Time to talk about China....

Specifically, General Aviation in China.

Recently, Hawker Beechcraft sold its business jet and general aviation operations to a Chinese aerospace manufacturer - Superior Aviation Beijing Company, Limited. This is not the only U.S. general aviation manufacturing company to utilize China for support.

Additionally, China's general aviation industry, after being somewhat nonexistent, is in a period of rapid growth.

For this week's assignment, answer the following questions.   Include at least four references in your blog.

1) In addition to Hawker Beechcraft, discuss other U.S. general aviation manufacturers with ties to China. Explain the details - who and what is the relationship, why did the relationship develop, and what are the ramifications to the U.S.  general aviation industry.

2) What are the reasons for this "rapid growth" in the Chinese general aviation industry?

3) What is the relationship between these U.S. general aviation manufacturers with ties to China, and the growth in the Chinese general aviation industry?

4) Most importantly, what does all of the above mean for career opportunities in the U.S. general aviation sector?

Grading criteria for this blog post will be as follows:

Question 1…………………………………………….....5 points

Question 2…………………………………………….....5 points

Question 3…………………………………………….....5 points

Question 4…………………………………………….....5 points

Appropriate references and citations……………..….4 points

Grammar and Style……………………………...……...5 points

Three significant comments on other blogs……........6 points

Total………………………………………………….....35 points

Do not forget the following:

1.  Address each question fully to receive full credit.

2.  Include references and links to support your topic. 

3.  Cite your sources, using APA formatting, at the bottom of your posting. 

4.  Please proofread your work.

5.  Upload your comments to the Dropbox.

Your post is due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday evening, February 25.

Comments are due by the start of class on February 27.

Have a blast!
Dr. Tartalone

Hello, AVT 422:

The blog topic for this week (February 20) is:

The Merger of American Airlines and US Airways

http://avt422winter2013.blogspot.com

On February 13, 2013, the boards of both American Airlines and US Airways approved a deal to merge the two airlines. Although the merger is not official until it goes through several additional approval processes (including a bankruptcy judge, shareholders and the Justice Department), it is likely that the merger will pass these steps.

Please answer the following questions.  Include at least four references in your blog.

A.  How do you think this merger will affect the consumer? There are two sides:

1. Larger, consolidated airlines have the ability to provide better service, amenities and connections, therefore, the merger will benefit the consumer.
2. While (1) may be true, travelers care less about benefits and more about their bottom line.  This merger will decrease competition, and therefore, raise ticket prices. Explain your reasoning. 

B.  One of the biggest concerns of the pilot force in a merger is how the seniority list is going to be merged. US Airways and America West merged in 2005 and their new pilot seniority list is still in dispute. Why? What are some of the reasons that this list is so important and what are the concerns when merging a seniority list? There is currently not an “industry standard” for this.  If you were in charge of creating an industry standard for a merged pilot seniority list what would it be and what factors would it take into consideration. You may want to research previous mergers to answer this question.

C.  One of the specific steps in the merger process is review by the Justice Department’s antitrust division. Why is this a step? What does the antitrust division do? The prediction is that this division will approve the merger and four US carriers will then control 70% of the domestic market. The big questions are, how will this affect your career (flying or management) and why?

Grading criteria for this blog post will be as follows:

Question A…………………………………………….....5 points

Question B…………………………………………….....5 points

Question C…………………………………………….....5 points

Appropriate references and citations…………......….4 points

Grammar and Style……………………………...……...5 points

Three significant comments on other blogs………....6 points

Total…………………………………………………….30 points

Do not forget the following:

1.  Address each question fully to receive full credit.

2.  Include references and links to support your topic. 

3.  Cite your sources, using APA formatting, at the bottom of your posting. 

4.  Please proofread your work.

5.  Upload your comments to the Dropbox.

Your post is due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday evening, February 17.

Comments are due by the start of class on February 20.

Have fun,

Dr. Tartalone

Hello, AVT 422:

The blog topic for this week (February 13) is:

Corporate Aviation: A Political Punching Bag

http://avt422winter2013.blogspot.com

On November 18, 2008, at the height of the financial crises, the CEOs of GM, Ford, and Chrysler few their corporation’s jets to Washington, D.C. to ask Congress for a $25 billion bailout to avoid bankruptcy of the auto industry.  The media and late-night talk show hosts exploited the transportation story, and suddenly, corporate aviation was national news.

More recently, President Obama has blasted corporate aviation on several occasions.  The President asserts that corporate aircraft owners, as a group, should be paying more taxes.  Currently, corporations purchasing large business equipment may take advantage of a provision of the economic stimulus package called “accelerated depreciation.”  The concept of accelerated depreciation is not new, it has been around in many guises for a long while.  Accelerated depreciation has been especially beneficial to aviation since the post-9/11, Economic Revitalization Act.

Your assignment this week will focus on the pros and cons of corporate aviation.  Address the following questions in your blog post.  Provide at least four references to support your discussion.

Is corporate aviation really necessary, or should corporate executives fly on the airlines?

Do you feel that corporate aviation is vitally important for our economy?

What are President Obama’s arguments regarding corporate aviation?

What are the arguments of the NBAA, GAMA , and other aviation advocates?

What is accelerated depreciation?

Why is accelerated depreciation part of the economic stimulus package.

Is the opulence of some business jets entirely justified?

Grading criteria for this blog post will be as follows:

Depth of discussion…………………………………....10 points

Appropriate references and citations………………….4 points

Grammar and Style……………………………………...5 points

Three significant comments on other blogs………......6 points

Total…………………………………………………..….25 points

Do not forget the following:

1.  Address each issue fully to receive full credit.

2.  Include references and links to support your topic. 

3.  Cite your sources, using APA formatting, at the bottom of your posting. 

4.  Please proofread your work.

5.  Upload your comments to the Dropbox.

Your post is due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday evening.

Comments are due by the start of class on February 13

Enjoy,

Dr. Tartalone