will continue to see a healthy and prosperous future. That is, until we run out of fuel.

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How to Get a Private Pilot's License

You can get a private pilot's license in the U.S. as long as you're over 16 and healthy - a basic license allows you to fly single-engine aircraft and carry passengers. Once you have a basic license from a flight school, you can upgrade at any time to a commercial or professional license. Here's how to get a private pilot's license step-by-step:

1. If you're 16 or over, and speak and read English fluently, you're all set to start the process. Pilot training requires fluency in English because this is the language used by the world's control towers and airports.

2. Do some research about flying lessons. Contact local aviation airports to find out where the flight schools are located in your area.

3. The next step is to enroll in a licensed flight training program. Relatively inexpensive, flight school can cost $3,000 to $4,000 for both ground school and pilot training.

4. Before you start flight training you're required to get a medical certificate from a doctor of aviation medicine to ensure you're healthy enough to fly and handle the requirements of pilot training. If you don't know where to go, ask the flight school for information on where you can find a good doctor.

5. Successfully complete a ground school course. These typically last 3-5 weeks.

6. Write the FAA test after you've completed all course work. This test has 100 multiple choice questions, and you can take it at Federal Aviation Administration centers or with any test providers that are licensed to administer the test.

7. Complete 30-40 hours of flight training with an instructor. Practical experience is crucial to getting your license, for obvious reasons. You don't have to own a plane for this - the school provides students with access to a plane.

8. Finish a solo flight with an instructor - think of this as your "in-air" preparation for the final test.

9. Write the final exam - this is called a check ride. An FAA-certified examiner administers this test, asking you questions and coming with you for a flight to test and assess your flying skills.

10. If you successfully pass all final tests, you're granted a private pilot's license with a visual flight rating. This means you can fly a single engine aircraft at day or night in conditions that provide good visibility.

Flying lessons aren't easy - it takes a lot of skill to fly a plane, but that doesn't mean most people can't do it. In fact, you'd be surprised how many people, with the right pilot training, have the ability to become excellent pilots. Flight training is only as good as the instructors. Before you sign up for flying lessons, make sure you find a good school with a reputation for success. Quality aviation schools will help you gain the skills you need to learn to fly.

A lot of people dream of taking flying lessons. If you're one of those people who want to learn to fly, research the pilot schools in your area. Every aviation school is different, so try to find one that you feel comfortable with. These days most pilot schools have written manuals, videos, and computer aids to help with the process of learning aerodynamics and how to operate a plane.

Before you pay for lessons, read through some theory manuals yourself and get a grip on some of the material to see if you really like it.

To learn more about Flight Training, check out the Free Consumer Review Web Site.

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Airlines vs Business Aviation

Boeing have admitted to delay with the delivery of their first Dreamliner, now scheduled for the last quarter of 2009. Low Cost carriers seem to be hitting financial difficulties, the FAA investigation in maintenance procedures of some of the major US carriers, have resulted in more than 1,500 scheduled flight cancellations. With the air of doom and gloom, the US and possibly even the UK heading towards an economic slowdown possibly even a mild recession, the airline industry is surely not going through a rosy period.

On the other hand, business aviation seem to be continuing to experience growth, especially in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Farnborough predominantly business aviation airport, increasing movements, Embraer recently launching new business jets, Lufhansa purchasing business jets and setting up their own corporate aircraft wing. Jet Alliance experiencing growth though their Austrian airlines partnership.

So what is happening? The aviation industry is a heavily regulated industry and requires huge amounts of capital to set-up and maintain an operation. New equipment has not exaclty become cheaper, the oil crisis has not really aided the industry, and as ticket prices became cheaper, it was in my opinion inevitable that the airline industry would struggle.

As the major hubs became more congested, unprofitable routes dropped, new security measures at all major airports resulting in long queues and discomfort for the frequent traveller, the continued economic growth of the Asian markets, all this provided a platform for the growth of the business aviation. As more users afforded, and this is a key word, afforded, to buy business jets, the operating costs, even with the increase in oil prices, came down, this is especially true in Europe and Asia. This made a business jet charter flight more affordable to more high net worth individuals and corporations. The major difference between the airline industry and business aviation are the end users, the end user is not shopping around for the cheap ticket, forcing the airline operate with negative margins, but the corporate jet user other affords the business jet or queues at Heathrow's spanking new so far dysfunctional Terminal 5, or with struggling Alitalia.

As the airlines problems are the business aviation strengths; SAVING EMPLOYEE TIME. Business aircraft can have longer ranges, flying non-stop between airports, which the end user wants to go to, not that the airline chooses, based on slots, costs, etc. Flying into London City, a short drive or helicopter drive from that meeting.

INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY EN-ROUTE.

Rather than writing off travelling time, studies have shown productivity on business aircraft is actually
higher than in the office. Choosing with whom you fly allows for onboard meetings.

EFFICIENT, RELIABLE SCHEDULING.

The near total flexibility inherent in business aircraft is a powerful asset. Business determines the schedule - not the airlines.

REDUCING HOURS AWAY FROM THE OFFICE AND HOME.

Both business and the individual benefit when family time is not lost to non-productive travel.

ENSURING INDUSTRIAL SECURITY.

Use of business aircraft reduces travel visibility and eliminates unwanted and unnecessary interruptions.

HIGH PERSONAL SAFETY, in a society threatened by terrorism, choosing whom you fly with has become of significant importance.

INCREASING ENTERPRISE.

Business aircraft allow opportunities especially those in remote
regions to be more readily considered and acted upon. Studies have put access to business aviation
in the top three drivers for business relocation decisions.

PROJECTING A POSITIVE CORPORATE IMAGE.

