Recent Changes

Now in the summer of 2010 I am a student intern once again at Hanscom Field in Bedford, this time doing field maintenance work where I can take my knowledge and prowess from this project to be ahead of the game working in the airport world.
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Any questions, comments or suggestions should be directed to the webmaster at craigcestari@yahoo.com

Recent2011-2012 Work at a Scheduled Charter Indirect Air Carrier (Part 135 Ops)
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Spring's Milestones
Task/Assignment
Status
During the past decade the number of regional airline flights has expanded dramatically. As the decade ended, a tragic accident involving a regional airline flight sparked a flurry of questions regarding the safety of regional airline operations. Several well regarded media sources, including PBS and the Wall Street Journal produced recent investigative reports focusing on the integrity of regional airline carriers. While these compelling reports have drawn attention to regional airline operations the reporting has often been narrowly focused on a few tragic events, raising additional safety concerns and contributing to further uncertainty among the traveling public.
During the course of this research project I attempted to better understand the role of the media in communicating important news and safety events to the traveling public. I initiated contact with several key individuals involved in airline operations, air travel analysis, airport management, journalism, and media. Through these sources I gained additional insight into how aviation is often misunderstood in the media, and how sensational reporting regarding aviation mishaps can impact the traveling public. My findings revealed that the vast knowledge of aviation industry experts is frequently overshadowed by reporting that highlights only isolated negative commentary and steers viewers to question the safety of regional carriers, rather than providing balanced information regarding airline safety that better conveys how well the airline industry has been working.
the Media
The past decade has been a time of monumental changes for this country's aviation industry which has had a major impact on the traveling public. Airlines of all sizes have faced numerous unanticipated challenges to their business that have contributed to industry transformations across the board. During the past ten years I have developed a particular interest in the challenges facing regional airlines. Along with well publicized changes in security, the issue of airline safety has become a current focus of discussion concerning the regulation and oversight of America's civil aviation industry (Pasztor). While most observers rely on major media news reports, I have observed that these reports often cite vague facts contributing to a lack of fairness. My interest in the aviation industry has come in part from the unique opportunity as a summer intern observing the aviation industry from the perspective of being with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in addition to past experiences providing a first hand account of airline industry developments that few have a chance to witness up close.
My mission in this project is to expose lapses in the accuracy of news regarding regional airline events across the nation and how the public is being misled, contributing to an enhanced fear of flying without reason. Whether one boards a short flight by way of a turboprop or takes off on a journey halfway around the world, all scheduled airline carriers operating an airline brand are held to a single level of regulation (R.A.A.). This certification, known as 14 Code of Federal Air Regulations part 121 is the cornerstone of operating requirements that all certified airlines must meet or exceed each time one of its planes takes to the sky (R.A.A.). But many airline organizations and operations are not as simply organized as they have typically been in times past. A growing numbers of major airlines rely on regional carriers who operate smaller aircraft on routes for the connected major airline through what's called a code-share agreement. Regional airlines operate turboprop and jet aircraft which often are in a layout with fewer seats to effectively serve markets with less sheer demand. Their tickets are most often sold through the larger carrier who subsequently pays the regional carrier for each flight they complete.
In 2010, flights by regional airlines account for over half of flights nationally. These regional carriers account for the only airline service at hundreds of airports, where formerly many had service from larger airlines in times past. Whether it be the desired seat volume, the ability to operate in small isolated airports, the access of many flight times per day, or any combination, the major carriers see success in allowing regional airlines to take control. A crucial business mission for top carriers provide service to smaller communities in a way that can still be profitable remains realistic with this option. This balance is where regional carriers are a vital asset to making domestic air travel so broad reaching even in a troubled economy. Flying smaller aircraft allows airline schedulers to have more departure times to feed each city, it allows for shorter time to be spent boarding and deplaning, uses less gate space, and keeps costs and the sheer size of an operation manageable (R.A.A.). The timely emergence of the most popular regional aircraft in service today makes many of them more technologically advanced than their mainline counterparts and modern propeller aircraft use a fraction as much fuel while being quieter. The assortment of today's regional jets and turboprops can service very diverse markets and "they can be very comfortable" (Patzner). Some airports in other countries have challenging layouts that require complex maneuvers that only propeller aircraft can safely execute, such as steep descents over a hill on final approach to a short runway with very little margin for error. Fortunately, most airports with scheduled airline service in the continental U.S. have scrutinized regulation regarding open space around airports. Runways at acceptable airline airports in America are wider and longer than those on Caribbean islands or tucked away in the Swiss Alps, giving pilots in the U.S. a wider margin of error than flight crews in other parts of the world required work with these extra challenges.
