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Paramount Aviation Resources Group facilitates flying as an Expat, ONE Aviation Corporation brings together the Eclipse 550 and the Kestrel K350, a bill is introduced to privatize air traffic control in the US, another Washington D.C. incursion, and dynamic pricing of airline tickets.
Guest
Michael Johnson is the founder, President and CEO, and a member of the board of directors for Paramount Aviation Resources Group. Paramount finds qualified crew members to fill vacancies, provides crew leasing services, flight services, and ferry services.
We talk about the demand for expat pilots in countries that don’t have the infrastructure found in the the US, including opportunities for both mainline and regional pilots.
We see that the greatest airline growth is taking place in Asia, and Michael helps us understand the qualities of candidate pilots that make them best suited for expat life. He talks about the three key elements of stability, quality of life, and pay.
Michael also gives us some advice about getting into a flying career: start early, fly throughout college, and follow your passion.
Michael began his aviation career as a flight instructor and then as a commuter airline pilot with Northwest Airlink before joining Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1996. In 2001 TWA was acquired by American Airlines.
Michael’s flight experience includes the BA-3100, DC-9, MD-80, 757, 767 and 747 aircraft in international and domestic operations throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East as well as North America.
Serving as the Chief Pilot in Honolulu, Hawaii overseeing DC-10 and B-747 crews for JALWays (a subsidiary of Japan Airlines), Michael’s responsibilities included crew support, contractual issues, new hire interviewing, and B-747 simulator evaluations.
Photo: Boeing 757 in Taipei, L-R: Michael Johnson, Captain John Baines, Captain Lucho Arias, Mr. Steve Weisberg
Find Paramount at www.paramountarg.com, and follow them on Twitter at @ParamountARG and on Facebook. Reach Michael at +1 (540) 737-4600.
News
Eclipse and Kestrel Form ONE Aviation
Previous Airplane Geeks guest Alan Klapmeier (Episode 237, Feb 2013) is now the CEO of ONE Aviation Corporation, “formed to design, develop, and manufacture a family of aircraft, each of which will be a market leader in its category and class. ONE Aviation’s core products include the Eclipse 550 twin-engine light jet and the Kestrel K350 single-engine turboprop.” The Eclipse Jet is in production and the Kestrel K350 is currently under development.
GOP files bill to privatize air traffic control
Representative John Mica (R-Fla.) introduced a bill that would privatize some aspects of U.S. air traffic control. A new private corporation would oversee the air traffic control functions now handled by the FAA.
As NextGen falls behind, Mica says, “We’ve tried reform and reorganization, and we’ve created positions like the Chief Operating Officer within the Air Traffic Organization, but unfortunately our ATC technology and working conditions for air traffic controllers continue to fall further behind the rest of the world.”
The bill would create an Employee Stock Ownership Corporation that would “allow stakeholders, including current air traffic controllers, airlines and users, to operate a new air traffic control system.”
“Gyrocopter” probably too small for radar to detect
A man was arrested after landing his gyrocopter at the U.S. Capitol as a protest. He was charged with operating an unregistered aircraft, and violating national airspace restrictions.
Dynamic Pricing: Which Customers Are Worth The Most? Amazon, Delta Airlines And Staples Weigh In
Consumers continue to make more and more of their purchases online. This gives businesses the opportunity to know a lot about their customers. That knowledge can be used for dynamic pricing – charging some customers more than others.
Orbitz used its customers’ demographics to charge some customers more for hotels. They found that MAC users were willing to pay up to 30 percent more for a hotel than Windows users.
Delta Airlines reportedly charged frequent flyers up to $300 more for a ticket than they charged an infrequent traveler. Why? People who travel often are probably business travelers.
Mentioned
Follow Max Trescott on Instagram as he pilots an upcoming Airplane Geeks presence on Instagram.
Photo collections from Paine Field by Ryan Hothersall:
China Sourthern Cargo 777
Burning Man:
Love’s In The Air: Newlyweds Draw Hearts In Sky
The Air Cam:
The Air Cam from Lockwood Aircraft Corp.
- Air Cam Video
- Air Cam website
- McNeilFilms YouTube channel
- Lockwood Aircraft, manufacturer of AirCam kits
Peninsula Seniors Productions YouTube channel
National Museum of the US Air Force Podcasts
Credit
Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at brotherloverocks.com.
Dear Mr. Michael Johnson
If need so many pilot , why so difficult can got loan for the school?
Why is these so expensive, the adult who already has family can not go back the school?
Why doesn’t have mentor who pay the school and give work and can deduct the loan or not paying back.?
Sincerely
Maria Villo
The Air Cam. Over $100,000 for this? How in the name of God can that cost be justified? For that cost you coukd pick up a a C172, some C182’s, Cherokee, Navion, and even some Bo’s. Yeah, you have annuals, hangers, more insurance, but look what you get in the end. At $20 grand this thing would still be overpriced. A Breezy would be a better way to go if interested in open seating and fabric.
Hello Mario,
Thank you for your comment. You raise an excellent issue.
No pilot can enter the cockpit of a transport category aircraft without first completing the required training. Therefore, training is the quintessential element in flight operations.
However, as you note, training is also expensive. For someone who wishes to learn to fly and work towards making flying their profession there has to be a financial commitment unless you are able to obtain experience through the military.
In several countries, governments and airlines have created Cadet programs to provide all necessary training to people without any flight experience but who wish to work as career pilots. Countries like China, India, Japan, Turkey and several others have Cadet programs currently in place.
Otherwise, due to the nature of the business, it is up to the individual to finance the initial training costs. It is not financially feasible for agencies to sponsor training on behalf of pilots then try to place those pilots with air operators – if you think it’s expensive for one person to obtain training, imagine the cost for 20, 50 or 100 people to obtain training.
My advice is that if you truly wish to fly create a model of all that needs to be accomplished, identify all of the costs involved then take it one step at a time. The market has never been stronger- the industry needs more than 420,000 pilots in the next 15-20 years.
Good Luck!
Michael