Should we stop the industry and get off?

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Panama Jack
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Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by Panama Jack »

Isn’t it amazing how from all sides you get messages how bad everything is and then comments are usually pointing out why it happened because of someone else’s actions, failures or holding back. To top it off suggestions come that it may even become worse. So, what? Stop the World and get off?

Why are there so few to say what they themselves are going to do to make a difference and take action to make things better, and improve the industry or start new ventures?

Are there no more new ideas? No one willing to take on challenges? No pioniers or entrepreneurs? Isn’t there still something called future?

A prosperous future will not come with a “wait and see” attitude or let’s first see what others do or with a let's blame it on someone else attitude?

Who is taking action to improve the business? Please don’t come up with an answer how to change politics; politics doesn't give answers! Leave politics out of the discussion! Give comments how to improve the business. If this discussion box remains without comments, it could mean that there are no people with initiatives, ideas and courage anymore and maybe there wouldn't even be a future!
OK. I admit I wish I was cleaver enough to come up with such a battle cry. Actually, the author of this is one Cdr. Bud Slabbaert, with whom I network with on the internet. I wanted to share it because I thought it to be excellent food for thought, given some of the threads that we sometimes see here at AvCanada. For what its worth.
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Gannet167
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Re: Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by Gannet167 »

It's a nice notion. However, I doubt that the armies of business managers around the world in the aviation industry haven't already thought to themselves as they try to make money and increase shareholder value "hmmm, how can we do business better?" The industry is one that suffers dearly through economic hardship, generally makes small margins, is volatile and has massive start up costs and barriers to entry. It's a tough place to make money.

Robert Crandall, former CEO of American Airlines is famous for being honest and saying "I've never invested in any airline. I'm an airline manager. I don't invest in airlines. And I always said to the employees of American, 'This is not an appropriate investment. It's a great place to work and it's a great company that does important work. But airlines are not an investment.'"

A friend told me the joke "How do become a millionaire? Start off as a billionaire and then start up an airline."

I think the industry has made leaps and bounds of improvement. Look at the overall safety record compared to the early days, or even just 10 years ago - it's an incredible feat that flying in a metal tube in an environment where the human body can survive for about 30 seconds of misery at almost 1000 km/h to the other side of the world (while watching satellite tv, surfing the internet, enjoying a meal etc) is safer than jumping in your car to drive to the mall. Aviation is studied closely and hailed as a professional field that has developed a wonderfully effective culture of improvement and analysis of error. The professional medical world (which I have some disdain for) is only now starting to adopt the use of checklists (perhaps slow to adopt smart ideas because unlike pilots, when they screw up, they aren't the ones who die). The effectiveness of proper dynamics in the cockpit environment, culture of training and proficiency and professional knowledge are aspects that I wish the other professionals I deal with would adopt in their work. The technology of a 787, 380, F-35, Global, G650 etc. etc. etc. has come further than just about any other field of industry.

Overall, aviation has come a long way. Perhaps the competitiveness of the market place has driven the incentive for these advancements. But that volatile environment is what can suck about the industry. Unless you can affect the entire global economy, or perhaps eliminate some other form of transport to artificially force demand for air travel up, I don't really see the point of the battle cry. Perhaps some good public policy can facilitate the industry, but by and large it's a business that relies upon factors external to it (marketplace) and which it has no control over.
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bmc
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Re: Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by bmc »

Gannet...you nail it on the volatility: fuel prices, terrorism, global economy, taxation, user charges. Government ownership of airlines is yet another problem for the industry insofar as profitability isn't always a key driver, often resulting in subsidized airlines, over capacity chasing too few passengers.

Have a look at this pdf. At 87 pages, it's a long read. But it outlines a vision for 2050. The process drew a diverse group fo people to craft their vision of the industry around four pillars:

Structuring for profitability
Sufficient and efficient infrastructure
Sustainable technology to power the industry
Capability to meet the needs of the customer of the future

http://www.iata.org/about/Documents/vision-2050.pdf

Pass this to the commander.

This kind of visioning will drive innovative thinking.
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Post by Beefitarian »

I think there will be some impressive innovations in the near future long as the young people starting up have. A dad to finance the venture and a mom to guide them through every minute detail while doing their chores and making them chocolate milk.
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bmc
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Re: Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by bmc »

Here's an example of innovation that could very well have far reaching implications:

http://www.solarimpulse.com/
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zero
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Re: Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by zero »

Well said Gannet. :prayer:
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slowstream
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Re: Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by slowstream »

I think they're a loads of new ideas out there than can improve the world, the industry, people and the world.

Like the solar powered aircraft, the Quebec company thats launching new airships to lift heavy cargo in the north.

But being a pragmatist I also agree that incomplete or faulty business plans, fuel prices, taxes, availability or access to capital for financing can be daunting and squash many ideas before they even get off of the drawing board, which is too bad.

I personally think its much more difficult to get new ideas going in these economic times and thus I think people tend to find many more reasons to say why it can't be done or that it can't be done. Again I think this is sad for many reasons and people; I grew up in a time when leaders said "don't ask what what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". Kennedy who also said we will launch a man to the moon within the decade, not knowing if it could be done but NASA knew what had to be done. I guess my point is that the 50's & 60's albeit had its challenges too, but it had much more vision, much less bureaucracy and B.S to overcome; there was more of a can do attitude back then............. I think.

I applaud those with the vision, the determination and the ability to launch new programs, new ideas and new products in these times, what obstacles they have to overcome!
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FL_CH
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Re: Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by FL_CH »

We don't have to beat Russians any more, and "Terror" isn't quite the same enemy.

Time for a new Cold War?
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Re: Should we stop the industry and get off?

Post by iflyforpie »

The biggest innovation in aviation has been around for a while. It's called 'yield management' and is why there is even an airline industry at all...


Image
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Geez did I say that....? Or just think it....?
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