Aviation Professionalism

1) What is the specific job and company in the aviation industry that you would like to end up at? You must be specific on both to receive full-credit for this question. Remember - you have the freedom to change down the road...

It's hard for me to choose a specific job and company as I prefer to keep an open mind (versus a direct - one choice - highly specific career), only because I think there's a good chance you could be highly disappointed once you find your job of choice isn't available, or the company isn't hiring (which is likely). Plus, there are so many factors when it comes to choosing a career; location, pay, student loans (current loans, or whether you'll need more loans [ala flying]), company background. Even your family life. The aviation industry is very fluid and while it's great to have goals, having a one track mind (in my opinion) probably isn't the best option. I often say I’m not sure where I’d like to go, but the only reason why I say that is usually based on financial reasons. Therefore, if someone gave me $250,000 and said "Go anywhere, pick any job", then I’d choose to become an airline pilot. Since this question addresses specific companies I’d like to work for, initially, I’d like to work for SkyWest (regional airline). Then, ultimately, it really doesn't matter for me (which major I’d like to work at), but if I had to choose, it'd probably be Southwest. So, short term: SkyWest; long term: Southwest. I'd like to work for SkyWest, build my hours there, then make the switch to Southwest, and then finish out my career with Southwest.

2) Provide a basic description of the job and company that you listed in 1).

SkyWest is one of the premier regional carriers in the United States. They are in many ways the 'role model' for regional carriers. They conduct operations for Alaska Air, Delta Connection, United Express, and US Airways Express. SkyWest utilizes a fleet of Canadair Bombardier CRJ-200's, 700's, and 900's, and Embraer 120 aircraft. Presently, they employ over 11,000 employees amongst 39 states and 6 Canadian provinces. Most operations are primarily conducted out west (hence the name, SkyWest). More information can be found about SkyWest by clicking here.

Southwest is one of the premier mainline carriers in the United States. Offering some of the best incentives for employees, excellent pay rates, outstanding working conditions and other amenities, they are considered one of the best airlines to work for. Presently, they operate a fleet of Boeing 737-300, 500, and 700 aircraft. The recent announcement of the merger with AirTran Airways has them set for significant expansion, particularly in the South-Eastern United States (former AirTran locations, such as Atlanta). Acquisition of AirTran's 737-700 and Boeing 717 aircraft will help expand the Southwest route network. Founded over 38 years ago by Herb Kelleher, Southwest carries more domestic passengers than any other airline in the United States. You can read more about Southwest by clicking here.

3) Are there any safety/liability concerns with the job you listed in 1)? If so, what are they and how do you plan on mitigating these concerns? (*Hint: there are always concerns in this industry.)

As mentioned in the last line of this question, there are always concerns in the industry. Of course, as an airline pilot, there are several safety and liability concerns when it'd come to working as a pilot for either SkyWest or Southwest. Safety wise, just job safety in general is a major concern. SkyWest is an excellent regional airline that for the most part, you hear little about, which is a good thing. They have a low turnover rate compared to other regional carriers and have been able to sustain success in the regional airline industry. However, furloughs can occur at any time and from unpredictable major events (i.e.: September 11th). Furloughs are a major concern when it comes to working for both SkyWest and Southwest. Also, I mentioned I’d like to make the switch from SkyWest to Southwest. That in itself is a huge risk, since SkyWest isn't associated with Southwest, I’d enter Southwest (at some point) at the bottom of the seniority pool, thereby again increasing the likelihood of a furlough. The plus side to all of this is that both airlines are excellent airlines with little likelihood for furloughs -now-. Who's that say all of that can change in 10 years, that's entirely possible. SkyWest could very well be one of the worst regional’s 10 years from now, having lost contracts with multiple airlines, facing liquidation and significant furloughs. That's why I think it's important to not keep a one track mind for who you want to work for because ideally, it could be the best airline in 2015, but the worst in 2025. 30 some years ago, you can look back at Eastern Airlines, PanAm, etc., all of which were the premier airlines to work for. Had you told people that they would cease to exist someday, people would've laughed. Same thing can be said for TWA. Sometimes the best company to work for in the short term ends up being the worst in the long term. Conversely, sometimes a sub-par company to work for in the short term ends up being a great choice for the long term.

