Mobile Devices in the World of Aviation

In today’s day and age, smart phones have changed the way people live. They connect people to people faster than ever before as well as putting companies and their products at each user’s fingertips. There are apps for almost everything you can think of. These apps include online banking, shopping, business, and travel. Smart phones have connected the world in ways that many could not have imagined fifteen years ago.

            Smart phones have allowed airlines to create a travel experience that is much easier and convenient for its consumers. Almost all major air carriers allow their customers to manage their travel plans through mobile applications. For instance, Southwest airlines have the ability for their customer to handle everything electronically without speaking to anyone until they are at the check in gate. According to Southwest.com, a customer can “book, change or cancel air reservations, book or cancel rental car reservations, check in for your flight, mobile boarding pass, check flight status and set up text notifications, add Early Bird Check-In to an existing reservation, enroll in and access your Rapid Rewards account, view travel and weather alerts, access helpful airport information, view & book the latest DING! deals (iOS app only).”

            According to the New York Times, “eighty percent of all travelers use self-service options when booking travel.” This allows for many positive outcomes for the airline and the consumer. For the airline it saves money. They do not have to hire as much personnel to do all of the jobs that the consumers are now doing on their own. There is little to no need to have a large working staff booking travel, or checking customers in. The airlines are able to take the saved money and put it to other uses. For the customer, it saves time. In today’s world, time can be everything. For business men or women on the go, they are able to book a flight from any location in a matter of minutes. The person traveling does not even need a computer to print out the boarding pass. Their smart phone is the boarding pass, once again saving time and money.

            With all of the positive features mobile devices have given to the aviation community, there are however negative drawbacks, and one in particular that apps have definitely created. Like any other automated system, airline apps have replaced the jobs that skilled professionals once held. With these positions now being filled by the consumers themselves booking their own travel, these professionals are no longer needed. In an already job challenged age, apps have narrowed the job market even further.

 

"Mobile App & Site." Mobile Access. Southwest, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

http://www.southwest.com/html/air/products/mobile.html

Stellin, Susan. "Paper Is Out, Cellphones Are In." The New York Times. The New York

Times, 18 Mar. 2008. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

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"The Trouble with Using Your Phone to Board." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 17

Sept. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2012/09/mobile-boarding-passes

Yu, Roger. "USA TODAY Today in the Sky." Smartphones Have Changed the Way We Travel.

N.p., 10 Mar. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-03-05-airphones05_cv_n.htm

American Airlines/U.S. Airways Merger

The merger of American and U.S. Airways was thought to be weeks away, until they were notified the merger was put on hold. The U.S. Justice department decided to block the $11 billion deal that would benefit both airlines in the long run. Before the deal can go through, the U.S. Justice department have to approve the deal will not affect society as a whole. The merger would first have to go through several phases because of certain bankruptcy issues. According to the Huffington Post, American Airlines is ranked 3^rd and U.S. Airlines is ranked 5^th when comparing them to other large United States carriers. “When they merge, they will have 1665 combined routes.” The U.S. Justice department put a stop to the merger because they believe there will be too much control over these routes. They think the company will be able to charge as much as they want because of decreased competition. There is a possibility of this happening, but in today’s economy there still has to be logic when it comes to ticket prices. An airline does not want to lose customers because of sky rocketing prices.

According to Doug Parker, currently the CEO of U.S Airways, told the Senate panel “that the deal would be good for consumers by creating a bigger airline with service to more locations than either American or US Airways can offer on their own. It would be the world's biggest airline.” A larger airline would give the consumer a broader variety to choose from when they choose flights. This would take away some competition, but it would not create a non- competitive market like some believe. There are still other large airlines such as Delta, United and Southwest that compete against one another every day. There are companies such as Virgin America that have voiced their opinion against the merger. Virgin representatives say that “proposed deal between U.S. Airways and American would further solidify already considerable impediments to new entrants.”

If this merger is allowed to proceed, a big task for upper management will be to find the best way to merge the seniority employee list of both companies. They would try to repeat what has happened when U.S. Airways and America West merged many years ago. The almost 8 year old dispute has went on long enough, and has dates set to finalize a decision. According to  thestreet.com, “the two sides agreed to a binding arbitration, but the result was a controversial Nicolau ruling that strongly favored America West pilots.” This caused the U.S Airline pilots to leave the Airline Pilots Association and form the U.S. Airline Pilot Association. The entire process has been a headache so to speak, which has still not been finalized. If the new merger happens, finding ways for both sides of pilots to mutually agree on the merging of the seniority list will be a priority. Upper level management will need to learn from previous mistakes so their pilots are not divided.

