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We talk with the president of California Aeronautical University, which provides degree-level programs focused on students who want to become professional pilots. We also discuss airlines and jet fuel prices, the new FAA rules for commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems, Flight 804 flight recorders, and the impacts of Brexit on aviation.
Guest
Matthew A. Johnston is president of the California Aeronautical University. The University offers associate and bachelor degree level programs that are focused on students earning their degree to become a professional pilot. CalAero features a 22-acre purpose-built aviation campus located on the Bakersfield Meadows Field airport, and has Part 141 private, instrument, commercial, CFI, and CFII approvals.
Founded a year ago, California Aeronautical University is positioned between the big name aeronautical institutions and the small, local FBOs that provide training. Matt describes how CalAero differentiates itself from from other options that students have, and how the University attracts students. We learn about the aircraft in the fleet, the instrumentation chosen, the new facility, finding (and creating) flight instructors, and the demographic of the students.
Matt has over 20 years of experience serving in education. He began working for Santa Barbara Business College, a career technical college, and held the positions of Admissions Associate, Faculty Member, Dean, Campus Director, Director of Operations, and Vice President.
Matt’s involvement in the community, educational associations and other organizations includes maintaining active memberships with several national idea exchange groups, real estate associations, and volunteering with several community and youth benefiting organizations. He is currently active on the boards of the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools which supports educational institutions in California and serves as the Vice President of the Wings over Camarillo Association which is the organization that coordinates an annual airshow attracting over 12,000 spectators and participants. He also participates in several other aviation related associations including University Aviation Association, Regional Airline Association, AOPA, and EAA with the Young Eagles program.
Find California Aeronautical University on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
News
Big U.S. Airlines Realize They Missed a Shot at Cheapest Jet Fuel Prices in 12 Years
Jet fuel prices are up as much as 80 percent since January, and major jet fuel consumers didn’t lock in low prices early in the year.
DOT and FAA Finalize Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The rule that finalizes the February 2015 NPRM, Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems is out and will add a new part 107 to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). The rule applies to operating and certification requirements for sUAS to operate for non-hobby and non-recreational purposes. David and Max provide an overview of the rule. See The UAV Digest Episode 151 for a more expansive summary of the rule.
See also, the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) page. IACRA is the web-based certification/rating application that guides you through the FAA’s airman application process. Remote Pilot certificates for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) will be coming to IACRA in late August 2016.
Flight 804: Egypt fails to pull data from damaged recorders
Egypt has been unable to pull anything useful from the recorders, and is sending both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder to the BEA in France. The BEA will “carry out repair and removal of salt accumulations” then return the black boxes back to Cairo for data analysis at the labs of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Brexit impact on aviation and aerospace
Brexit would harm UK’s £56bn aerospace and defence industry
When polled prior to the vote, only two percent of the 900 members polled from industry trade association ADS backed Britain leaving the European Union.
Airline stocks dip in wake of Brexit decision
American Airlines shares went down 6.5%, Delta down 3.7%, United down 4.7% Southwest down 1.6%, and JetBlue’s stock price fell 2%.
Aviation weighs challenges of post-Brexit environment
British Airways parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) faces currency pressures and questions about the viability of the financial industry in London. IATA expressed disappointment with the vote, and questions arise about the need to now re-negotiate air treaties.
IATA on Brexit: 3-5% Reduction in Passengers, Fate of EU/US Open Skies Agreements TBD
Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO said, “There were 117 million air passenger journeys between the UK and the EU in 2015. Air links facilitate business, support jobs and build prosperity. It is critical that whatever form the new UK-EU relationship takes, it must continue to ensure the common interests of safe, secure, efficient and sustainable air connectivity.”
Mentioned
Award-Nominated NBAA Video Anchors NBAA’s Single-Pilot Safety Resources
Credit
Intro music courtesy Brother Love from his Album Of The Year CD. Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.
Quick comment on the Brexit discussion…
From this side of the pond it sounded a bit smug and uninformed.
It’s a complicated issue so maybe next time this comes up a comment from a UK contributor like Pieter Johnson would be an idea.
I was an Army Air Force Aviation Cadet in 1944 at “Cal Aero Aviation” (not sure after all these years what the full name was. The field is now the Chino California Airport and barely recognizable with the Museum, etc. when I saw it again years ago. I had seen Cal Aero advertisements in aviation magazines for several years before I turned 18 years old and volunteered. Your article brought back many memories of WW2 flight training. Ontario CA was the nearest town and was the address of the field. We had Vultee BT 13 (basic trainer) . The last two training segments were night flying and instruments. I went on from there to Advanced Flight training and ultimately flew Curtis C-46 aircraft. Never got to fly my dream airplane, The North American Aviation fighter. I never stopped flying until I was 87 years old, a total of 73 years. Have flown all the General Aviation craft; never made any money at all from just flying an airplane. I consider myself to be the luckiest man on God’s Green Earth! (C Jnst., ME)