Category: flying

Moved by a movie

~ cjois

I am not much of a movie person. I am too much of a ‘do something’ person to be able to sit in one place for 90 minutes and watch a movie – unless of course, its something that pertains to planes, airports, flight – aviation in general.

AviatorCast – a podcast on aviation – recently interviewed Brian Terwilliger, a documentary movie maker. The podcast was focused on Brian’s latest production “Living in the Age of Airplanes”. I had heard about the movie back in April, but the movie is only distributed to science centers, museums, IMAX theaters to name a few. Hence it is not generally available in the regular theaters. I waited for it to come to a location in my city.

Today, I headed out to watch the movie. Words cannot describe the various emotions that one goes through upon viewing the movie – and there are too many to even describe. Brian passion for telling a story comes through. His passion for aviation also comes through. Most importantly his ability to conceptualize big ideas comes through. Breathtaking is one way to describe the movie. Its 50 minutes of exhilaration. Well researched and succinctly put together.

In 50 minutes, Brian transports the viewer from beginning of humankind to present-day transportation capability. The movie humbles the viewer.

The script focuses on the machine – more than anything else – and attempts to keep the focus on the significance of the airport.

If you haven’t watched it, please do. Brian has crafted a beautiful message through the movie.The movie’s website is www.theairplanesmovie.com

I am confident that you will enjoy it as much as I did.

CPJ

FAA’s NextGen Program

~ cjois

FAA’s NextGen is a program with a lot of promise. But like every large transformation program, success results out of flawless execution of the plan. Vision is important and it plays an important role. However, history is rife with many examples of great vision and flawed execution. 

FAA’s NextGen definitely has its critics, many of them are in Congress itself. The scale, size and complexity of program leads to high cost. On the other hand, the very same traits make the program hard to qualify and quantify. The measures are hard to define and the metrics are hard even more difficult to communicate. The FAA’s site is increasingly driven to show videos, animations and other material that can tell the taxpayer and/or flyer the implications and benefits of NextGen. The benefits are beginning to accrue (United joins NextGen Data Communications”, 2013). Clearly, current day criticisms are indicative that they are not doing enough to convince the stakeholders (Ashley, 2015; Pianin, 2014). The NextGen program would have been better off being handled as specific initiatives focused on specific benefits. Bundling too much into one program leads to the issues that NextGen is facing. 

The move from traditional Radar-based to air traffic management to GPS-reliance is inevitable. However, the implications for pilots, airlines, flyers, and taxpayers are not small. Prior studies of the USNAS and air traffic related issues in the US have adequately indicated the need for transformation (FAA, 2004; 2007; 2011). In my mind, this transformation is not an option. The criticism that its waste of money is not true. It is much needed and eventually the US will benefit from such a transformation. As to whether the FAA should do a better task of earning value on money spent and fast tracking the program to success is another question. The FAA can, and should, absolutely doing a better job of keeping the program on track and communicating the benefits to relevant stakeholders. 

References – 

Denver International Airport starts new arrival-departures for NextGen. (2013, May 28). Retrieved March 28, 2015 from http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23333350/denver-international-airport-starts-new-arrival-departures-nextgenLinks to an external site.

Federal Aviation Administration. (2004). Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System: An Analysis of Airports and Metropolitan Area Demand and Operational Capacity in the Future. Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/publications/reports/media/NAS_needs.pdfLinks to an external site.

Federal Aviation Administration. (2007). Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System: An Analysis of Airports and Metropolitan Area Demand and Operational Capacity in 2015 and 2025. Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/publications/reports/media/fact_2.pdfLinks to an external site.

Federal Aviation Administration. (2011). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems Report. Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/Links to an external site.

Federal Aviation Administration. (2014). NextGen Implementation Plan 2014. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/library/media/NextGen_Implementation_Plan_2014.pdfLinks to an external site.

Harris: United airlines joins FAA NextGen data communications avionics equipage program. (2013). Travel & Leisure Close – Up, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/1444529303?accountid=27203Links to an external site.

