Post by Jetta Windstar on Jan 20, 2012 1:50:36 GMT -8
All though it's only been a week of school, I've already got a full load of work. This is only so long because I need to vent and also boast about how interesting these classes are while trying to emphasize that all though time consuming, I AM in fact looking forward to each of them except the math. This semester is going to be a fun one with the exception of math like usual...but I've finally moved onto my last required math class. I just hope I can survive it. It's APPLIED Calculus. I need new tutors. I must have the one on one time.
My aviation classes are interesting ones. I'm going to list the three of em out and give a bit of info on each so yall get an idea of why I'll be so busy again xD. These are all very technical classes in their own ways.
Airport Operations -- This focuses on the air side of an airport. This class will focus on airport planning and a bit of management as well. We will have to make our own airport plan by the end of the class. Other than the project there are no tests but there are pass/fail quizzes based on completion that we take with every class about the units we've read.
Aircraft Accident Investigation -- its simply about what the title is. It's gonna be a straight forward class with a midterm and a final, nothing more. The text use is damn good though, its the same text that the FAA and the NTSB use for their training! Stuff covered is: an introduction to aircraft accident investigations, a bit about US Investigations, international investigations, field investigations, wreckage distribution, accident photography/diagrams, fire investigations, structural investigation/reciprocating engines, propellers: the turbine engine, aircraft systems&cockpit instruments, light bulb analysis & tires and runway accidents, mid air collisions, aircraft recorders & ATC recorders, computers & simulators/Ops and Maintenance, the airfield/ATC/& weather, witnesses, human factors (fun subject), helicopter accident investigations, downwash and wingtip vortex hazards, loss of performance, ground operation hazards, loads and stresses, icing, high speed flight, structural failure, crash survivability.
Air Transportation Seminar (Capstone class) -- This is the one that will take a lot of time out of my schedule other than math. Not so worried about this one. This class is geared for the Professional Pilots and Technology/Management majors at UAA. The subject changes every semester, and revolves mostly around setting up a class presentation which "big name" people from UAA and even the FAA or people from local airlines are going to attend on the final presentation date. Our class is revolving around the New/Next Generation navigational technology (ADS-B and GPS) that is going to be implemented by 2020.
As a group being directly affected by the current air traffic system and navigational tech being used, we have to discuss as a class how this will affect us and cost not just the Airlines but General Aviation as we know since that is how just about everyone starts out when they get involved with the aviation industry. This implementation intends to replace about 50 percent of our ground based navigational tech with satellite-based tech. This allows more accurate readings for ATC and pilots, which promotes efficiency for traffic, increased return on investment, and saves fuel/fuel costs drastically. Our problem revolves around those areas in the US that are not ready to transition or can't afford this new technology, and this also implies that the rest of the globe may not be ready for such changes either for the same reasons. We also have to consider the challenges we will face by going through this gradual process up to 2020: what happens if the satellites fail, what backups do we have? What incentives can we push to get people in more rural areas to purchase this new technology? What I'm concerned about as far as challenges go is what will we do if this new tech becomes faulty when satellite reception quality is limited: i say again, what do we have for back up if many of hte old ground based navigation systems we are used to will be decommissioned?
We also have to consider how this transition will affect issues/goals such as improving the airway system as well traffic/congestion. We have to examine ALL this and come up with a presentation as a class by the end of the semester. We have not been given the requirements as to how we are to go about doing this, but our professor has told us that a LOT of outside meetings as a class will be required.
She also has assigned us two papers to do, the first one is due by the 31st. The topic I am required to discuss is six major challenges the aviation industry faces today, both short and long term - so 3 for each. Some of the things that I might talk about are:
*ATC workloads/fatigue
*Pressure to reduce noise
*Airport expansion and impacts
*FAA issues
*Revamp ATC system
*Security funding
*New Generation equipment (the class project)
*Climate management
So yeah...lots to juggle
. I'm not sure if ill be able to pass everything, I hope I can...
Once again, please understand that because of these classes and the reading/work i have to do for them, that I will not be online much until May hits...I know yall have been understanding of this in the past. College is the reason why I'm not focusing on art much right now anyway. I'm feeling drained from the start of this week. I hope I can get it together and plow through this stuff :/. As motivating as most of these classes are, I'm still rather tired of this school crap and I'm trying to push through it for my own benefit. At least there's spring break to look forward to.
