This Season
 
  • For years, the government restricted non-military uses of the Global Positioning System. Developed in the 1970s, the system moved into the civilian world in the 1980s, but the military blurred the…

  • Careers in the aviation industry can be dynamic and rewarding. Possible positions include airline pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers. Employment opportunities exist both in the private…

  • The center of gravity (cg) is the point where the airplane would balance if it were suspended on a fulcrum. Loading bags, cargo, fuel and people takes care and planning to ensure the airplane is not…

  • For the safety of pilots and passengers on commercial aircraft, oxygen cylinders, or bottles, must be inspected and hydrostatically tested every three to five years depending on the type of bottle.…

  • Aviation topics can span several categories, and contain several subsets. Your topic should cater to your presentation audience; college students may be interested in career opportunities in…

  • In popular culture, Philadelphia is known as many things. It is the City of Brotherly Love and the Cradle of Liberty, the birthplace of the U.S. Constitution and was the nation's first capital. Given…

  • Aviation engine oil is the lifeblood of an aircraft engine. Engine oil lubricates the engine's moving parts and helps reduce friction. Pilots should use the proper type of engine oil to increase the…

  • The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, requires supplemental oxygen on un-pressurized aircraft in two circumstances. Pilots must activate the oxygen supply within 30 minutes of flying above…

  • Aircraft engine manufacturers and overhaulers recommend the use of mineral oil during the engine break-in process. Two types of aviation mineral oil are straight weight and ashless dispersant, or AD,…

  • When a commercial aircraft is in distress, the job of the emergency locator transmitter, or ELT, is to emit a signal to satellites. This notification utilizes radio frequencies to communicate with…

  • When sitting in the right seat of an aircraft -- the front seat next to the pilot's seat -- you see a variety of radios and communication equipment. You must attach a headset to access this equipment.…

  • On-board diagnostic systems alert mechanics to engine problems. This can aid in the longevity of multimillion-dollar commercial fleets. The technology began to evolve shortly after World War II as…

  • There are two main types of jet fuel used for commercial turbine engines. The vast majority of turbine engines use a kerosene type of fuel, labeled Jet A-1 or Jet A. A blended kerosene and gasoline…

  • Rivets secure aircraft structures and parts all over an airplane. They are one of the most important and fasteners and are used on installations that need to be secure and permanent. But they will…

  • Aviation simulators give pilots-in-training a place where they can experience flight-like circumstances and make decisions that are similar to what they would have to make in a cockpit, but without…

  • The aviation industry has seen a significant increase in the development of advanced cockpit technologies, benefiting both large airliners and smaller general aviation aircraft. However, all pilots…

  • An independent authority established under Australian law, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) functions with a mission to enhance and promote aviation safety for Australia and all Australian…

  • The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is responsible for the United States' aerospace system, with offices concerning commercial space transportation, aircraft, airports, aviation safety and…

  • Air travel has had increased security, especially since September 11, 2001, as governments and aviation companies have to worry about terrorists hijacking an airplane or setting off a bomb in it. Due…

  • There is no question a plan crash is a terrifying ordeal. But according to the FAA, 56 percent of people in an airplane accident will survive. What you do before, during, and after a crash can…

  • Aircraft accidents are many times caused by communication problems. Krifka, et al. (2003) states that "Factors related to interpersonal communication have been implicated in up to 80 percent of all…

  • Aviation tools and equipment play a role in the building, maintaining and servicing of aircrafts. You can find these tools, which are normally small in relation to the equipment, in the hangar where…

  • Aviation accidents are tragic events that can take human lives and cause millions of dollars in damage. Specific agencies in each country are empowered to investigate aviation accidents.

  • The aviation industry is divided into several parts. There are recreational aircraft, sold or leased; business aircraft; military procurement; and commercial transport aircraft. In the commercial…

  • Jet plane technologies and markets have come a long way since the first jet aircraft--the He-178--took to the skies in 1939. Today's highly efficient jet engines power both military and commercial…

  • The Cessna Citation X is the fastest production civilian aircraft. The Citation X has Rolls Royce engines capable of speeds of Mach .92 or 972 km per hour. As of 2010, Citation X jets have taken off…

  • Aviation security measures provide safety for airplane passengers and for the rest of the country. Since the foiled terrorist attempt on an American plane in December 2009, aviation security…

  • When most people think of the aviation industry, the first jobs they might think of are pilots, air hostesses, or aviation engineers. However, the truth is that there are many types of jobs…

  • Some forms of transportation such as general aviation aircraft utilize internal combustion engines that run on 24-volt electrical systems. Because of this, most portable devices designed to be powered…

  • Air travel is an integral part of Alaska's transportation system. Owing to its remote, often-inaccessible towns, Alaska has more licensed pilots per capita than any other U.S. state, according to the…

  • The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) was established in 1975 to enhance the authority of the secretary of Transportation to regulate the transportation of hazardous materials. The…

  • Pilots wear headsets when flying to help them communicate with air traffic controllers and with passengers in the aircraft, and to protect their hearing from the noisy aircraft environment. Headsets…

  • Aviation engineering is the use of science and mathematics for all kinds of purposes in the area of flight, such as through engineering and maintaining planes. It is a broad career path with many jobs…

  • When traveling with a child on a large commercial airliner or small general aviation plane, there are easy and reasonable measures that you can take to improve the child's safety.

  • A pilot uses a plotter, a specialized ruler, to plan VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights with a sectional chart. He begins the planning phase of a flight by drawing his intended course on this aviation…

  • Pilots, flight crews and passengers face myriad aviation safety issues ranging from the smallest civilian aircraft to Boeing 777s. Maintenance, weather and pilot judgment all play a part in aviation…

  • The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) provides members of the aviation community with a confidential, voluntary and non-punitive incident reporting system known as the…

  • The aviation industry makes safety its main priority. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States Department of Transportation is the main controlling body for ensuring safe…

  • There are a variety of alternative energy sources that could be used in aviation--in fact, some are already in use with existing technology. Among these alternative energy sources, Fischer-Tropsch…