NTSB Most Wanted

1) Two of the 10 most wanted list by the NTSB involved aviation.  Those two were “Improve Safety of Airport Surface Operations” and “Improve General Aviation.” I like the idea of the general aviation idea. This states that general aviation accidents have been increasing due to the fact that pilots either lack training or skills required for the weather that they are experiencing.  It also mentions that new technology such as “glass” cockpits adds even more difficulty to a bad situation. 

2) I believe that these topics made the list because they are considered by the NTSB to be the most significant problem.  For that reason, I feel like these issues should have made the list.  I would suggest that the NTSB should divide the list up by the type of transportation.  That way they can focus on more topics for each transportation type. 

3) I believe that the jobs created by these two topics would be a training position.  Someone who would instruct pilots about the risks of falling behind the learning curve.  I also believe that a possible analyst position could be created and  maybe studies can be done on how to reduce these occurrences. 

The Wrong Airport....?

In August 2012 United Express Flight 4049 landed at the wrong airport.  It was supposed to land in Clarksburg, WV but instead landed at an airport almost 10 miles away.  Is this a human factor, an issue with equipment or just plain irresponsibility? 

Making a mistake like this can cause a catastrophic event that could take hundreds of lives.  Runways could be shorter or not made to withstand loads that some airplanes require.  This is the safety aspect of the issue but mistakes like this could also cause serious financial liability for the company and the crew involved.  

I believe that there is not an identifiable reason for these landings at the wrong airport.  I believe that it is a result of many latent failures starting at the top with management.   The only way to correct these occurrences in my opinion is to review the entire operation and identify issues within.  

I definitely agree that the pilots in these events be suspended until a full investigation is done! I think this is necessary because it could very well be just laziness or irresponsibility that caused the problem. Everything must be ruled out before they are allowed to go back to work. 

As a management major I feel that everyone deserves a fair chance to prove themselves and management has a lot to do with these mistakes that are being made whether they want to believe that or not.

Introduction

My name is Jonathan C. Avery and I am a senior in the Aviation Management Technology program at Eastern Michigan University.  I started at EMU after serving having served six years in the U.S. Navy.  Most people hear me say that and think that I am no longer in the navy but I am in fact still active duty.  Once I finish my degree at EMU I will continue on as an active duty sailor in the Navy and will begin a master’s program in the field of Management.

My interest in aviation began at a young age when my uncle took me for a ride for my seventh birthday in his airplane.  I always enjoyed watching airplanes and dreaming of flying before that but ever since that day I could not wait to begin flying myself.  My dream was realized in April of 2008 when I began flight lessons in Chesapeake, VA.  I earned my pilots license a year later and then was selected for a scholarship program to attend at EMU. 

            My plans for the future are to retire from the Navy and to one day be an airport manager of a small airport somewhere out west.  I want to make aviation a large part of my life but for now I have to tend to my career in the Navy.  My goals will most likely evolve in a few years but for now I am satisfied with the idea of leading a quiet life as an airport manager after I retire from the Navy.