module specification

The module introduces fundamentals of Arline Operations, current issues and its applications in the industry. Airline operations present a striking dichotomy. Each day, airlines safely transport millions of passengers around the world. Often, however, they fail to deliver on the ordinary e.g. ground crew turning up late to open doors, loss of bags, millions of pounds in chronically underutilised aircraft etc.

Airlines have not given their operations factory like industrial-engineering scrutiny. A high percentage of an airline’s cost structure consists of maintenance, ground handling, in-flight services, call centres and aircraft acquisitions. At stake, there is an opportunity to reduce overall costs dramatically by using labour, materials and assets more efficiently, to enhance the reliability of service.

This module looks into teaching students the extent of the problems and how airlines are able to solve the problems highlighted above within the regulatory and economic constraints of the industry. Its aim is for students to have a solid background on certification, rules of the air, cost structures, profitability issues and all the necessary complex activities which are required for an aircraft to fly from A to B. The interrelationship between different stakeholders is also explored in this module.

N/A

Regulatory requirements LO1,LO3

Government and Economic restrictions in Airline Operations
Requirements for an airline to be granted and AOC (Air Operator Certificate)
Organisational structures of airlines and EASA requirements
Training and scheduling requirements
How Network operating centres operations including the role of dispatcher, maintenance personnel and other operational personnel

Airline operations including: LO2, LO3

Stakeholders and their relationship in the Airline Operation process
Carriage of dangerous goods
Airline ticketing, passenger handling, cargo/baggage handling/dispatching/fuelling/catering
Aircraft fleet/acquisition
Aircraft maintenance
In-flight services
KPA Punctuality -turnaround time/baggage e.t.

The formal delivery of the teaching and learning will be based on three contact hours per week spread over 12 weeks with an additional enhancement week mid-way through the module. The teaching and learning techniques employed on the module will consist of the following: lectures, guest speakers, case study discussions, panel discussions and debates, film and DVDs, as well as scenario-based activities and simulations.

Within the module there is significant opportunity to participate in proactive learning activities via the use of Weblearn facilities which promote inter-active discussions between both peers and lecturers and enables learners to share resources and access links to external journal articles, websites and other sources.

Discussion and debate are actively encouraged both within the classroom context and via Weblearn. Students participating in this degree come from a variety of backgrounds and often have a wealth of industry experience upon which to draw. It is useful to access this via proactive and inter-active classroom management. Students have a responsibility to prepare for forthcoming lectures so as to ensure that they fully understand the concepts discussed and, so as they can participate fully in debates and discussions. This can be done via accessing the module specifications on-line or via Weblearn, and ascertaining the forthcoming weeks lecture content.

Tutors will provide an indication of forthcoming lecture content at the end of each preceding lecture. The student should then research articles and appropriate readings around these themes so as to contribute fully to discussions and inter-active Question and Answer sessions within the lecture.

Opportunities for reflective learning will be available throughout the module as students are given the opportunity to consider their approach to tasks and discussions whilst simultaneously having the opportunity to reflect upon informal feedback that may be given from lecturers on ideas and concepts spoken of in class and, on assessments submitted.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

LO1: Discuss the government and economic restrictions within which airlines operate and their structures and activities which are mandated by competent authorities
LO2: Describe the relationships between the different airline stakeholders including airports, ground handlers, maintenance organisations among others.

LO3: Explain the rules and regulations on regulatory requirements and airline operations in the industry.

The assessment strategy will be based on two elements including a pod cast group assessment and an individual piece of coursework:

• A group assessment on the regulatory requirements
• The individual piece of coursework requires the students to look into the different airline stakeholders

Core reading list

1) Cheng-Lung Wu (2010). Airline operations and delay management: insights from airline economics, networks, and strategic schedule planning. Ashgate. Farnham. ISBN 9780754691907

Alternative reading list

1) Allan Rossmore (1996). Airline Operations. Kellmark Aeronautics. ISBN
9781889284217

2) Massoud Bazargan (2016). Airline Operations and Scheduling. Taylor & Francis Ltd. ISBN 9781317182900.

3) Budd L. and Ison, S. (2016). Air Transport Management: An international perspective. Routledge.

4) Doganis, R. (2005) The Airline Business, London and New York: Routledge

Online Sources
IATA (International Air Transport Association): https://www.iata.org/
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organistaion): https://en-gb.facebook.com/InternationalCivilAviationOrganization/
UNWTO (United Nation World Tourism Organisation): https://www.unwto.org/