Crisis Management

TOPIC: CRISIS MANAGEMENT

LEVEL: DIFFICULT

Crisis management (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_management ) is a relatively new field of management that has gained major importance over the last years and made its way into corporate structures – airline structures included. Successful crisis management requires forecasting potential crises and planning how to address them, identifying the causes and nature of the current crisis, utilizing strategies to minimize the impact and stimulating recovery.

… Continue Reading

Aviation Quiz

AVIATION QUIZ

1. Many people have broken the sound barrier while driving. Who was the first person to break it in a level flight?

a) Chuck Yeager

b) Scott Crossfield

c) Wilbur Wright

d) Neil Armstrong

2. What do you hear when somebody says something while you are travelling faster than the speed of sound?

a) Nothing at all

b) A sonic boom

c) Since you are travelling faster than the speed of sound you hear words back words

d) You hear what is being said because the air inside the aircraft is travelling at the same speed as you.

3. What Does ICAO stand for?

a) International Civil Aviation Organization

b) Intense Civil Aviation Operations

c) Interstate Civil Aviation Organization

d) Interstate Civil Aviation Operations

… Continue Reading

Structures

TOPIC: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AND PEOPLE

LEVEL: EASY

Read the introductory text about the organizational structure of Southwest Airlines. Compare it to the conventional organizational chart some bigger airlines have implemented (below) and a general approach to structure (see text below):

… Continue Reading

Innovative Airlines

TOPIC: INNOVATIVE AIRLINES

LEVEL: easy

1. Read the text about some of the innovative ideas in aviation business following links for additional reading material.

 Innovative ideas in aviation business, as experience shows, can either be a great source of income or a never-ending source of criticism. Lately many airlines have been focusing on “innovative ideas” that would help them climb out of recession (http://www.eyefortravel.com/news/airlines/ryanair-responds-criticism-stresses-its-customer-service ), and they hardly had anything to do with their customers’ comfort. 2010, however, looks very promising, with a few brilliant ideas that might actually fly.

… Continue Reading

How Air Force One Works

Air Force One is a prominent symbol of the United States in general and the office of the presidency in particular. Whenever the president travels overseas or across the country, he takes his high-tech deluxe jumbo jet with him. On September 11th, the president's plane showed that it was much more than an executive jet — it became a mobile bunker when all ground positions seemed vulnerable to attack.

In this edition of HowStuffWorks, we'll see what sets Air Force One apart from other planes, and we'll find out what it takes to send the president around the world. With all of the things that Air Force One carries, it's no wonder the media calls it the "flying White House."

… Continue Reading

Airline Staffing

TOPIC: AIRLINE STAFFING TRENDS

LEVEL: DIFFICULT

Read the introductory text about the new airline staffing trends and the general employment situation in the airline industry. Follow links to get access to additional material.

Air travel is no longer romanticized as something glamorous, stewardesses are now called “flight attendants” and you will hardly see anyone dressing up for a flight.

Some airlines hiring former police officers or fire fighters as crew members – is yet another sign of the changing times. http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/08/06/jetblue-recruiting-new-york-cops-and-fire-fighters-as-flight-att/

… Continue Reading

Flight Attendants: The Glamour is Gone?

Flight attendants once reflected the glamour of air travel, serving four-course meals, chatting with passengers and globetrotting. Now with lower pay, greater responsibilities and little respect, they are the public face of a stressed-out airline industry.

… Continue Reading

Taking Responsibility

TOPIC: TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

LEVEL: EASY

Read the introductory text about the disruption of flights in April 2010.

It seems like the start of 2010 was all about the U.K. and its airline industry, first bringing severe weather and along with it – flight cancellations, then BA strike, and continuing with the volcano eruption in April that effectively grounded all non-emergency flights in Britain following a flight ban, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated at airports. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/apr/15/volcano-airport-disruption-iceland.

… Continue Reading

Best Hotels

Best hotels

Aim

·         Practice English skills in an aviation context

·         Practice vocabulary/discussion on hotel amenities

·         Have fun!

Link to website http://airporthotelguru.com/

Today, let’s visit Airport Hotel Guru! Airport Hotel Guru is a cleverly designed website dedicated to – you guessed it – airport hotels. The best of them, that is. But as is explained on the website, not every hotel with ‘airport’ in its name qualifies as an airport hotel. To be considered, an establishment must meet at least of these criteria:

• Offer a free airport shuttle that takes no more than 20 minutes to travel between the airport and the hotel
• Be no more than an 8 minute taxi or train ride away from the hotel
• Be within a 15 minute walk from the baggage claim 

… Continue Reading

Aircraft Interiors

TOPIC: Aircraft Interiors

GOAL: To learn about aircraft interior design and the economics of passenger comfort

Level: Medium

Exercise #1: Read about aircraft interior design and then proceed to Exercise #2

Not too long ago, LAN Airlines’ passengers began enjoying the carrier’s new Premium Business Class seating. LAN offers this new Premium Business service on long-haul flights between North and South America and all other flights operating Boeing 767-300 aircraft in the fleet. Despite rising fuel costs that have seen its fuel bills more than triple over the last few years, LAN airlines is spending US$100 million on this new premium service. Why did the airline choose to invest in this type of seating while the aviation industry suffers from economic issues? The answer is easy: claiming market share by making the flight experience much more enjoyable than ever before.

… Continue Reading