After consulting with experts and examining the most controversial and compelling reports, my work has led me to see more clearly that the regional airline industry that has enveloped my passion is not always portrayed in the best light, which contributes to misunderstandings. Aviation operations are highly regulated and come with high stakes as passengers trust crews with their lives. The consequence of great tragedies is that lessons are learned, a reality in many aspects of society where lives are on the line. Some feel nervous when boarding a plane; others have knowledge that aviation is incredibly safe because they know the industry well, most people fall somewhere in between having some occasional uncertainty and are somewhat familiar with airlines having flown a number of times. Tragedy may spark new fears, but these events have brought sweeping changes revolutionizing the airline industry on many fronts, from technology to policy. Skeptics should not try to convey a message by pointing to one or two companies and generalizing that their flaws exist across an entire industry when the reality is quite different. Our air transportation system is crucial to the growth and financial sustainability of this country and without an effective network of airlines at work there would be an absence of a highly effective economic engine. Large air carriers have had to adjust their structure over the years to transition with times of change and a market which is ever changing with unanticipated obstacles. The growth of the regional airline sector across the country is one established solution brought about by sizable transformations in the face of new and challenging obstacles. Regional airlines have done an outstanding job at delivering the services one expects to receive when booking an airline ticket and representing the brand of major counterparts and getting their passengers to where they would like to fly on time and on a budget. Through my research of airline coverage that raises questions and consulting from those who know airlines and media the best I am confident that even in the face of criticism, the state of our airline industry is well sustained to deliver on the fundamental needs of air travel consumers well into the twenty first Century.
Bibliography
1
Abbey, Doug. "Doug Abbey/Seabury." Telephone interview. 4 May 2010.
Young, Rick. "FRONTLINE : FLYING CHEAP." Flying Cheap. Dir. Peter Pearce. Prod. Catherine Rentz and Fritz Kramer. PBS. WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 9 Feb. 2010. Television.
This is the citation for the program itself which aired on February 9th and is also seen in MP4 format via iTunes.
Bibliographic Essay
My work in Senior Year Project has been defined as a primary research endeavor that leads research through intensive study involving comparisons of emerging and existing secondary sources to inspire inquiries investigated through a first hand research method to hear direct solutions devoted exclusively to the betterment of my project. My thesis led me to consolidate many published findings and reports dating back several years which were not touched on in more recent secondary reports of the same topic. Having this array of second hand research at my fingertips led me to align when certain stories matched up and when others had inconsistencies that needed to be addressed. Upon reading newspapers about where the industry is going and listening to reports of where attention was being turned and consulting records published by government entities, a full scope of resources covered many aspects of airline safety from many angles. I learned more about the history of my topic, the direction the industry is going in, and the perspectives of ongoing debates about what is currently happening in the field of my particular topic.
My primary research was conducted through initial E-Mail contact and phone calls to persons known in the field of aviation and media. I was able to arrange a sit-down interview recorded and transcribed along with comments through phone and E-Mail that were responses to specific questions my project revolves around. The following persons contributed comments by way of these methods; Doug Abbey, Steve Cooper, Chris Daly and Barbara Patzner. Additionally I intended to actively locate and question those involved with the erroneous reports to find out what could be done about it. To my disappointment, upon several modes of questioning through E-Mailing, over the phone, and in person at WGBH in Boston, nobody has come forward to discuss my findings on what they have done pertaining to this issue. I had the chance to consult aviation experts, analysts and persons in journalism to examine how people actively address the various issues around my topic. The contributions coming in return from my inquiries have assisted my efforts to provide a more precise conclusion about the view I have had on this topic and find that many agree and share a similar view to what I have had all along. This was my first experience involving an academic process of investigating secondary research in conjunction with undertaking my own primary research case study interacting with experts who work in the real world to address my specific topic at hand.

