NEXTGEN

    NEXTGEN, or the Next Generation Air Transportation system is a change in how we all currently fly. NEXTGEN increase safety as well as reduce fuel usage by few delays. The purpose of NEXTGEN is to provide an all around better flying experience.

     NEXTGEN is based upon four pillars. These pillars are economic impact, sustainability, flexibility and safety. In terms of importance, I rank these pillars in order from most important to least important as safety, economic impact, sustainability and finally flexibility. I rank safety as number one because any advances in safety to help further protect human life agains disasters is always a great thing. After safety, I rank economic impact because of the fragile state of our economy. It is said by the FAA that the economic impact of civil aviation creates over 10 million jobs and circulates over 1.3 trillion dollars. This accounts from over 5% of the U.S. GDP, a rather significant number in my opinion.

     Safety will be improved by NEXTGEN by using advanced satellite-based surveillance which will deliver weather, airspace and traffic notifications to flight crews in a quick manner. By having this up-to-date information, flight crews will have an advantage in making important decisions.

     The economic impact of civil aviation is tremendous. Because of this, it is important that the air traffic control system to be advanced and up-to-date.

     With new equipment helping flight crews to enhance routes, minimize ground time and holding time, less fuel will be burned. Not only will this save money, but it will have a smaller detrimental effect of the fuel usage on our planet and atmosphere.

     Flexibilty in travel routes is important for several reasons. One being that companies will spend less time in the air traveling the same route, lowering the cost of operation, therefor increasing profit margins. As well as the monetary benefits, NEXTGEN will also improve flight crew ability to circumnavigate bad weather, increasing safety and of course, burning less fuel.

     NEXTGEN may sound great, but it does have its negatives. ADS-B, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast is the technology that NEXTGEN will utilize. This equipment, which will be required by a majority of aircraft is quite expensive. This equipment may cost upwards of several thousands of dollars to over tens of thousands of dollars, is just not affordable to the average weekend flyer who happens to own his or her own aircraft.

     I believe that NEXTGEN is a great thing and it will benefit the aviation community, as well as the economy. I foresee increases in travel, therefor creating more jobs for pilots and ground operations.

Pilot Retirement Age

     The airline pilot (part 121 flight operations) retirement age has recently been increased from 60 to 65 because of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act. Many people, mainly the pilots who fly for these part 121 operators, agree that this is a good thing. These pilots get to fly for an extra five years, therefor earning an extra five years worth of pay. However, other people, such as the general flying public, may argue to say that a person of that age should not be able to fly because of safety reasons.

     How should retirement age for pilots be determined? The current 65 rule sounds nice, but it takes no consideration of ability. Just because a person has reached their 65th birthday doesn't mean that they are immediately unsafe to fly an aircraft. That could happen many years down the road, or even before reaching the age of 65.

     It is a well know idea in the aviation industry that expertise comes with experience. This means that a pilot of the age of 60 will have more experience, thereof more expertise in the skill of piloting an aircraft. This brings up a valid reason why pilots should be able to fly longer than the age of 60. However, if all these pilots are able to work for an additional 5 years, what does that mean for all the new pilots looking for jobs? Well that means their will be a lot less of them.

     Another benefit to the increase in age, as said by LeftSeat.com, is that these extra five years of work will help pilots recoup some extra money to offset some of their decreases in pensions.

     I personally have mixed feelings about the increase retirement age regulation. On hand, I know this means finding a job will be a much more difficult task. On the other hand, These men and women over the age of 60 have a right to work just like an other human being. I also know that people over 60 can be perfectly capable of piloting aircraft.