Mr. AOPA

Through the years, there have existed many people who have been a huge influence om the aviation world.  From Lindburg, to the Wright Brothers, to the current FAA administrator.  But one person in my mind is overlooked, and plays an important role today.  He is the president on the largest GA organization in the world.  I am speaking of noone else than Mr. Craig Fuller,  The fourth and current president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Organization. or AOPA since its founding. .  He brings to this position a career that includes senior public affairs positions in business, association leadership, and executive positions in the federal government, including eight years of service in the White House from 1981 to 1989. 

Before speaking on why Craig is important it is important to know that he is infact only a GA pilot, and always has been.  In fact he only has a private pilot certificate with instrument and multi engine add ons.  It is strange that someone who has been flying since age 17 (about 40 years for him) only has a private certificate.  Most people of his power, and position usually have a commercial certificate and have worked in the industry as a pilot.  He also is the proud owner of his own aircraft.  I feel that these are important qualities for a nman of his position as he is not directly influenced by big companies, and has the individual pilot, the private pilot, in mind when he is lobying and working for our rights and privelages as GA pilots. 

With no real office in my opinion Craig travells around the United States speaking and lobying for General Aviation, which is a very integral part of our economy. I feel that if this organization did not exist, and people like Craig didnt have such a voice on capitol hill, our government would be walking all over the GA populus.  Craig has lobyed for many different items that could affect GA flight in both the positive and the negative.  One of the largest issues that Craig was involved in, and still envolved in is the issue of GA user fees.  For those of you that dont know, user fees are fees that people of the airsapce or "users" of the airspace infrastucture will have to pay to help fund FAA activities, and infrastructure advancement.  User fees are in full swing in Europe, and it has been shown that there has been a lot less public interest in flying as it is way to expensive to learn to fly and to get the equivalent of the private pilot certificate. Craig has also helped the GA public in many other ways that would have most likely increased costs for flight training, and GA flight. 

WIthout the AOPA and someone like Fuller, The GA world as we know it would be a completely different animal.  Higher fees, and costs would prevent most people, or the average student puruseing their dreams of flight to become pilots.  Without the AOPA pilots would be in short supply, and thus all of the aviation industry would suffer.  This is why I feel that Craig Fuller is a important asset to the aviation industry.  Keep on keepin' on.    

China ..... Jobs?

China Is starting to get into the production of aircraft.  It seems that this has occured way to late in the game as China has a major stake in many US companies including the Boeing Company.  The linked article, although old from 2008, states that Chinas government has put into action plans to produce a large number of aircraft that are scheduled to be rolling off the production line in 2020. 

Although China will be manufacturing these new aircraft, In my mind they are going to have a major dilema, a sort of war if you will, between Airbus Industrie and Boeing.  Currently China produces components for Boeing including the wide model bodies such as the 787.  China also has a final production line for the Airbus A320.  This brings me back to a previous post I have made on a war between Airbus and Boeing, one that will, maybe, run one of the two companies out of business, and this might be something that accelerates that process.  IF china choses to go with boeing, as they already have the knowledge on component production for the 787 and other models, airbus may lose their final production line in China, causing orders for the A320 to slow, and since that is the most popular plane, cause Airbus to take a major financial hit.  On the flip side. If they decide to go with Airbus. Boeing will lose production on many components for cheap (as we know products made in China are generally at a cheaper cost), and with losses eminent on 787 components, Boeing may go out of business. 

Although this does not directly influence the US economy and US business.  We may face some indirect consequences.  One of the biggest would be layoffs of hundres of employees.  The reason being is that this May lead to cheaper production outside of the US for Boeing products (or french if you go with airbus).  This will be largely to outsourcing or capital and jobs to China.  However these jobs will be made up in more pilot jobs being available in the Chinese / Japanese Theatre.  More planes = more pilots that need to be hired to fly them, and maybe even new airlines poping up. So although some production jobs may be lost due to outsourcing,  new flight jobs and management careers may pop up and be available to the people who are graduating with aviation degrees soon. 

In closing.  I think it is a great idea that China will producing aircraft for what will most likely be cheaper.  I will gladly take losses in jobs in the manufacturing sector if it means more job opportunities for pilots and aviation management students. 

Flying for a corporation.

ONe of the many job opportunities that aspiring pilots can choose to pursue is one in the corporate world.  Executives of big companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank Of America, Ford, GM, Wal-mart , ETC... all have to travel and get to their stores / branches / offices. what have you, in a reasonanle amount of time and as cheaply as possible.  One of the easiest ways to do this is to develop of a flight department.  I have called many companies around the area including FORD and JPMorgan Chase, to get some information about their internal flight or aviation department, all without any sucess of information because they stated that it was classified.  Bank of America treated me like a journalist and wouldnt say or disclose anything until getting an OK from a media relations person.  Nevertheless I did find some closure

All of us who live in either Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana ahve heard of Meijer INC.  A large chain of grocery supermarkets.  They only have stores in three states, but like any other large company, quick and efficient travel is of the utmost importance.  After calling their corporate office I was directed to their aviation department and spoke with their chief pilot Lance Brower. Who game me some information on their flight department. 

Meijer INC. Flies out of the Grand Rapids airport and only opperated one aircraft a Beech 1900 Turboprop. I asked to why only one aircraft and he stated that they do not need a jet for their trips as a store is at most only 3 to 4 hours away in the beech.  Something they dont see they need a jet for.  They strictly opperate under FAR part 91, and do not to any 135 charter operations at all.  THis is because Meijer is a private company. 

As far as the logistical information goes:. The pilots that are on the payroll are on an on call schedule, but dont have to worry about 2 am or 3 am wake up calls to go fly.  as all flights happen durring the day according to the chief pilot.  Salaries and Benefits that the pilots may get was not disclosed as he said that was a private matter with the company, and he did not know.  I would have to call the HR department and deal with HR public relations reps who would be hesitant to give me that information.  I asked for the minimum requried esperiences needed and he said that the the pilots do not need to meet standard 135 minimums.  He said that more time the better, they would not hire a 250 hour commercial pilot, but 1200 hours total time is not needed either.  This leads me to assume that they would not openly discuss this sort of information and I went on with the interview. 

Managing jobs in the flight the department are also available, but the department is small and they only have 3 office people including a receptionist.  I asked what the minimum required experience for that was, and he stated that high school diploma was sufficient but college degree in business management would be prefered.  Knowledge of the FAA and regulations is also needed. 

As far as hiring goes, Meijer has been using the same pilots for about 6 years now, he said that they are happy with their jobs and dont plan on leaving anytime soon.  So Meijer will not be hiring pilots in near future at least.