How software technology introduced stellar improvements to airplane maintenance

In his time at the aviation industry, Scott Beale has seen a number of innovations assisting pilots, airline companies, and aircraft manufacturers in assuring the safety of air travel. The latest technology has constantly played a major role in aviation.

Image source: Wikimedia commons by <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/people/14035760@N03“>Curimedia</a>

One of the most crucial areas in which technology has affected aviation, Scott Beale notes, is airplane maintenance.

Maintenance of aircraft is a major part of airline operations. Commercial airplanes are checked before and after every flight, since nothing is more important than passenger safety. Airplane mechanics and engineers know that there are too many factors and conditions exerted on these gigantic machines. Every major part should be in good working condition before leaving the ground.

Today, there are various software installed in airplanes that allow for crew to inspect and perform diagnostics in-flight. Some airlines have even developed software so that specialists can check—from a mobile device—if there are any problems with any major airplane part. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities, one of which is aircraft maintenance during a flight.

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This makes flying a lot safer since pilots can decide, based on real-time data feeds on their palms about the condition of all parts of the plane, whether or not to proceed should any problem arise with the flight.

Scott Beale, for one, is extremely excited to see what other innovations are in development for the aviation industry.

As its CEO from 2011 to 2015, Scott Beale piloted the successful business turnaround of Aerodynamics Inc., increasing the company’s profitability by means of new business and diversification efforts. To know more about the latest technologies in airports and aviation, visit this website.

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

Image source: avbuyer.com

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.

Feeling Tired After a Long Flight? Here’s Why

People who fly will notice that once they land, they feel incredibly tired and lethargic. This happens even if the flight was long enough to have a nap. Have you ever wondered why flying makes you feel tired? There could be several factors at play.

Reduced Humidity
The air that is circulated into the airplane cabin is brought in from the outside atmosphere. The air that exists so high in the atmosphere is surprisingly void of moisture which means that the air you breathe during a long flight is dry. Dry air can cause you to develop dehydration. Dehydration causes lethargy and tiredness because it means that your blood volume has been reduced and isn’t providing necessary oxygen to your muscles and organs. The best way to combat this type of exhaustion is to drink plenty of water while in flight.

Did You Know This About Air Force One?

Most Americans are familiar with Air Force One. It’s the big jet that the President uses for all his air travel. Many folks probably don’t give it much thought, preferring perhaps to focus on where the President is going and what he will be doing rather than the aircraft itself.

Air Force One, however, has a storied history and many interesting facts. Many of these points of interest were recently discussed in a Robb Report article. Here are a few of them:

Is there only one Air Force One?

At the present, two aircraft serve as Air Force One. Each one is a Boeing VC-25. In fact, Air Force One is a call-sign, not an aircraft. Any well-maintained aircraft can serve as Air Force One.

 

To read the full blog and learn more interesting facts about Air Force One, please visit my website: ScottBealeAviation.com

 

The Art Of Aviation: Fuel Economy

The rising energy consumption in the world today has countless negative implications for tomorrow’s generation. It’s a challenge for almost every industry to cut energy usage. The aviation industry is one of these industries. Luckily, steps are being taken to increase flight fuel efficiency through design and engineering.

Image source: flightservicebureau.org

One of the concepts developed by aeronautical engineers is called the geared turbofan engine which is a fan-drive gear system engine. This piece of engineering marvel was designed a decade ago and has been installed in smaller, private jets. Some jet owners have observed as much as 15 percent less fuel consumed. And bigger geared turbofan engines for commercial airliners and freight planes are being developed and could be in the market within the next five years.

Even changing the materials used in creating aircraft components can help save fuel. Engineers have seen the effects of using composite ceramics in creating hotter combustion, which in turn leads to more fuel saved. Composite ceramics have a higher melting point and are as dependable as traditional alloys.

Composite ceramics can reduce the weight of engines by 30 percent. It can also bring down fuel usage as well.

Image source: bigthink.com 

Scott Beale is a seasoned aviation professional. For more discussion on the aviation industry, visit this blog.

Flying Is the Safest It’s Ever Been

Thanks to advances in technology and new regulations, flying is safer than it has ever been. Numbers show that last year was the safest year for commercial passenger air-travel in recorded history, even though more flights are being taken now more than ever before.