 

 

Fairchild, Caroline. "American Airlines-U.S. Airways Merger Would Reduce Competition:

GAO." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 20 June 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/airline-merger-competition-gao_n_3471090.html

Koenig, David. "Local News." Challenge to US Airways-American Merger Sets up Legal Fight.

Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/08/13/4233445/justice-dept-challenges-us-airways.html#.UoFV9xYo7IU

Reed, Ted. "US Airways Pilots Look to Endgame in Seniority Dispute." The Street. N.p., 09

Aug. 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12004190/1/us-airways-pilots-look-to-end-game-in-seniority-dispute.html

Bartz, Diane, and Karen Jacobs. "Virgin Jumps Into Debate Over US Airways, American

Merger." Fox Business. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/investing/2013/11/11/virgin-jumps-into-debate-over-us-airways-american-merger/

Professionalism

 

           The aviation industry is held to a certain standard of professionalism. The general public expects the aviation industry to live up to these standards, with professionalism being important for success. Most of the people in the industry conduct themselves in a professional manner because it is what is expected. Professionalism is defined as any one person or company to hold themselves to a high level of standards. They will possess the correct skills, act appropriate, dress accordingly, follow rules/guidelines, be honest and ethical while providing good experiences for customers.

With the industry holding pilots to a high level of professional skills, I believe that professionalism is accomplished everyday with every successful flight. In the case of  U.S. Airways Airbus A320 that was in route from New York, NY to Charlotte, NC.,  ran into a flock of birds causing the aircraft to lose both engines. According to NBC News, “Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger of Danville, CA., floated the plane into the Hudson River, saving the lives of everyone on board.” Captain Sullenger conducted himself in the most professional manner possible under the circumstances. He did not panic, and used his skill set to save the lives of all passengers onboard. His choice may have not been the most popular decision, but it was the one that saved the lives of his passengers and crew.

There are many examples over the years of people in the aviation industry that have strayed from the expected professional behavior. The case that sticks out in my mind the most was the incident when the Southwest Airlines pilot accidently didn’t know his mic was stuck. He began to ramble on “about how his flight crews have been nothing but a bunch of gays, grannys, and grandes, which prevented him from being able to party and have fun.” This ended up being broadcast over an air traffic control frequency that was heard through out the greater part of Texas. Even though he did not mean for his words to be heard outside of the cockpit, it is still a case of unprofessionalism. It offended those that count on him daily and showed a moment of sheer weakness in his character. With the aviation industry already under a microscope, it cannot afford for an incident like this to happen. This incident made national news and added to the public’s negative perception of pilots in the industry.

As a student, I am trying to hone my professional skills for when the time comes that I am in the professional aviation world. First, by continually updating my resume, and collecting experience within the aviation industry and related logistic practices I am providing the most up to date information to my perspective employer. It will continue to change and become perfected as I gain new experience. I am continually updating my knowledge to any new laws and ordinances nationally, as well as within my state and city of employment. I am continually perfecting my people skills, remembering to always stay true to myself and the truth in every situation. I will try to remember not to exaggerate my capabilities or my qualifications. Also, remembering to treat my colleagues and my employees how I want to be treated. Never expecting someone to do something I am not willing to do myself. Looking them in the eye when I address them with respect for providing me with support. My grandfather always said, “I even treat the guy taking the garbage out daily with respect, because without him, I am taking the garbage out.”

None of us can plan for every situation that might arise within a day. All we can do is prepare mentally with resolutions to possible problems. By doing this the brain recognizes it has been there before and responds. My plan is to treat colleagues and those holding authoritative positions with respect, and by holding myself to a higher standard, both in thought and action.

 

 

Wilson, Simone. "Southwest Pilot Calls Flight Attendants 'Gays, Grannies and Grandes' on Plane

to SoCal, Forgets to Turn off Mic (AUDIO)." The Informer. N.p., 23 June 2011. Web. 04

Nov. 2013.

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/06/southwest_pilot_rant_gays_grannies.php

Msnbc. "N.Y. Jet Crash Called 'miracle on the Hudson'" Msnbc.com. N.p., 15 Jan. 2009. Web.

05 Nov. 2013. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28678669/

Smith, Steve. "Professionalism: A ‘Must Have’ For All Aviation Workers." AviationPros.com.

Ed. Dr. Bill Johnson. AviationPros, 21 Dec. 2011. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

http://www.aviationpros.com/article/10456996/ramp-workers-must-be-professionals-to-ensure-safety