Space Tourism

Will space tourism take off in the near future? Will it be a profitable industry? I believe so with so much time and money being invested in the development of space crafts such as the Virgin Galactic 2 Space Ship 2 and the White Night 2. Space tourism is already stirring up excitement, according to Amy "Virgin Galactic has received deposits from almost 700 people who hope to visit space in the near future".

At the mean time thrill seekers can experience zero-gravity thanks to a modified Boeing 727-200. For a starting price of 4,950 dollars adrenaline junkies can experience weightlessness. That's pocket change compared to 20-40 million dollars for a 10 day space tour by Space Adventures. The tour takes you to an altitude of 250 miles on your way to the International Space Station (ISS). During the tour individuals will live and work along astronauts, sounds like a great get away but most people can't afford a plane ticket yet alone a space expedition. The most expensive trip of them all is the 300 million dollar circumlunar mission which takes thrill seekers within 100 kilometers or 62.17 miles of the moons surface. The majority of us here in the United States don't have to worry about that, simply because we don't have that kind of money.

I do believe that space tourism is going to be a very profitable and viable industry, even though it is going to remain very expensive. Space tourism was created for the upper class, and wealthy individuals wanting to experience something new and very unique. For example Virgin Atlantic has received over 700 deposits, and that number is only going to increase. I think that space tourism is going to be very successful in the near future however it's going to remain a very small and private industry.

Amey K. (2015, April 28). Orbital cruise ships, $300million moon tours... and cosmic martini glasses so you don't lose your drink: How travel companies are gearing up for a tourism boom in SPACE. Retrieved September 29, 2015, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3057420/Is-future-space-tourism.html

Pilots and Depression

       
We all remember the tragic day Andreas Lubitz intentionally flew German-Wings flight 9525 into the side of the mountain killing everyone on board. The after math of the accident sent shock waves through out the aviation industry.

 A few of the biggest questions arising after the crash was what can airlines do to stop this from happening again and  how many professional pilots are secretly dealing with depression. Here in the United States professional pilots are examined yearly or twice a year depending on their age, pilots who are under the age of 40 are examined once a year. The examination is split into two parts, a physical, and an FAA medical application which contains questions regarding the psychological health of the pilot. Other than federal regulations, pilots are required to undergo recurrent training every 6 months in a flight simulator. Pilots are placed in stressful situations ranging from engine fire to severe weather, and a designated examiner records their reactions to the situation.

If a pilot notices a change in his/her mental health, they are required to report it to the company so the can be treated right away. Even though they might not be allowed to fly for a while, pilots tend to make the right decision and report their conditions to the company.

I believe that  German-Wings flight 9525 was nothing more than an isolated incident. How often do you hear of a pilot nosediving into the side of a mountain killing everyone on board. Over 100,000 flights depart and land safely everyday without an accident or incident occurring. People don't realize that being a professional pilot is very rewarding , even though it can be very stressful. Most pilots love their jobs and can't imagine doing anything else, and to say that there is a trend in the aviation industry regarding depression is simply not true.

Introduction

As long as I can remember I've always been fascinated with planes and the art of flying. As a kid I played with airplanes and jets instead of cars and legos and that passion and desire to fly only grew as I got older.

I am currently studying aviation here at Eastern Michigan University, I plan on graduating in the spring with a bachelors degree in Aviation Flight Technology.  Once I graduate I will be leaving the country in search for a first officer position in the Persian Gulf. I am working towards securing a position with Qatar Airlines, that is my main goal and i don't plan on change it.

I would love to hear about opportunities  in the international market, specifically about meeting ICAO standards for being a first officer and all other requirements associated with being an international pilot.