Mitigating furlough concerns goes back to the importance of broadening your horizons and keeping an open mind. I think it's almost a necessity to maintain an open mind in the aviation industry. Having a dead-seat goal is great, but personally (at least for me), I think having an open mind and an excellent-drive is better. These are things you should prepare for ahead of time, however. In some of the aviation classes at Eastern, we've talked about redundant systems. A redundancy refers to a fail-safe measure in which if one system fails, we have another to rely on. I think it's important to build your career based on a series of redundancies. The way to do that is to encompass many sectors of aviation and to build upon your repertoire. If you want to be a pilot, try to obtain some other degree other than a flight-based degree. Or, if you're doing a flight degree, get a business minor or some other degree on the side. Obtain an FAA dispatchers certificate. Get a business minor, or something else. If you wanted to be an airline pilot, and you had 1. A degree in Aviation Management; 2. A Business Minor; 3. A Dispatchers certificate; 4. All your certificates/ratings, I’d think you'd have most of your bases covered with several redundancies. You'd be set. You could get furloughed from an airline and have many alternative paths. Conversely, even if you weren’t furloughed but say disqualified due to medical reasons, or simply wanted to have a family life, or whatever reason, you have many options available. With that being said, broaden your horizons, keep an open mind, have goals but more importantly have alternatives, or backup's, just in case. I think in doing so you'd be set for a fail-safe career.

4) I proposed that one theme in the events that led up to the Colgan accident was the lack of professionalism.  Answer the following three questions related to professionalism:

    * 1) Define professionalism in your own words.

Professionalism is a term that can encompass a broad range of interpretation. Professionalism in my own words carries with it many specifics, such as: following the rules (i.e.: FAA Regulations, company policies), doing the right thing, playing your part and looking your part. If you're a pilot, look like a pilot, dress like a pilot -- be a pilot. Same being said for managers. I think it's important to have some degree of integrity within you to consider yourself a professional. The way you dress has a significant impact on how people perceive you. Dress sloppy yields a perception that you are sloppy. Dress clean, sharp, like a professional -- people will view you differently. Lastly, professionalism entails being good at what you do. After all, the word professional is used to denote some sense of experience and or 'being good at that particular subject'. Maturity also plays a factor; the greater the maturity, the greater the professionalism. Nonetheless, if you're good at what you do, you play your part, dress the part, and basically encompass your role in whatever job you're in, I’d say you could consider yourself a professional, and someone whom exudes professionalism.

     * 2) List two ways in which lack of professionalism was demonstrated in this documentary. Remember: Both pilots and management can lack professionalism.

Captain Renslow lacked a significant amount of professionalism throughout his entire aviation career, having failed numerous check rides, within both the general aviation sector and Colgan Air itself. Probably one of his greatest errors with regard to professionalism occurred when he lied on his Colgan application about the number of failed check rides he's had, citing only one (instead of the three) he's had prior to the application process -- Colgan never knew pilot had failed three tests. This is a lack of integrity on his part. Moreover, he violated the sterile cockpit rule while on descent into Buffalo, which was one of the factors contributing to the crash. Multiple failed check rides (pre-Colgan), multiple failed check rides with Colgan, lies and deceit through the application process, and a FAR violation mandating the sterile-cockpit rule below 10000 feet (a factor which contributed to the crash) point toward a severe lack of professionalism.

Management at Colgan also lacked professionalism. Throughout the documentary, there were several times where former-Colgan pilots acknowledged that they were pressured (by management) to depart over-gross weight (max takeoff weight), get to their destination on time, adjust 'clock-in' times (so as not to go over duty time per FAA regulations), and other factors. Even when Colgan acquired the Q400, they had invited pilots to become Check-Airmen on the type, despite those pilots having zero experience on the Q400. Colgan willingly knew this information and, while not blatantly spoken, the implied purpose was to simply obtain a Check-Airman for the sake of having one, irrelevant of that person’s qualification. Moreover, they needed one to essentially say to the FAA, 'We have a few check airmen for the type, and our pilots are passing their check rides without issue'. They wanted someone in the seat, someone to do the job, and that's all they really cared about. Safety was something that was relatively neglected throughout the process. Money, like most things in life, was the primary motive. Money over safety, money over regulations, money over manufacturer specifications, did Colgan lack professionalism? Very much so.

    * 3) List two specific ways you plan on maintain and expand your level of professionalism once you are employed in the job that you listed in 1). These ways must be independent of the requirements of the job.

With respect to being an airline pilot, one major significant way to expand your level of professionalism is with regards to safety. If you attend safety seminars, stay up to date on safety reports in the industry, and have general knowledge of the industry (particularly with respect to safety), you'll significantly expand your level of professionalism. You'll also enhance your flying aptitude by incorporating these newly-learned safety recommendations into your everyday job (in this case flying).

Another way is simply staying up to date on everything that's going on in the aviation industry itself. Knowing who's merging with who, what airlines are combining where, and just general knowledge of the industry expands your level of professionalism. You should be aware of what aircraft manufacturers are building, what type of aircraft, competing airlines, industry prognosis, and other factors. Being part of various clubs and organizations also helps enhance your professionalism. Think EAA, AAAE, AOPA, ALPA, and other organizations all help with not only enhancing your knowledge about the industry, but enhancing some aspects of safety (as mentioned in the above paragraph), and can also help you network amongst the aviation community. These are just a few of several ways to maintain and expand your professionalism outside the job requirements.