As studies continue to show increased profits for corporations using business jets, we are now experiencing a scenario where using a business aircraft shows a company to be progressive with a keen interest in efficient time management and high levels of productivity.

As long as the economic slowdown does not significantly impact mainland Europe, as long as the economic growth in countries such as Russia, China and India is maintained, I expect business aviation to maintain its buoyant attributes.

Stanley Bugeja http://businessaviationbusiness.blogspot.com/ http://www.sierra-aviation.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stanley_Bugeja

Airplane Seat Maps - Improving Each Flight

Many people that fly for pleasure or for business purposes have to seat in an airplane for 2-3 hours or sometimes even more, depending on the trip that they make, and during the flight seating in an uncomfortable place in the airplane can be a really pain for them. This is happening very often due the lack of details that each airline is publishing about their airplanes or because people that fly don't consult an aircraft seat map before they book a ticket.

Airplane seat maps can be really handy for frequent or even for occasionally fliers and help them to choose their seat in the airplane even before they buy their tickets. Knowing the place where you seat before going aboard is very good because on almost all seating charts you can find all the details of a specific seat from extra legroom to missing windows or any other details.

Most of the airlines publish the seats configurations for their airplanes but the quality of those seat maps is some times questionable and some of the details and information about seats are confusable. Usually airlines don't publish seat maps for all of their airplanes, they do it only for the major airplanes and for the ones flying on frequent routes.

In additions to those published seat maps which can be found on airlines websites there are some other sites that publish aircraft seat maps for almost all the commercial airplanes that are flying these days. Seat maps that can be found on these sites usually have more details and on some websites you can found comments from other passengers with ups and downs about each particular airplane seat.

Choosing your seat is important as choosing an airline or an airplane to fly with, some people prefer to fly only if they seat is near a window or some people like to fly in their own cabin and the requests and conditions of each passenger could go on. Consulting a seat map before going aboard can bring only benefits and can show to the passengers more details about the airplane comparing with the details and information about each airplane or flight that airlines are publishing.

The bottom line is that airplane seat maps which can be found very easy on the web can help people choosing the best seat that will satisfy the all demands for them. Finding the right seat with the help of aircraft seat maps can improve very much the flight conditions and things can be better when fliers read other people's reviews of seats and airplanes because bad seats or bad flights can be avoided.

Written with the help of SeatMaestro Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexandru_Panait

F-35 Needs An Inflatable Butt Bag Safety Cushion For Pilots

It looks as if the F-35 Lightning Advanced Fighter Aircraft will be delayed, and there is something that should be added to this aircraft. The Aircraft presently is the most advanced aircraft in the world, but it is without an inflatable butt air-bag safety cushion for the pilot. What happens if the engine quits below 50-100 feet? The pilot must eject immediately and the aircraft will fall to the ground, perhaps even explode on impact.

It is my contention that if the pilot does not get out in time, he or she might survive with the help of an inflatable air-butt bag. This will protect the pilot's spine from fracturing and give them a chance of survival even if they are unable to eject in time. How much would something like this cost? It is hard to say really, probably 10 times as much as it should. However, having such a safety device in the past surely could have saved countless lives in other aircraft and helicopters.

Indeed, we must always consider saving weight in such an aircraft, and with VTOL "Vertical Take-Off and Landing" aircraft, every single pound counts. Thus, such a device ought to be very light, very small and just enough to prevent the pilot from being crushed to death in the event he or she is still in the cockpit as the aircraft comes crashing to the Earth. Since the F-35 has all the latest technology, why not install a safety air-bag beneath the pilot's seat after all, isn't it the pilot who puts his butt on the line for our nation?

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How To Eliminate Vibrations On Your Helicopter - Part 1 - Clutch Alignment

The one thing that Helicopter Modellers dread is vibration. This can be the result of a un-aligned clutch setup. It is important for the Remote Control helicopter engine crankshaft, mechanical clutch and the clutch shaft to be aligned to +/-0.05mm (per manufacturer recommendation) run-off.
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If these parts are not aligned, it may be the source of vibration on the helicopter that may lead to damaged bearings, electronic failure and faster worn out parts.

As a result, modellers invest on a setup to measure and reduce this run-off.

To measure a run-off accurately, it is essential to use a dial indicator. This is a instrument whic is used to detect the amount of runoff and reduce this measurement to its minimum.

There are a few methods of setting up for a run off measurement. However, we found that most of these methods are inaccurate, cumbersome, contains too many variables, time-consuming and costly (For example, some modellers build a stainless steel platform for the magnetic stand for the dial indicator and a metal fixture to hold the engine or checking a cast shadow of the clutch and clutch as it rotates by hand over a white background)

Dialing in an engine, being an essential step to a good Remote Control helicopter setup, we decided to look into the process and critical consideration. Finally, we came up with a design that allows modellers to dial in their engine-flywheel-clutch setup in a matter of minutes with high precision. With this jig, any modeller can now dial gauge the engine at the field even without a table.

The fundamental of this fixture is that it takes reference/datum from the engine. In this way, the runoff measurements are closest to when the engine is operating on the helicopter.

With this fixture, modellers will take the least time to accurately identify the amount of runoff and make the necessary adjustments to reduce the runoff within the limits and finally, enjoy the pleasure of taking the Helicopter to the skies without worrying about vibration.

Ronald is a experience Remote Control Helicopter Pilot who has participated in international competitions. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical and Production Engineering and a Masters Degree in Logistic. He currently runs a Hobby business specializes in Remote Control Products.

You may visit the following website at http://www.singahobby.com to find out more or send an email to Ronald at ronaldyg@gmail.com

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