Grant Aviation’s Post

Interesting question raised by Brian Sumers. Brian, I always enjoy your provocative and thought-provoking headlines. I’ll admit I’m not a subscriber to your newsletter – yet – so I haven’t read the arguments made in your article. However, I do want to comment on whether airlines like Air Tahiti Nui should keep flying. To start, I think we can agree that 1) the barriers to exit in the airline industry are too high, and 2) there are too many protectionist barriers that prevent large-scale airline consolidation and that greatly limit the ability to easily redeploy movable assets (aircraft and crews) to efficiently align supply with demand. As a result, there are far too many ‘zombie’ airlines that keep industry returns on capital low while every other part of the value chain benefits. There are far too many airlines to name that are simply not financially viable yet continue to exist thanks to endless subsidy and bailouts, and government spending can crowd out private sector investment in the sector. However, does that mean that state-owned airlines like Air Tahiti Nui shouldn’t exist? If you think of scheduled air service as essential infrastructure, much like roads and railways, then there is a value to society in ensuring a reliable air transport network. Air service not only guarantees a steady supply of seats to support the tourism industry, but also ensures that local residents have access to essential services (education, medical care, etc.) not readily available in their island-nation. This is particularly true for island nations like Tahiti and elsewhere in the Pacific, Caribbean, etc. Fortunately, most of these routes are commercially viable, and do not require the government to step in. However, that is not always the case, and depending on the private sector carries inherent risk – e.g., that a route will be canceled – that governments may not be willing to accept. The question is then one of ‘build’ vs. ‘buy’, i.e., operate a state-owned airline, or subsidize foreign airlines through revenue guarantees, wet-leases, JVs (e.g., the former Virgin Samoa), etc. This requires a benefit-cost analysis. While engaging a foreign airline is likely to be more cost-effective, this is akin to importing the service and represents a foreign currency cash outflow from the country, with few positive externalities. Conversely, with a state-owned airline, you’re creating quality jobs (pilots, mechanics, management, etc.) that have a positive economic multiplier effect and generate tax revenues. I cannot opine on Air Tahiti Nui without seeing the numbers. However, I would say that some of these sub-scale state-owned airlines serve an important role that would probably not be satisfactorily filled by the private sector. #airlinesandairplanes

Top Commercial Airplanes in the USA The US skies are filled with a variety of incredible aircraft, each designed for specific travel needs. Here's a quick look at some of the top commercial airplanes you might find yourself on when flying in the USA:

Naval aviation has been one of our nation's most successful military achievements. As a result of effective communication, refined risk mitigation, and unwavering trust in established processes, this success has been sustainable. How are you briefing your team for optimized performance? #flynavy #orm #criticalthinking #trust #navalaviation #businessprocessmanagement

Ever wonder what it takes for an airport to host EAA AirVenture Oshkosh? According to EAA, this year’s attendance was approximately 677,000, up from the previous record of 650,000 last year. And at Wittman Regional Airport, there were 21,883 aircraft operations in the 11-day period from July 20-30, which is an average of approximately 148 takeoffs/landings per hour when the airport is open. To see what efforts go into making this happen, here's a link to "AirVenture Today," with the story on page 22-23. https://lnkd.in/e5BCBH7X #OSH23

Have you read the latest feature story by Aviation International News? If you haven't, check out the article below to learn how RedTail Flight Academy is inspiirng youth to follow careers in the aviation industry. #aviation #education #aviationeducation #stem #stemeducationforkids

Did you know that today is National Aviation Day? Here are some interesting facts about airplanes. *The Wright Brothers built and flew the first airplane in 1903! *Airplanes are incredibly safe; flying is statistically one of the safest modes of transportation. *Airplanes are super crucial for international trade. They transport goods and cargo across the world! *There are over 100,000 commercial flights every single day around the world.

✈️ It’s #AviationHistoryMonth! Did you know that the current speed record for circumnavigating the globe by air was set in August 1995 by the Concorde? The flight started and ended at JFK in New York City and lasted 31 hours, 27 minutes, 49 seconds, beating its own record by over an hour. Share your favorite Aviation History fact with us in the comments! ⬇️ #AviationHistory #radiantdelivers #supplychain

Western's five intercontinental Boeing 707-347C's were likely purchased primarily for Military Airlift Command (MAC) charters to Southeast Asia during the height of the Vietnam War. Otherwise, the airline had few scheduled services in the late 1960's that required its range. However, by the beginning of the 1970's some new route awards, including to Hawaii, had made the aircraft a more viable part of the WAL-fleet. With deliveries from Boeing starting in 1968 they were all in service in 1971 when Western aircraft began to be repainted in the distinctive "Flying W" colors designed by Lippincott & Margulies. "N1505W" is seen in those colors here in this dramatic landing shot captured in March of 1977 at Los Angeles-LAX. The last of the 707-347C's was not disposed of by the company until 1981. Please feel free to repost this link. #aviation #aviationhistory #aircraft #airplanes #airlines #airlinehistory #airlinesandairplanes #civilaviation #boeing #boeing707 #westernairlines #lax Interested in legendary Pan Am? Check out my new Tuesday and Friday posts for the Pan Am Historical Foundation at: https://lnkd.in/eJ_ES-RF. My latest post-link: Boeing 727-21 "Jet Clipper Frankfurt" shot at Munich. Would you be willing to contribute to help me continue creating these free daily educational airline-history posts (over 1,300 since 2017, and counting)? If so please go to: https://lnkd.in/ebnx6r7U. Any size gift is much appreciated and can be anonymous if you prefer. (Please note there is no trade connection between The Commercial Aviation History Consultancy and the owner of the webpage, and associated image, to which this photo-link will take you.) Photo link courtesy of flickr.com, photo provided by "GeorgeM757." https://lnkd.in/dTVrK3PV

Happy World Pilot’s Day to all our followers from the EUROPEAN HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION The date was selected by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) in 2013 as a day that saw a prominent figure in aviation history, Fesa Evrensev, taking to the sky for the first time. How appropriate that a significant part of our industry is together in Vienna for the HeliOffshore Ltd conference with the main theme being how we move from cooperation to collaboration in the interests of improving safety so no lives are lost in offshore aviation - an aim and sentiment we support universally.

Our final core value: #Airmanship Airmanship is an old school aviation term and it means something different to every aviator. An old TRE of mine, Dave, in a very direct manner and with a very thick Australian accent, once read me the right act for taxiing half a metre off the taxiway centreline.... "Some poor soul has come out in the 50 deg heat and painted a bloody line for you to follow, the VERY least you can do is show them an ounce of respect and follow it".... It was more choice and more Australian than that, but you get the picture. To Dave, that was airmanship. The passengers didn't care, ATC didn't care, nobody cared (including the person that painted the line).... but Dave did.... and now I do too. With a heavy dose of Dave's influence, airmanship to me, is doing all of the little things right when nobody is looking. It's about taking pride in your work, taking ownership of whatever task is right in front of you and then being consistent with it day in and day out. These little things, the one percenters, are the fundamentals that make a person or a business stand out from the rest. It's why airmanship is a core value at Ecojet. Do the little things right, when nobody is looking and in time you'll create something pretty special. 💚✈ #corevalues #regionalaviation #australiansaretheworst #sustainableaviation