To read the full blog, please visit my website: ScottBealeAviation.net

6 Surprising Facts of Flying

More than 8 million people travel via plane each day. While most people are familiar with the concept of flying, there are several facts associated with this modern method of transportation that often go unnoticed.

1. Flight Attendants Are Paid Only When the Plane Is Moving

While different airlines have their own policy, most only pay their flight attendants when the plane is moving. If it takes an hour for all passengers to board, that’s an hour of unpaid time for the flight attendants. They are generally only paid when the plane is taking off, flying or landing. As a result, many flight attendants complain about flight delays or other issues preventing the plane from moving.

2. Flying Causes Dehydration

Many air travelers feel thirsty upon boarding a plane because of the cabin’s low humidity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average humidity inside a plane’s cabin is less than 20 percent. To put that number into perspective, most homes have a humidity level of 30 percent to 50 percent. With less moisture vapor in the air, passengers often experience the effects of mild dehydration, including dry mouth, fatigue and itchy skin.

3. All Planes Have Ashtrays But Smoking Is Prohibited

It may sound contradictory, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all flights in and out of the United States to have an ashtray in the lavatory even though smoking is prohibited. CNN explains that ashtrays provide a safe way for passengers to extinguish their cigarette if they decide to light up even if smoking is prohibited.

To read the next three surprising facts, please visit my website: ScottBealeAviation.com

A Glossary for Aviation Jargon: Part III

If you’ve read my first two blogs on airline jargon, you now know twenty new terms! This is my last segment for the airline glossary, provided nine more words, to make you an expert the next time you travel through an airport. Thanks to Patrick Smith, and his book the Cockpit Confidential, here are the last few terms in this series.

LAST MINUTE PAPERWORK
If you’ve ever been on a flight that seemed to have taken forever to leave the terminal, you were probably waiting on “last minute paperwork.” This is typically for a revision to the flight plan or waiting on the maintenance team to get the logbook in order.

NONSTOP
In the first of this series, we discussed what was a direct flight. Go back and re-read that definition. A nonstop flight is a flight that does not have any stops between take-off and landing at your destination.

THE OFF-POSITION
When the flight attendants are asking you to put your electronics in the “off-position,” they are simply just telling you to turn it off.

A Glossary for Aviation Jargon: Part II

Last month I wrote a blog about popular airline jargon and the various definitions. This month, I’m going to continue that trend and teach you eight new words. With the help of Patrick Smith, and his book the Cockpit Confidential, here are the next few terms in this series.

FINAL APPROACH
Pilots and flight attendants have slightly different meanings to the term “final approach.” According to the pilot, the final approach is when the airplane is on its last straight segment of the landing pattern. Simply put, the plane is aligned with the center of the runway for landing. If you were to ask a flight attendant the meaning of “final approach,” they may tell you it’s the last portion of the descent.

FIRST OFFICER (COPILOT)
As outlined in my past blog, the copilot and the captain are both well equipped and know how to fly the plane. However, the first officer, often referred to as the copilot, sits to the right and is second in command. The first officer will alternate shifts with the captain in the event of a long flight where the captain will need to take a break.

FLIGHT DECK
The flight-deck is another term for the cockpit, where the pilots sit.

A Glossary for Aviation Jargon

If you’ve ever taken a flight, domestic or international, I’m sure you’ve experienced some form of confusion by the jargon either spoken over the microphone or face-to-face by airline workers. Travelers who make dozens of flights a year can find themselves having only a vague understanding of this airline language. Patrick Smith wrote the book about everything you need to know when it comes to air travel, Cockpit Confidential. Here are a few terms he describes.

AIR POCKET
An air pocket is a colloquial term for a jolt of turbulence.

ALL-CALL
When a pilot comes over the intercom announcing “…all-call,” they are looking for all the flight attendants to report from his or her stations as part of the arming/disarming procedure.

ALLEY
Also known as the “ramp,” this is the passageway or taxiway between terminals.

APRON
This references where the planes park for servicing or any large space of Tarmac (asphalt) that is not being used as an alley or runway.

AREA OF WEATHER
Area of weather is a less alarming way for the pilot to announce a detour due to a thunderstorm or heavy precipitation ahead.