2024 – Aviation News Talk

Max talks with career coach Carl Valeri about the current state and future prospects of aviation careers, focusing on various factors impacting the industry, including supply chain issues, market trends, and staffing challenges.

Supply Chain Challenges and Aircraft Availability

Valeri starts by addressing significant supply chain issues affecting major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Boeing is experiencing quality issues, although they continue to manufacture and store planes, which is an unusual but strategic move. Airbus faces challenges with the new Pratt & Whitney gear turbo fan engines, leading to inspections and groundings of around 500 aircraft globally. This situation strains airlines since grounded planes mean fewer flights and less need for pilots.

Market Trends and Air Travel Dynamics

He observes a shift in the air travel market, noting that premium leisure travel is thriving while lower-cost travel struggles, likely due to economic pressures. Premium services are doing well across various travel sectors, including private and business aviation. The overall number of flights is decreasing, influenced by factors like air traffic control issues, especially along the East Coast of the United States. A shortage of air traffic controllers has led to a reduction in flights in high-traffic areas like New York and Washington, D.C., exacerbating the demand for pilots.

Pilot Shortage and Training Bottlenecks

While there has been a pilot shortage, particularly at the regional level, the situation is evolving. A key issue is the bottleneck in training qualified pilots to become captains, requiring around 1,000 hours of experience in a 121 operation (commercial airlines). Valeri shares his personal experience of delays in upgrading to captain due to insufficient qualifying hours, a scenario mirrored by many pilots today. This situation creates a cycle where a shortage of captains leads to fewer flights, thus reducing the flying hours for first officers, delaying their progression to captains.

Global and Regional Aviation Trends

Valeri notes that airlines with robust international networks, like major U.S. carriers, are faring better due to a surge in international travel demand. However, he also highlights challenges at the regional airline level, including bankruptcies and layoffs. The industry is experiencing a gradual recovery, with airlines slowly catching up on the backlog of pilot training and certification.

Advice for Aspiring Pilots

For those aspiring to enter the industry, Valeri emphasizes the importance of continuously flying and gaining experience, regardless of market conditions. He advises aiming for a minimum of 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command (PIC) turbine time and obtaining the necessary ratings to qualify for regional airlines. He discourages aspiring pilots from waiting for the market to improve, stressing the importance of building hours and experience consistently.

Industry Outlook and Adaptations

Valeri provides insights into the industry’s adaptations, such as airlines rethinking unprofitable routes and shifting to more lucrative markets, like South America and the Caribbean. He also mentions the impact of air traffic control reallocation on flight operations, with some airlines creating new hubs to adapt to these changes.

Crystal Ball and Predicting the Future

In a lighter segment, Valeri humorously describes how he “predicts” the future of aviation, involving industry analysis, listening to CEOs, and, playfully, consulting a literal crystal ball he owns. This anecdote underscores the unpredictability and rapidly changing nature of the aviation industry.

Current Hiring Trends

Finally, Valeri touches on the current hiring trends in the industry. While some airlines have paused hiring, others, like United Airlines, plan to resume soon. He advises job seekers to apply to major carriers like United, Delta, and American Airlines, as well as Southwest, which may ramp up hiring soon. The cargo sector, however, is currently experiencing a slowdown in hiring.

Overall, Valeri provides a comprehensive overview of the aviation industry’s current challenges and opportunities, offering practical advice for those pursuing aviation careers. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and adaptability in navigating the industry’s ups and downs.

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In this episode, Max discusses the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and the dozens of provisions that may impact GA pilots. Here’s are the main points covered:

Remote Towers: Rob Mark’s investigation into Remote Towers, discussed in episode 292 may be bearing fruit. Section 621 mandates the FAA to create a program and publish milestones for the design and operational approval of remote tower systems. By the end of 2024, the FAA is required to expand this approval process to at least three airports, prioritizing airports without permanent control towers, those serving small and rural communities, and those newly accepted into the Contract Tower Program.

