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Why airships aren’t being made anymore

First off, let’s establish that the terms “blimps” and “zeppelins” are part of what is generally called the airship, any motorized craft lighter than air. Zeppelins are distinct for having rigid air compartments, while blimps are inflatable. These ships started appearing after significant developments in internal combustion, with a few aviators piloting them using steam engine power.

Image source: en.wikipedia.org

Many people don’t know it, but the first airship, the Zeppelin LZ1, took the air in 1900, three years before the Wright Brothers made their infamous flight, says aviation professional Scott Beale. By the early 20th century, a lot of wealthy people and businesses were drawn to the lucrative potential of airships. In the 1930s, luxury airships would carry people regularly across the Atlantic.

 

Sadly, the airship Hindenburg would crash in 1937 while landing in New Jersey, and the craft, filled with hydrogen, exploded for the watching world to gasp in horror at the sight. This dramatic disaster and the ensuing trauma would lead to an almost instantaneous end to passenger airships. This incident, coupled with developments in airplane and helicopter technology, would make airships scarce.

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Image source: popsci.com

There are only an estimated 25 blimps and even fewer zeppelins operating in the world and aviation industry today, adds Scott Beale. Most of these airships are used today mainly as floating billboards and for doing bird’s-eye-view photography during huge sporting events. Our skies have been left for the dominion of helicopters and airplanes. Nonetheless, some modern aviation companies are keen on studying how to safely bring back these amazing aircraft.

Aviation and aerospace professional Scott Beale is skilled in commercial sales and aviation products marketing, government contracting, and business startups. Visit this site for more on Mr. Beale and his work.

 

Aviation 101: The importance of deicing

Scott Beale has extensive experience in the aviation industry, and he loves sharing his knowledge to aspiring pilots, engineers, or even those who just want to get a clearer picture
of aviation in general.

This blog will tackle the significance of deicing in aviation, and why it is an essential step in flight safety. While many casual flyers don’t fully understand or even aren’t fully aware of the process, deicing helps aircraft fly and reach their destination safely.

Image source: aviationpros.com

Not only does deicing remove semi-frozen moisture from the external surface of an aircraft and moisture from the engine and fan blades, but the process also provides protection while the aircraft is in flight, explains Scott Beale. The treatment also greatly enhances the flight of the aircraft as far as aerodynamics is concerned. Other facets of flight such as balance, thrust, and flight control are improved as well.

Image source: aviation.stackexchange.com

Deicing happens when the aircraft is on the ground, before and after each flight. A ground crew of technicians assigned to the aircraft checks it for moisture on the surface. After which, the deicing process takes place. In many instances, even when there is no moisture to be found, deicing procedures still happen in case the weather acts up.

Scott Beale piloted the successful turnaround of several aviation companies, including Aerodynamics Inc., where he served as its CEO from 2011 to 2015. For more posts like this, visit this page.

Some tips to help you ace the FAA private pilot written exam

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Earning that coveted pilot license isn’t exactly a walk in the park.  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration or FAA makes sure that for anyone to pass the exam, he or she must go through rigorous testing and training.  Applicants can’t expect anything less, of course, if the agency is to guarantee air safety.

One advice to ensure that you get a good leverage come exam time is to choose a reputable flight school.  You are learning the fundamentals as well as ground- and flight-based instructions.  A good flight school will help you attain the required 40 total hours of flight time by giving you a balance of flight, oral, and written pre-tests and guidance from experienced instructors.

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The exam itself is comprised of 60 questions; you’ve to get a score of 70 percent or higher if you are to pass.  The good news is the FAA itself offers a practice exam and other supplemental documents containing graphics, figures, and legends.  Study these alongside the agency’s reference guide for learning statements that explains concepts into coded topics.  Keep in mind that there are more than 500 learning statements to study for your private pilot test.

During the actual exam, don’t be too much in a hurry and read the questions twice before answering. The idea to fully comprehend the subject matter.  However, don’t give more value to particular questions over others as they carry the same weight.  In short, if you really don’t know the concept being mentioned in a given question, just skip it.

Aviation professional Scott Beale spearheaded negotiations for the acquisition of Mountain Aviation, performing due-diligence supervision, closing activities, and post-closing finalization, leading to its smooth transition to fully operate under Flightworks.  More on Scott and his work here.

What are the benefits and perks of first and business class air travel?

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Flying first class or business class allows for a variety of perks for the traveler. Aside from traveling in style, both air travel types come with much-improved comfort perks and amenities. The distinction between the two is nowadays being blurred, with many airlines deciding to just unite both and call them upper class or business first.

Both first class and business class offer better seating, usually longer and wider ones for stretching out and lying down. The additional space also comes with better privacy and a personal crew assigned to a passenger. These crew members are specifically trained to serve first and business class customers, able to determine a passenger’s quirks quickly and are masters of different drink concoctions and food recommendations.

Many technological innovations are available at the touch of a button, from tons of music and movies choices, surround headphones, to retractable walls that separate passengers from one another for even more privacy. Most business- and first-class passengers are given full access to the entire airline menu, permitting them to order whatever delicacy and superior drinks they want to indulge in.

