aviation policy

In this episode of "Uplink: The Big Story," we dive into FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker's illuminating testimony before lawmakers. This session provides a unique lens on the intricacies of American aviation management and future directives under his leadership.

Key Discussion Points:

Whitaker's Capitol Hill Briefing: An overview of FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker's recent testimony, highlighting his insights on the state of American aviation and the challenges ahead.

Pilot Retirement Age Debate: Exploring the critical discussion around adjusting the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 65 to 67, a change with significant implications for the industry.

DEI Initiatives in Aviation: Analyzing the impact and importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts within the aviation sector, amidst ongoing debates on their efficacy and implementation.

Immigration and Airport Utilization: Delving into the controversial use of airports for housing immigrants as part of the broader border crisis, examining the logistical, ethical, and political dimensions of this issue.

Honorable Mentions:

Helicopter Noise Over New Jersey: Addressing community concerns and regulatory responses to helicopter noise pollution in New Jersey areas.

Expanding GI Bill for Veteran Training: Discussing the potential benefits of extending GI Bill provisions to support veteran training in aviation careers, fostering growth and opportunity.

Vaccine Mandates and Workforce Shortages: Evaluating how vaccine mandates have impacted workforce dynamics within the aviation industry, particularly in the context of ongoing shortages.

FAA Technological Modernization: Highlighting the urgent need for updates and improvements in FAA's technological infrastructure to meet current and future aviation demands.

Conclusion:

Wrapping up, we emphasize the importance of Whitaker's testimony as a roadmap for navigating the evolving landscape of American aviation. These discussions not only reflect the current state but also forecast the trajectory of regulatory, operational, and ethical considerations shaping the industry's future.

Key Moments:

0:00 - 0:31 - Introduction to the episode, highlighting the focus on Michael Whitaker's testimony before lawmakers regarding the state of American aviation.

0:31 - 1:02 - Overview of the challenges facing the FAA, including pilot mental health, Boeing issues, workforce dilemmas, and the safety culture.

1:02 - 1:28 - Dive into the nuanced topics like the pilot retirement age, work from home rules for air traffic controllers, and DEI initiatives.

1:28 - 1:57 - Discussion on the controversial use of airports for housing immigrants, honorable mentions on various aviation-related issues.

1:57 - 2:25 - The critical need for modernizing FAA's technological infrastructure and a summary of the episode's forthcoming discussions.

2:25 - 2:39 - Transition to the main content of the episode.

3:21 - 3:56 - Background on Michael Whitaker and his roles and responsibilities at the FAA.

3:56 - 8:37 - Detailed discussion on the pilot retirement age debate.

8:37 - 10:39 - Examination of work-from-home policies for air traffic controllers and the related challenges.

10:39 - 12:56 - Analysis of DEI initiatives in aviation and their impact on the industry.

12:56 - 15:50 - The FAA's role in the border crisis and housing of immigrants at airports.

15:50 - 21:28 - The necessity of wide oversight to run the FAA and the various challenges discussed.

21:28 - 22:18 - Closing remarks on the complexities of Whitaker's role and listener engagement invitation. The conversation continues. Join the Uplink—LinkUp  and Uplink—LinkUp: DC Metro

In 2018, I was invited to be a speaker at a conference in the Midwest. Before I got on the stage to present my keynote, the session before me was talking about a new concept that I remember briefly hearing about as a student at Embry-Riddle, Advance Air Mobility (AAM). The speaker mentioned how AAM is the future of aviation, and that it will revolutionize air travel as we know it.

AAM is known as the development, integration, and utilization of new airborne transportation systems, typically involving electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, drones, and other innovative aerial vehicles. These systems are designed to operate in urban, suburban, and rural environments. Since that conference in 2018, so many developments have transpired in this sector.

Key Features of the AAM sectors include;

• eVTOLs: These are aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter but transition to forward flight like a plane, predominantly powered by electric propulsion.
• Urban Air Mobility (UAM): A subset of AAM focusing on urban environments. UAM seeks to alleviate ground traffic congestion by taking advantage of the airspace above cities.
• Decentralized Infrastructure: Instead of large central airports, AAM emphasizes smaller vertiports or landing pads scattered throughout urban and suburban areas.
• Autonomous Operations: While initial operations may have human pilots, the goal for many AAM solutions is to eventually operate autonomously, which will require advanced autonomous flight systems and robust air traffic management solutions.

The AAM sector on a global scale was valued at $8.2 billion in 2022. It is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20% by 2032 with a valuation to reach about $68.1 billion. Furthermore, investments in AAM have reached $4.8 billion in 2021, with new innovative companies launching each year in pursuit of the next successful eVTOL to hit the market. Specifically, there are over 200 companies globally in the race to develop eVTOL aircraft. The primary driver in the AAM sector is the Urban Air Mobility market which is projected to rise from 3.8 billion to 38.5 billion by 2030.

In terms of women in this sector, McKinsey & Company shared on its blog this year how women are advancing in Future Air Mobility (FAM). Here are a few key points the blog shared.

• Sustainable aviation saw the biggest improvement in gender diversity, with the number of women and nonbinary people increasing from 13 percent to 18 percent.
• Other segments, including manned advanced air mobility/eVTOL vehicles and small drones, showed smaller gains.
• Companies that develop supersonic and hypersonic technology regressed, with the number of women and nonbinary people falling from 23 percent to 20 percent, although the small sample size means that the departure of a few senior leaders could sway the numbers in a meaningful way.
• Among regions, North America has the most diverse leadership teams in both gender (20 percent female or nonbinary) and ethnic diversity—defined as the non-majority group in a company’s home country (18 percent).
• Technical roles have seen the biggest increase in diversity for both genders (going from 5 percent to 14 percent female or nonbinary) and people from ethnic minorities (going from 12 percent to 16 percent).
• Despite this progress, women and nonbinary people remain significantly underrepresented in technical roles at FAM companies, as they are in many other industries.

Our special guest who will launch us into season five of the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast is Elan Head, a familiar voice in AAM. Elan is an award-winning journalist specializing in aviation and technology. Head currently serves as the Senior Editor at The Air Current and continues to be a respected journalist in the industry covering several developments and breaking news in AAM. Elan is a Commercial Helicopter Pilot and an FAA Gold Seal flight instructor with helicopter and instrument helicopter ratings. Elan joins us to share her unexpected start in aviation and how she turned her passion for flight and journalism into a career that she truly enjoys.