Halsey, A. (2015, May 1). Scathing report: FAA isn’t delivering what was promised in $40 billion project. Retrieved December 18, 2015, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/report-says-faa-isnt-delivering-what-was-promised-in-40-billion-project/2015/05/01/81676e6a-eff4-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html

Long-Term Market. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2015, from http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/cmo/index.pageLinks to an external site.?

Pianin, E. (2014, November 19). Congress Enraged by the FAA’s $40B White Elephant. Retrieved December 18, 2015, from http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2014/11/19/NextGen-Congress-Enraged-FAA-s-40B-White-ElephantLinks to an external site.

United Airlines Starts NextGen Flight Procedures in Houston. (2014, June 10). Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/topstories/United-Airlines-Starts-NextGen-Flight-Procedures-in-Houston_82359.html#.VRbYOikQwhF

Electric flight becoming reality

~ cjois

Each day we see new advances being made in electric flight. Improvements are seen in scale, size and endurance.

Today, we have another milestone with the electric Cri-Cri project crossing the English Channel. This comes one day in advance of Airbus’ e-fan flight. Pilot Hughues Duval flew the Cri-Cri across the English Channel from Dover,UK to Calais,France at 81 knots and covered the distance in 36 minutes.

electric-planes-fly-over-english-channel

More about the electric plane here

CPJ

The G1000 experience

~ cjois

Last week, I had the opportunity to fly the Diamond DA-40 airplane. The plane was similar and different from the airplane I fly regularly – the Piper Archer II. Most different was the move from steam gauges to a glass cockpit. This is more of a mindset shift. The Garmin 1000, G1000 as it is typically called, is a fabulous innovation. I have used it before on simulators but this was the first time I had used it in real-world aviation.

Being a technologist, I am throughly impressed by what it offers. I also think that in a typical flight, one perhaps uses a tenth of what the G1000 can do. The increase in situational awareness is tenfold. Between cohesive situational awareness, traffic warnings, NexRad radar, NAV overlays…and a lot more, the AHRS is a superior form of addressing safety in the 3 dimensional space of aviation.
IMG_4507

All this said, G1000 is also not for someone to simply get into one day and go out flying while learning it on the fly. The G1000 is not another set of gauges. Its a mindset shift. You read and absorb information differently. You assimilate and act differently. It is NOT merely a set of traditional gauges put on a glass interface. It can be cause overwhelm if not treated with respect. Its easy to get caught up in using the knobs and trying to skim through the various pages on the G1000 while in flight. Training for using it is important. The instrumentation is very different. It is easy to see the impact such technology bears on human factors.

IMG_4526

All that said, one does goes through a set of mixed feelings when making this shift to glass interfaces. Flying the Diamond, I somewhat missed the old fashioned 6-pack gauges that essentially inspired my love for airplanes. I worry that some day all airplanes will be fitted with these glass displays and the old gauges will be gone forever. Those gauges speak a story – the story describing the historic evolution of aviation. Would never want to lose them….

CPJ

Simulators – Motion Platforms

~ cjois

For many years now, the concept of having a motion platform for hobby simulators has been on my mind. A couple of months ago, I began on this journey. Of course I didnt want to dive into building a full-scale one right away. I thought a prototype would be a good idea.

The video below shows my first gen prototype in action. A lot more work to do, however the basic concept has begun to take shape.

CP Jois

Aviation Podcast

~ cjois

I recently came across this interesting aviation podcast channel – AviatorCast. I found it very interesting and heard one of the episodes recently. I have been hooked since then. You can find this one on iTunes and SoundCloud.

There have been, and still are, many podcasts on aviation. However, there are very few that sustain over time.  This one is over a year old. Chris is the founder of Angle of Attack, most known for their rich training content.  The thing I find different about this show is the variety of topics, speakers, guests, and the relevance of updates. I am even more enthused by the fact that they have been able to sustain the show for well over a year.

Chris is a fine host, posing specific, relevant questions. Many times now, I have found him asking the guest the exact question that was on my mind at that point in the conversation.

Here is a link to their site – http://www.aviatorcast.com

Hope you enjoy the show as much as I do.

CP Jois