I will definitely not be able to post in every single thread nightly, or maybe even weekly, and for that I apologize. I will keep my involvement down until I have more time.
My aviation classes are interesting ones. I'm going to list the three of em out and give a bit of info on each so yall get an idea of why I'll be so busy again xD. These are all very technical classes in their own ways.
Airport Operations -- This focuses on the air side of an airport. This class will focus on airport planning and a bit of management as well. We will have to make our own airport plan by the end of the class. Other than the project there are no tests but there are pass/fail quizzes based on completion that we take with every class about the units we've read.
Aircraft Accident Investigation -- its simply about what the title is. It's gonna be a straight forward class with a midterm and a final, nothing more. The text use is damn good though, its the same text that the FAA and the NTSB use for their training! Stuff covered is: an introduction to aircraft accident investigations, a bit about US Investigations, international investigations, field investigations, wreckage distribution, accident photography/diagrams, fire investigations, structural investigation/reciprocating engines, propellers: the turbine engine, aircraft systems&cockpit instruments, light bulb analysis & tires and runway accidents, mid air collisions, aircraft recorders & ATC recorders, computers & simulators/Ops and Maintenance, the airfield/ATC/& weather, witnesses, human factors (fun subject), helicopter accident investigations, downwash and wingtip vortex hazards, loss of performance, ground operation hazards, loads and stresses, icing, high speed flight, structural failure, crash survivability.
Air Transportation Seminar (Capstone class) -- This is the one that will take a lot of time out of my schedule other than math. Not so worried about this one. This class is geared for the Professional Pilots and Technology/Management majors at UAA. The subject changes every semester, and revolves mostly around setting up a class presentation which "big name" people from UAA and even the FAA or people from local airlines are going to attend on the final presentation date. Our class is revolving around the New/Next Generation navigational technology (ADS-B and GPS) that is going to be implemented by 2020.
As a group being directly affected by the current air traffic system and navigational tech being used, we have to discuss as a class how this will affect us and cost not just the Airlines but General Aviation as we know since that is how just about everyone starts out when they get involved with the aviation industry. This implementation intends to replace about 50 percent of our ground based navigational tech with satellite-based tech. This allows more accurate readings for ATC and pilots, which promotes efficiency for traffic, increased return on investment, and saves fuel/fuel costs drastically. Our problem revolves around those areas in the US that are not ready to transition or can't afford this new technology, and this also implies that the rest of the globe may not be ready for such changes either for the same reasons. We also have to consider the challenges we will face by going through this gradual process up to 2020: what happens if the satellites fail, what backups do we have? What incentives can we push to get people in more rural areas to purchase this new technology? What I'm concerned about as far as challenges go is what will we do if this new tech becomes faulty when satellite reception quality is limited: i say again, what do we have for back up if many of hte old ground based navigation systems we are used to will be decommissioned?
We also have to consider how this transition will affect issues/goals such as improving the airway system as well traffic/congestion. We have to examine ALL this and come up with a presentation as a class by the end of the semester. We have not been given the requirements as to how we are to go about doing this, but our professor has told us that a LOT of outside meetings as a class will be required.
She also has assigned us two papers to do, the first one is due by the 31st. The topic I am required to discuss is six major challenges the aviation industry faces today, both short and long term - so 3 for each. Some of the things that I might talk about are:
*ATC workloads/fatigue
*Pressure to reduce noise
*Airport expansion and impacts
*FAA issues
*Revamp ATC system
*Security funding
*New Generation equipment (the class project)
*Climate management
So yeah...lots to juggle
. I'm not sure if ill be able to pass everything, I hope I can...Once again, please understand that because of these classes and the reading/work i have to do for them, that I will not be online much until May hits...I know yall have been understanding of this in the past. College is the reason why I'm not focusing on art much right now anyway. I'm feeling drained from the start of this week. I hope I can get it together and plow through this stuff :/. As motivating as most of these classes are, I'm still rather tired of this school crap and I'm trying to push through it for my own benefit. At least there's spring break to look forward to.
I will definitely not be able to post in every single thread nightly, or maybe even weekly, and for that I apologize. I will keep my involvement down until I have more time.
