Pilotbug

Aviation information and introspection

Posts Tagged Airlines

DEFCON hacker illustrates flight plan vulnerability

Aug 14

Posted by PilotBug in Airlines | 1 Comment

A pilot presenting during the DEFCON conference this month showed how to use fake identities to file flight plans.  As Righter Kunkel explained during the annual convention for hackers, it is easy to provide a AME with false information to obtain a student pilot medical certificate.  Armed with the medical, a person can file false flight plans with ATC. 

While this is illegal, it is not going to be a problem until many flight plans are submitted.  If this is done, it can be a big problem in the form of what is called a denial of service attack.  DoS attacks are used to overwhelm the computer servers that are used to process incoming information.  In the case of the ATC’s systems, many of the computers are linked in such a way that if one goes down, it could take down the rest of them.  Radar, communication, and transponder information could all be compromised.

Kunkel explains that he, as a pilot, is trying to get this information out there to highlight the vulnerabilities of the underfunded FAA and increase awareness.

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5 ways to save money becoming a professional pilot

Aug 12

Posted by PilotBug in Airlines, General Aviation | Comments off

1.  Go 141 – If you are starting out from scratch, consider a Part 141 flight school.  You can complete your commercial rating in 190 hours vs the 250 hours you would need if you were to train in a regular Part 61 school.  The difference is in the curriculum. The FAA has determined that the  regimented syllabus approach provided by a 190 hour Part 141 school will produce the same quality of  pilot that 250 hours of  Part 61 training generates.

 2.  Comm. AMEL first- By getting your Commercial Multi-Engine Land rating first, you save by not having to need to check out in and rent  a complex single for the checkride.  After you have your commercial, you can take the add-on in any single out there, complex or not, even a Cessna 152, if you want.

3.  Get MS flight simulator- This may sound crazy, but the flight simulator software out there for years has been a great way to get exposure to the mechanics of your instrument rating.  You don’t need to be in a full motion simulator or even a Frasca to see how to enter a hold or join an airway from a vector.  Get comfortable flying a $20 computer simulator, then go to your flight school.

4.  Pay cash – If you have the option, offering to pay cash for your flight training could save you and the flight school some money.  Credit card transactions typically cost the merchant 2-3% and you can explain that the flight school would actually make more money from you if they can offer you a cash discount.

5.  Negotiate - This may or may not work, but you can try.  Flight schools want a steady cash flow, so if you can make arrangements to pay up front you can possibly have some of the rental rates reduced.  Beware, though, commiting too much money just in case your flight school happens to be hurting more than you think and shuts down before your funds run out.

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FAA Head Concerned With Cockpit Experience

Aug 6

Posted by PilotBug in Airlines | 1 Comment

Randy Babbitt FAA

Randy Babbitt FAA

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, addressed ALPA’s annual Air Safety Forum and expressed concern for the quality of experience of captains in some of today’s airlines.

“There are some airlines out there with senior pilots who have three years under their belt, and, unlike back then — they are going right into jets, flying long days in some of the busiest airspace in the world.” Babbitt says in his speech, “I’m not saying that you’ve got to have 10 or 15 thousand hours before you’re worth your salt, but there is something to be said for having been flying around the system a few seasons.”

Babbitt continues and states that even these “seasoned” pilots must use their collective knowledge and mentor the rest of the pilot group to enhance safety.  “This needs to become part of our professional DNA. If you’ve got experience and you’re not sharing it, you’re doing a disservice to our profession.”

He also acknowledged the problem of fatigue and that the FAA is in the process of addressing it.  Flight-duty rules will be reconsidered after a study is completed by September 1st, where it will be submitted to the FAA.  It will then be passed to the DOT and after 90 days, sent for public comment.

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Congress Seeks to Upgrade Pilot, Hiring Requirements

Aug 2

Posted by Aviation Week & Space Technology on AviationWeek.com in Airlines | Comments off

Congress digs deep to upgrade airline safety in radical changes to flight crew job and training requirements

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Professional pilots in Peril

Jul 31

Posted by Rob in Airlines | 2 Comments

What has the state of out profession become? Take a look at the starting wages and working conditions at any regional airline to see a general lack of respect for airman and what they provide. At one point in time, good airmanship was a valued asset.

Stick and rudder skills were prized and those that had these skills were respected and sought after. What will be the attributes most desirable when the next upturn in the hiring cycle comes? Has the cost-conscious industry come to prefer systems managers over airmen? Never mind the yoke and throttle. It seems that a pen and index finger are all that is required to earn a living flying these days. ATC will make the judgment calls for you. Merely passing the required simulator training ensures you a spot in the front seat of most transport category aircraft these days.

I predict that within a generation, the ultimate cost-reduction measure will come to pass. That being pilots are replaced with computers. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are plying the airways as we speak. How long can it be before we see the inefficient, costly humans in the cockpit replaced by a microprocessor? Better, cheaper, faster, they don’t need or take breaks or complain about being on duty continuously for 18 hours.

What will it take make this profession attractive again? Is mere allure of flight enough? Can any pilot recommend this career path to aspiring airman?

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