Sheffield School of Aeronautics Blog

If you are taking to the sky soon for an upcoming trip, one of the first things on your mind is likely the recent coronavirus outbreak. Recently renamed as COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the coronavirus has many people paranoid as subway riders in New York City and travelers in international airports are starting to sport face masks. With so much paranoia in the air, the best thing to do is be smart – whether you’re a traveler, pilot, or aircraft dispatcher. Our experienced crew at our South Florida aviation school are happy to give you peace of mind by discussing how to avoid catching the coronavirus while flying.

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Sometimes, you might not opt for travel insurance because you don’t want to spend the extra bucks, so you take your chances. However, in case you have purchased travel insurance, you’re most likely reconsidering your travel plans amidst the recent coronavirus outbreak, reviewing your insurance policy to see if it covers possible cancellations or even rescheduling. Recently renamed “COVID-19” (coronavirus disease 2019) by the World Health Organization (WHO)^[1], the pandemic has spread to 24 other countries outside of China over the past couple of months. The experienced crew at our Fort Lauderdale aviation school share more details on whether travel insurance covers the coronavirus concern or not. 

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At the dawn of a new decade, industry predictions are derivative of trends and current events of the year before. For instance, in 2019, Swedish environmentalists started an anti-flying movement to highlight the negative impact air travel has on the environment. In 2020, private aircraft owners and commercial airlines will need to seriously consider a sustainability plan to reduce their carbon footprint. Our aviation crew at the Sheffield School of Aeronautics breaks down a new industry trend in aviation: flight-shaming. 

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Recently, Toyota invested $349 million in a flying taxis business venture with startup Joby Aviation. The Santa Cruz-based company is looking to manufacture electric air taxis that transport passengers over gridlocked highways and city streets. Toyota’s recent investment in Joby Aviation brings the startup’s total investment to $720 million, ^[1]  making it the top-funded electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company in a thriving sub-industry where the company must meet major aviation regulations and address matters of passenger safety and noise.

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It’s no secret that carbon emissions from transportation are the main culprits in harming our planet’s ecosystem. While cars and trains are advancing in green, electric power to maintain a sustainable environment, the aviation industry is still falling behind. Although air travel is responsible for over 2% of global carbon emissions^[1], it’s projected aviation emissions could take up 27% of the world’s carbon budget to maintain the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.^[2] Airlines like Etihad are trying to find new ways to cut down on fossil fuel that aircraft are heavily dependent on. Many wonder if there is a future for sustainable, eco-friendly planes.

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Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the organizations selected to help the agency in improving test administration requirements for recreational Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones aeronautical knowledge and safety test. The federal agency is pursuing these efforts to improve the large portion of drone operations and its public safety.

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Boeing will suspend 737 Max production after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would not approve of its return to service before 2020. While still struggling to receive approval from other international regulators to get the 737 Max off the ground, Boeing executives and board members are on the brink of making one of the most major decisions in the centennial company’s history.

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credit: Pioneer Hall of Fame

The 31^st Annual International Women in Aviation Conference will be held March 5-7, 2020 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida to honor the 2020 inductees. The Class of 2020 are women who’ve made momentous contributions as record setters, pioneers, or innovators. These individuals or groups have either helped other women become successful in the aviation industry or have paved the way with more opportunities for other women. Our aviation crew at the Sheffield School of Aeronautics are happy to report on the 2020 inductees to the Women in Aviation Hall of Fame.

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Shipping and supply vessel giant, Maersk, endured almost half a billion dollars in losses back in 2017 when their systems were infected by the NotPetya sabotageware. However, Maersk was not the target of the cyber-attack; so, how could this problem affect the aviation industry? Yes, the Maersk attack impacted the company, not its aircraft, but security researcher, Chris Kubecka, recently reported cybersecurity risks in aviation extend to planes in the air. Supporting Kubecka’s findings was Atlantic Council’s recent report on the current state of aviation cybersecurity, and our experienced crew at the aircraft dispatching school go into detail on how addressing aviation cybersecurity in the industry is imperative.

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Have you ever been on an airplane just before takeoff, as the pilot instructs passengers to turn on “airplane mode” over the PA system, and you notice another passenger engrossed in a video call on their smartphone? This happens too often even though flight attendants always ask travelers to turn off phone connectivity for everyone’s safety. Flight attendants don’t ask passengers to do this for their health; according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), “cell phones should be in airplane mode or with cellular service disabled – i.e., no signal bars displayed—and cannot be used for voice communications based on FCC regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using cell phones.” ^[1] However, a recent survey by AT&T’s All Home Connections shows that most passengers ignore phone safety on airplanes, despite FCC rules.

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