September 11, 2001 is a devastating day that shook the entire world. The fateful day made its mark in history and changed the world with it. Along with the incredible loss of life and the devastated loved ones, September 11th had a large impact on many other entities, especially in the United States. The aviation world, in particular, had to make many adjustments after that horrible, chaotic day changed everything.
How September 11th Changed Aviation
As an aeronautics school, we too felt some of the effects from the aviation changes following September 11th. Most notably and recognizable were the many changes in airport security. Security became much stricter and involved many new regulations that you are probably already familiar with. Items that could be used as weapons were banned from flight, cockpit doors were reinforced, and the Department of Homeland Security was created.
Although the changes in security may have appeared to be the most drastic, the changes in aviation after 9/11 didn’t stop there. There were plenty aviation changes following September 11th that took place behind the scenes.
Not surprisingly, air travel in general dropped immediately following September 11th. It is estimated that $23 billion dollars in revenue were lost until 2003.1 With passing time, these number increased until the recession hit, and numbers falters once more until finally rebounding in recent years.
These drops in revenue for the airline hit the industry hard. Other changes in aviation after 9/11 involved employment. Two years after that day, the number of US passenger airline employees decreased by 14.6% and stopped decreasing ten years later in 2011.2 With all the lost revenue, airlines need to cut back on costs which included the number of employees.
On September 11th itself, the grounded and cancelled flights created a logistical nightmare for pilots, air traffic controllers, and aircraft dispatchers. Flight plans were changed, the Federal Aviation Administration scrambled, and new restrictions were debated. In the days and weeks following, there were temporary flight restrictions and talk of increasing permanent prohibited airspace. With stricter regulations, the importance of good and comprehensive flight plans only grew, and with it came necessary changes in airline pilot, air traffic controller, and flight dispatcher training.
At Sheffield School of Aeronautics, we were at the forefront of some of these educational changes. As an FAA approved knowledge testing center, we had to the most up-to-date information on changes in flight plans, new regulations, and changing requirements affecting the aviation industry. If you are looking at dispatcher schools, look no further than us.
Sources:
- Business Insider- 13 Ways The U.S. Airline Industry Has Changed Since 9/11
- IATA- The Impact of September 11 2001 on Aviation