Image source: businesstoday.in

Aside from the suite-like service in the passenger cabins, often there’s a dedicated lounge area, offering fine dining and a restaurant-like ambiance, a great view of the sky, and other technological amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi access and large flat TV screens showing the flight track and passenger-preferred programs from movies to news and sports.

Lastly, these top-of-the-line travel options allow regular passengers to accumulate higher miles and points that they can avail of in future flights. In most cases, first-class and business-class passengers earn at a rate of as much as 150 percent more in mileage.

Aviation professional Scott Beale has held executive positions in companies he helped establish. His expertise in strategic and tactical planning, account development, government contract management, regulatory compliance, and operational execution has made him the face and the brand of the companies he led. Subscribe to this Twitter page for the latest news and insights on the aviation industry.

What are the advantages of hub airports?

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To be more technically specific, hub airports refer to “hub and spoke” network models, in which air traffic pass through given central points.  The more efficient that network is, the more beneficial it is financially for the airlines that use it.

A hub airport is therefore essentially a big airport that offers many direct flight options.  As it provides more space for planes and more scheduled flights, it provides for a wider variety of flights that lead to minimized delays.  As the airport can house more planes, any airline can quickly replace routes that have fewer passengers will fuller ones.

International hub airports offer more destinations and are great for the local economy, especially in cities that are centers for multinational industries like air freight, media, and finance.  They promote better GDP for a country, even if both shipped products or passengers are just passing through on their way to other destinations.  This is because various international currency flow or circulate through.

Image source: ausbt.com.au

Even if these are connecting-flight respites or stopovers, tourists and business travelers will welcome the convenience.  All in all, hub airports offer modern air travel solutions that benefit all players in the aviation industry.  Passengers are happier, even as airline companies and the host cities or countries generate needed profit.

Scott Bealehas been working in the aviation industry for more than 20 years.  He has led various aviation firms to attain growth in revenues with his competencies in strategic and tactical planning, account development and acquisition, government contract and management, sales team training and supervision, and financial reporting.  More on Scott’s work here.

Are hybrid-electric airliners ready for takeoff?

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Much has already been said about the need for vehicles to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.  On the ground, electric and hybrid-electric cars have been developed to achieve this objective.  While the aviation industry has lagged in this regard, hybrid airliners are becoming a reality, and not just a dream.

In the past, one of the main hindrances in the development of hybrid airliners is the heaviness of the batteries, which has led to safety concerns.  Compared with jet fuel, electric batteries carry much less energy for every unit of weight.  Even though electric motors are more efficient in converting energy into power than traditional engines, the total weight of a hybrid aircraft had been deemed too large for flight.

Image source: vrworld.com

But battery technology is continuing to advance.  Lithium-polymer batteries are continuously being improved, making it possible to manufacture lightweight hybrid aircrafts.  That these batteries can be recharged during flight makes the prospect of creating fuel-less airplanes even more promising.

Hybrid aircrafts have already been tested, and the results are encouraging.  When taking off, both the engine and motor are needed for the requisite power and speed.  But when the plane is cruising, the electric motor or generator takes over.  The capacity of the batteries may only allow a series of intercity or regional hops, for now.  But engineers are optimistic that by 2022, hybrid airliners that have a higher mile range can be used for commercial purposes.

Scott Beale has served in the aviation industry for more than 20 decades, successfully growing businesses, both which he acquired and founded.  Read more about the industry here.

Buying a business jet? Here are a few tips from the experts

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To say that airplanes are expensive is a massive understatement.  Along with the hefty price tag, the additional costs of maintenance and security present ongoing worries.  This alone requires a lengthy process of deliberation for the right jet.

Luckily, businessmen and airplane owners have shared tips on choosing an airplane.  Let’s take a look at some of them.

Commitment

This is probably the most important reminder to anyone interested in buying an airplane.  Purchasing and owning a jet takes commitment.  Research has to be done on the airplane crew as much as the ground crew.  Maintenance staff and onboard crew both have to be reliable.

Used airplanes

Buying used airplanes isn’t as bad as it sounds.  Used airplanes still go through rigid examinations and inspections from the proper authorities.  However, if a potential buyer wanted to purchase a used airplane, he should have airplane maintenance experts and professionals with him to inspect the plane themselves, to identify repair and replacement needs.

Image source: wikipedia.org

Use

A potential airplane buyer should also determine a number of things.  First, he needs to know how many people will be riding the aircraft on an average flight.  Next, how important is the cargo hold?  Will it be a transport plane?  Then, the buyer should factor in the usual destinations of the plane.  Some airplanes may not be as well-equipped as others for long distance flights.

What are you looking for in an airplane?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Aviation and aerospace professional Scott Beale was responsible for expanding FlightWorks from a $1.5 million-dollar business when he purchased it in 2000 to a $90 million enterprise when he sold the business in 2010.  For more info on Scott’s work and career, visit this page.

