Commercial Space Travel

Commercial Space Travel

            In 1961, the first satellite was launched with an American rocket. Through the 1960s till 1975 multiple satellites were launched for multiple uses. In 1962, President Kennedy singed the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 which allowed private companies to own and operate their own satellites. Later on in 1984, President Reagan signed the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 which encouraged space flight along with private space travel. The office of commercial space transportation was responsible for regulations of private flight. This changed however in 1995 when the power of regulation was transferred to the FAA. Since the 2000s, there has been a few "private paid seats" such as Dennis Tito who took flight to the ISS on a Russian spacecraft using the American Company Space Adventures. Most recently, in 2015 President Obama signed the U.S Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act which allows companies to own resources in the outer space. (FAA.gov 2016)

            Parts 400 to 460 of title 14 of the CFRs hold the regulations for commercial airspace. The FAA oversees and regulates all launches, reentries, and reentry vehicles. The Commercial Space launch act of1984 was put in place to give responsibility of public health, safety, safety of property, and national security.(FAA.gov 2016) I feel the regulations are enough for people to feel safe about it. I feel the regulations will become more strict as the industry booms. We are not at the time where it's a "normal thing to do". Once it becomes more popular, the FAA will have to start ensuring everything is covered responsibly. It is almost similar to the increasing regulations of the drone industry as it gets bigger and bigger.

            I personally see the industry becoming large in the near future. In 10 years or so, I feel there will be the technology and safety that will allow for passengers to go to space for a price. At first I think prices will be outrageous but as the demand gets higher the prices will go down. The general public will have to sign a waiver as noted in the regulations but I do think anyone with money in the general public will be able to go to space. These people will have to pass medicals in order to maintain safety and limit risk. I don't think transportation will be in the near future but I do think the "one time thing" will be in the near future.

           

            NASTAR Center display multiple programs pilots use for training of commercial flight. Programs include Launch and G force training, Situation awareness training, Spatial Disorientation training, Recovery training, and rapid decompression training. (NASTAR, 2017) Pilots must have an FAA certificate but I am unsure the flight hours required. These programs seem like they are essential to all hired commercial space pilots.  Medicals will be needed but as far as I have seen its almost the same requirements for commercial airline pilots.

References:

   N. (n.d.). PILOTS AND CREW. Retrieved February 24, 2017, from http://www.nastarcenter.com/aerospace-training/space/pilots-and-crew

 F. (2016, October 03). Office of Commercial Space Transportation. Retrieved February 24, 2017, from https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/regulations/

           

             

Current Status of UAVs

Current Status of UAVs

            UAVs are currently being used to today for recreational use. This includes film and photography. There is also a racing league which puts drones in its own sport. The military has also been using drones for some time now for top security mission and surveillance. Drones are starting to be used more for delivery for companies such as Amazon. There are jobs where operators get paid to take photos of properties, homes, etc. Each operator has to take a written exam and have an FAA certificate along with being 16 years of age. The drone itself has to be under 55 pounds and not fly above 400 feet. (Nyshka Chandran, 2016).

           

            I think implementing the UAVs into the national airspace can create a traffic jam. There will have to be a full plan on how they will not affect commercial and GA aircraft. Eventually I feel they will be implemented due to their efficiency and capabilities. There will be the need for flight plans and monitoring systems that will be able to track each drone. This could cloud the airspace taking the focus off of the airliners. People of the general public could also have the perception that if multiple drones are flying in the airspace, their privacy could be violated. This could cause some ethical problems amongst the public.

            The military has multiple uses for UAVs. Security, Search and Rescue, Monitoring, Disaster Management, Communications, and Attack functions (Unmanned Ariel Vehicle System Association, 2017). Having an aircraft in which there cannot be fatality is awesome. Being able to complete mission without an expensive jet or pilot can be very beneficial to the cost and men/woman of the military. UAVs help save lives and gather key information for the countries military. The mission of the UAV is to ensure safety of the Country and there if is means to use them when there is danger, it is perfectly ethical to do so.

             https://www.indeed.com/q-Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicle-jobs.html . Indeed jobs has a large sample of jobs in The UAV world. From technician to operator to research. There are multiple avenues that these UAVs have created. Salaries range from 30,000 to 105,000 on indeed.com. I feel once drone delivery becomes a full time thing, there will be more job opportunities in the future. The drone world is starting to boom and that is why the FAA has to start regulating it or else it will become out of control.

References:

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Association Military Applications. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2017, from https://www.uavs.org/military

Nyshka Chandran, H. (2016, August 29). US drone innovations to take off with new laws. Retrieved February 10, 2017, from http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/29/faas-new-drone-laws-go-into-effect-monday-allowing-us-companies-to-innovate.html

Cargo Industry

Cargo Carriers

            After the Colgan Air accident, there was an uprising from family members to see change in the regional airlines. They demanded for more training and new duty time hours. The FAA responded with a rule of 1500 hours a pilot must perform in order attain an ATP. This is a drastic increase from the 250 hours. Pilots now have to sign off if they are fit for flying while in the past there was "unclear language" (Sarina Houston, 2016). Rest time is now 10 hours when in the past it was 8 hours.

            

            The current state of the duty time is the old 8 hours. Cargo pilots can fly up to 8 hours then are required the rest time. If there are 3 or more crew members, cargo pilots can fly up to 16 hours. They will obviously have rest time while other crew members take control. The (Cargo Airline Association, 2016) say this never happens. Realistically, cargo pilots will fly up to 12 hours if they have available crew members.   

            

            I feel they have been left out due to the fact that cargo shipment is a big deal for the economy and having delays and shortages can cause big problems. The cargo 747s are flying with a few crew members not 350 civilians. I feel this plays a big role in deciding to keep the cargo industry out of the new rules. I also feel the public doesn't realize and understand the cargo industry. All they want is to receive things on time and arrive safely when travelling. The cost of implementing the new rules to the cargo industry could be more negative than positive.

            

            Personally I do believe cargo pilots should be included in the new rules. I believe by leaving them out you are labeling the cargo pilots in a different category. This category puts Airline Pilots on top and cargo pilots on the bottom and "less important". There is not as much risk in the cargo industry but there is the responsibility to keep the airspace safe. In ordered to do this you must keep the cargo industry safe as well.

            

            If cargo pilots were included in the new rules, me as a manager of a cargo airline would have to hire new pilots to ensure there is no late shipments and no cancellations. Appropriate schedules will have to be implemented to ensure efficiency. This will cost my company more money. I will have to be ready for any pilot that deems themselves "unfit to fly". This will mean pilots will have to be on reserve more to compensate these issues.  

References:

Houston, S. (2016, October 31). FAA Final Rule on Pilot Duty and Rest Requirements. Retrieved February 03, 2017, from https://www.thebalance.com/faa-final-rule-pilot-duty-and-rest-requirements-282927

Association, C. (2016, April 13). News. Retrieved February 03, 2017, from http://www.cargoair.org/2016/04/setting-the-record-straight-on-all-cargo-duty-and-rest-amendment/