Airport Surface Situational Awareness: The FAA must deploy technologies like Airport Surface Detection Equipment to enhance situational awareness and prevent runway collisions, tracking both aircraft and vehicle movements.

Low-Altitude Routes for Vertical Flight: Section 627 emphasizes the need for additional rotorcraft, powered-lift aircraft, and low-altitude routes. Within three years, the FAA must start updating low-altitude routes and procedures to ensure safe operations, incorporating performance-based navigation and minimizing conflicts with other airspace users and communities.

Drones and UAS Regulations: The bill includes various references to drones and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Notably, drones can operate in Class G airspace up to 400 feet without prior FAA authorization, and above that with authorization. Section 930 directs the FAA to propose regulations for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations within four months, setting standards for remote pilots and ensuring safety for manned aviation.

Section 800 General Aviation: Reexamination of Pilots: The FAA must notify pilots about reexaminations within a year, with restrictions on passenger operations if not conducted within 30 days.

GAO Review: A report on the implementation of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights.

Aircraft Privacy: The FAA must establish processes to withhold registration and identifiable information for private aircraft owners.

Registration Numbers: Ensures fair access to aircraft registration numbers, preventing automated systems from bulk reserving numbers.

Investigations: The FAA must finalize any investigation open for more than two years unless an extension is necessary, approved by senior FAA officials.

All Makes and Models Authorization: The FAA must reauthorize mechanics and inspectors to work on a wide range of aircraft types.

Response to Investigations: Individuals have at least 30 days to respond to FAA letters of investigation.

ADS-B Out Equipage Study: A study on the implementation and impact of ADS-B Out equipment, examining costs, benefits, and potential incentives for aircraft owners.

Off-Airport Operations: Section 809 prevents the FAA from enforcing regulations that would require a pilot to continue an unsafe landing, referencing the case of Trent Palmer who faced suspension for a low-altitude inspection pass.

Airshow Safety Team: Section 811 proposes the creation of an Airshow Safety Team to enhance safety at airshows and aerial events through non-regulatory measures and best practices.

Registration Validity: Allows aircraft to operate on expired registrations if a renewal application is in process.

Temporary Airman Certificate: Permits immediate issuance of a temporary certificate while awaiting a replacement.

LODA Exemption: Expands the Letter of Deviation Authority exemption for flight training in certain experimental aircraft.

BasicMed for Examiners: Allows examiners to administer tests if they meet BasicMed requirements.

FAA Process Improvements: Sections 816-819 aim to improve various FAA processes:

Designee Locator Tool: Enhancements to the public search function for locating FAA designees.

Registration Backlog: Reduces the aircraft registration backlog, ensuring applications are processed within 10 business days.

Part 135 Certificate Backlog: Establishes a timeline for processing Part 135 air carrier certificates.

Aircraft Conformity: Simplifies the conformity process for Part 135 operators.

Flight Instructor Certificates: Section 820 requires the removal of the expiration date on flight instructor certificates, replacing it with recent experience requirements, thus easing the burden on instructors who need to renew their certificates regularly.

Regulatory Consistency: Sections 821-823 address the consistency in the application of FAA policies and regulations, ensuring uniform interpretation and application across different regions and offices.

Other Provisions

MOSAIC Rulemaking: Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification within 24 months.

Gyroplane Regulations: Excludes gyroplanes from certain rotorcraft fuel system requirements.

Logging Flight Time: Allows logging of flight time for certain public aircraft operations.

EAGLE Initiative: Continues efforts to eliminate leaded aviation gasoline by 2030.

BasicMed Expansion: Increases allowable weight and passenger limits for BasicMed aircraft.

ADS-B Data Use: Prohibits the FAA from initiating investigations based solely on ADS-B Out data.

Charitable Flight Exemptions: Validates exemptions for fuel reimbursement for charitable flights for five years, with provisions for rescinding exemptions under specific conditions.

This comprehensive legislation aims to modernize aviation regulations, improve safety, enhance efficiency, and ensure fair processes across various aspects of aviation.