Flying a plane: Its amazing effects on a person’s mind

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Ask any pilot out there and they’ll swear that flying a plane is the adventure of a lifetime.  All those years learning and obtaining the requirements for flying are more than worth it.  For commercial airline and business pilots, the pay is more than substantial.  For pilots who’ve taken up flying as a hobby, the thrill of flying is enough.

As if all the perks of flying weren’t enough, recently, studies have shown another incomparable benefit to this endeavor.  Apparently, flying also provides great mental health benefits for the pilot.  Here are a few of them.

Neural function improvement and better focus

Flying a plane and driving a car have a lot of differences.  One of these is that if one drives a car long enough, the actions become second nature and muscle memory guides the driver through the process.  This isn’t the case in flying.  There are too many actions for the body to remember and a lot more conditions to consider, which is why flying requires a greater deal of focus.

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Heightened ability to multitask

In conjunction with better focus, a pilot develops the ability to multitask with much more efficiency and with higher quality of output.  While the number of tasks a person can do well is still limited, a pilot learns to improve how he does them as he contends with and reacts to signs and symbols all over the cockpit that serve as stimuli.

Scott Beale has led various aviation firms in attaining growth in revenues with his competencies in strategic and tactical planning, account development and acquisition, government contract and management, sales team training and supervision, and financial reporting.  More reads on aviation here.

Six Interesting Facts About Flying

Scott Beale Aviation shares interesting and lesser-known facts about flying.

Nearly 4 billion passengers boarded planes across all global airlines in 2017, and that number shows signs of increasing as the years continue to progress. Despite so many passengers frequently flying across various airlines, there are many things individuals don’t know about flying. Here are six interesting facts about flying that explain why passengers experience dry eyes, mood swings, and more while traveling on planes.

Taste is Reduced During Flights

While airplane food may appear inherently unappetizing, it’s mostly rendered unappealing due to altitude. When it comes to traveling via airplanes, cabin pressure can reduce taste by as much as 30 percent. With about a third of taste buds numbed, it’s no surprise food eaten on airplanes tastes bland. Interestingly, altitude also tends to enhance savory flavors, making tomato juice so much more appealing.

Cabin Air is as Dry as a Desert

Humidity in a home is, on average, over 30 percent. A plane’s pressurized cabin keeps humidity low, typically less than 20 percent, which is about the average humidity of the Sahara Desert. While low humidity doesn’t present any health risks, passengers are advised to wear eyeglasses to prevent dry contact lenses and discomfort, use moisturizing lotions, and limit consumption of alcohol and caffeine on long flights to avoid internal dehydration.

Turbulence Typically Drops a Plane Only a Few Feet

While turbulence may be jarring to passengers, traditional, run-of-the-mill turbulence typically only drops a few feet in altitude. Moderate turbulence can drop a plane between 10 and 20 feet, whereas severe turbulence has the potential to move a plane 100 feet.

During a Crash, the Tail is the Safest Place

When it comes to choosing seats, the last seats prove the safest. While plane crashes are rare, according to a Popular Mechanics study, passengers who sit near the tail of a plane are about 40 percent more likely to survive a crash than those seated in the first few rows of the plane.

Planes Can Still Operate With Only One Engine

While failed engines are unsettling, commercial jets are actually able to fly with only one operable engine. They are also able to land safely without any engine power.

Traveling By Plane Can Influence Moods

Many passengers admit to feeling emotional when traveling by plane. According to a 1988 study, decreased oxygen and mild hypoxia caused by altitude influences moods. This can cause individuals to experience depressive episodes, become irritable, anxious, and apathetic.

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Scott Beale has been working in the aviation industry for more than two decades, successfully growing founded and acquired businesses. For similar reads, visit this blog.

Interesting facts about the aerospace and defense industry

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Image source: Birmingham.ac.uk

A lot of Americans are vaguely familiar with the name “aerospace and defense” probably because they hear it on occasion in the news.  However, to paint a clearer picture, here are some notable facts about the industry.

  • The aerospace and defense industry can be divided into the two industries in its name. The aerospace half involves the production and sale of commercial aircraft, while the defense side assembles systems (and weaponry) for land, sea, and air military operations.
  • Some of the projects of the aerospace industry aside from aircraft are missiles and space vehicles. The industry also develops and produces subsystems such as propulsion and key support systems, and equipment for flight simulations.
  • Relatively few countries have an aerospace and defense industry since it eats up a substantial portion of the economy. However, governments have been quick to justify the cost, citing the overall political value of the industry both domestically and globally.
  • The United States military is the single largest market for defense systems in the world. Not only does it purchase aerospace and defense systems for America, it also supplies equipment for its allies all over the world.
  • The many space exploration programs, such as a manned mission to Mars, keep the aerospace industry busy.
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Image source: SanDiegoBusiness.org

Scott Beale has led various aviation firms in attaining growth in revenues with his competencies in strategic and tactical planning, account development and acquisition, government contract and management, sales team training and supervision, and financial reporting.  More reads on aviation here.