America's Regional Airlines
Part of NNHS Senior Year Project
May 18-20th, 2010-There are ongoing hearings at the National Transportation Safey Board covering Professioalism in Aviation reflecting events such as Colgan 3407, the Northwest overshooting its destination due to a distracted flight crew, and child heard broadcasting from the JFK control tower to assess where solutions can be reached to avoid similar lapses in professionalism at airlines and operations associated with the FAA.
More information at the NTSB website
May 25th, 2010-PBS is doing an encore to it's "Flying cheap" program on Frontline. Hopefully some corrections will be made in areas I have indicated they were inaccurate with their previous report. Despite several attempts for them to speak out as part of this project, the persons at WGBH who I have contacted have repeatedly declined to reach out with any feedback.
Upcoming schedule on Frontline programming
For further information on where I see airlines and my experience in aviation education in a less formal format please visit my new blog.
MEITS by Craig Cestari

May 25th, 2010-PBS is doing an encore to it's "Flying cheap" program on Frontline. Hopefully some corrections will be made in areas I have indicated they were inaccurate with their previous report. Despite several attempts for them to speak out as part of this project, the persons at WGBH who I have contacted have repeatedly declined to reach out with any feedback.
Upcoming schedule on Frontline programming
For further information on where I see airlines and my experience in aviation education in a less formal format please visit my new blog.
MEITS by Craig Cestari
What is a Regional Airline?
In my definition of it in the U.S. it is a part 121 scheduled commerical air carrier on either domestic or international flights utilizing aircraft of 10 to 100 seats whether propeller driven or jet powered. Regional airlines operate both as independent carriers (Great Lakes Airlines, Island Air, Mokulele Airlines) and through codeshares with larger airline brands carrying their name (Comair as Delta, PSA as US Airways, Colgan Air as Continental). Typically, the larger the aircraft, the less obvious it is to the consumer that a mainline flight they have purchased a ticket on has contracted the service to a smaller regional carrier. Most regional airlines agree to outfit their employees and equipment to bear the name of the large mainline carrier rather than crediting the company that actually flies the flight. Regional carriers have played a crucial role in the airline indutry delivering scheduled service to hundreds of towns across the country which would have no service if not for regionals, some of which routes are supported by government grants. Since the turn of the Century regional jets have become very popular with regional operators and such regional jets now account for about 4 out of 5 regional aircraft in the sky with these carriers.

VP Republic Airways Corp. D.B.A. Midwest Airlines (now becoming a part of low cost carrier Frontier Airlines)
Long time family friend who works out of Wisconsin and has worked at the management level of several airlines and knows the industry very well.
{Gregory Aretakis.docx}
Barbara Patzner
Massachusetts Port Authority -Hanscom Field Airport Manager
Associate who assisted me in being selected for my tower internship who has been in close contact before since.
{Barbara Patzner.docx} (Full interview statements can be seen here)
Doug Abbey
Airline analyst from Seabury out of the D.C. area who contributes to some media reports when it comes to airlines, considered an aviation expert by many.
Former member of the Regional Airline Association who has agreed to help out.
{Doug Abbey.docx}
Steve Cooper
WHDH-TV Reporter who has commented for this project.
{Steve Cooper.docx}
Chris Daly
Boston University History of Journalism Professor and Blogger on the present debates regarding journalism.
{Chris Daly.docx}
Barry Morgan
Federal Aviation Administration -PVD Air Traffic Manager (Former BED Air Traffic Manager)

airport condition follows proper guidelines for meetingmeets important reqirements. property there is limited information
{robinson_helicopter_flight} I had a chance to fly an R44 helicopter owned by East Coast Aero club with full ATC responsibility alongside an instructor after finishing up a morning shift working on the property.

From June up until departure for college in Summer 2010 I was a full time intern with the Massachusetts Port Authority for maintenance of the airport facilities at Bedford's Hanscom Field where I worked for the FAA the previous summer. I had the chance to use my skills and insights revolving around aviation safety to better perform and ensure the airport condition follows proper guidelines for meeting important reqirements. As with these types of government directed employment opportunities within a secure airport property there limited information that can be conveyed due to security matters.
{robinson_helicopter_flight} I had a chance to fly an R44 helicopter owned by East Coast Aero club with full ATC responsibility alongside an instructor after finishing up a morning shift working on the property.

From June up until departure for college in Summer 2010 I was a full time intern with the Massachusetts Port Authority for maintenance of the airport facilities at Bedford's Hanscom Field where I worked for the FAA the previous summer. I had the chance to use my skills and insights revolving around aviation safety to better perform and ensure the airport condition follows proper guidelines for meeting important reqirements. As with these types of government directed employment opportunities within a secure airport property there limited information that can be conveyed due to security matters.