WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AVIATION

Corporate Aviation Management

AVS 4240

 

Spring Semester 2008                                                  Mr. William Rantz

3 Credits                                                                      E-mail: william.rantz@wmich.edu

Class: TH 1800-2030                                                   Office: 387-0354

Kohrman Hall Room: 3226                                           Office: Kohrman Hall 2224

                                                                                    Office Hours: T&Th 09:30-10:30

 

URL: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~rantz

 

Texts (required):

 

Sheehan, John.  (2003).  Business and Corporate Aviation Management: On Demand Air Travel.  McGraw-Hill Publishing.  New York, NY. (BCAM)

 

Course Description: Management of aviation flight departments of business corporations. Topics include human resource management, aircraft selection and planning, management and organization of flight and maintenance operations, and requirements of international operations. Current and future issues such as globalization of business operations. Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Junior status.

 

Objectives:  Upon completion of AVS 4240, students will be able to:

1.      Explain the value and benefit of using corporate aviation.

2.      Explain the social, economic, and political effects of business aircraft.

3.      Demonstrate a cost/benefit analysis of corporate aviation versus commercial aviation.

4.      Describe the various business strategies affecting transportation selection.

5.      Describe a travel analysis.

6.      Explain the advantages and disadvantages of buying, leasing, and chartering business aircraft.

7.      Differentiate between fixed and variable aircraft costs.

8.      Demonstrate understanding of human resource management.

9.      Explain organizational concepts for corporate flight departments.

10.  Explain the role and activities of pre and post international flight planning.

 

Course Guidelines: Besides classroom instruction, mastery of the material will be accomplished by concentrated study in the textbook.  In addition, students will research aviation publications and journals for current information on corporate aviation management and report their findings in a group presentation.  Evaluation of performance will be by quizzes, exams, group presentation and report, and a final exam.

 

Group Presentation: Students will be divided into groups that will research and report to the class on a specific corporate aviation subject.  The subject of the group research will be announced in class.  Students within the group will evaluate each other's contribution to the total group effort.  The students who witness the presentation will evaluate the group presentation.  A group presentation paper summarizing the subject of the group presentation will be required.

 

Field Trips: It is planned we will tour two or three different types of corporate aviation facilities located within a short distance from our campus.  Dates and requirements will be announced in lecture.  These tours will be held as close to our normal class period as possible and should not require additional time outside of class.

 

Attendance and Punctuality: In aviation, reliability and punctuality are essential, and now is the best time to learn how to make these traits part of your repertoire.  Attendance may be taken at the beginning of class in the form of a 10-minute quiz from the previous day's lesson or from the reading assignment for the day.

 

Late Assignments: Any assignments not turned in on the day it is due will receive no points.  If you are unable to turn in an assignment due to circumstance beyond your control, please send me an email with an explanation defining the cause.  Only with timely communication, will points be restored.

 

Grading:

 

5 Quizzes                                 __________50 points              A = 930 - 1000

 

10 News Articles                      __________ 50 points             BA = 880 – 929

 

PSA Project                             __________ 50 points             B = 820 - 879

 

Group Presentation/Paper         __________ 300 points           CB = 760 - 819

 

Exam 1                         __________ 175 points           C = 700 - 759

                                                                                                           

Exam 2                         __________ 175 points           DC = 640 – 699

                                                                                                           

Exam 3                         __________ 200 points           D = 580 - 639

 

Total                                        __________1000 points          E = 0 - 579

                                                                                                           

                                                                                               

 

Completion Standards: Students must demonstrate through quizzes, written tests, library research, and a group presentation and paper that they understand the components of corporate aviation management.

 

 

 

AVS 4240 Course Calendar

 

Topic                                                                                                            Assignment

 

1/10       Introduction/Syllabus/Web Access                                            Read and Stay Ahead!

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1/17     Setting the Scene (BCAM)                                                       Chapter 1

            1-Review Articles

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1/24     Determining the Need (BCAM)                                                Chapter 2

            2-Review Articles

            Quiz 1

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1/31     Business Aviation Background (BCAM)                                   Appendix A

            Getting Started (BCAM)                                                          Chapter 3

            3-Review Articles

            Quiz 2

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2/7     Exam 1

            4-Review Articles

            Process Systems Analysis

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2/14     Running the Business     (BCAM)                                              Chapter 4

Employee Job & Performance (BCAM)                                   Appendix E

5-Review Articles

Quiz 3

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2/21     Flight Department Management (BCAM)                                  Chapter 5

            Operations (BCAM)                                                                Chapter 6

            6-Review Articles

            Quiz 4

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2/28     Maintenance (BCAM)                                                  Chapter 7

            7-Review Articles

            Process Systems Analysis Project Presentation

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3/6      Spring Break          

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3/13       Safety (BCAM)                                                                        Chapter 8

8-Review Articles

Quiz 5

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3/20     Exam 2

            9-Review Articles

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3/27     Field Trip 1

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4/3     Field Trip 2

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4/10       Group Presentations     Alpha order

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4/17     Group Presentations     Alpha order

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4/23-27 Final Exam (TBA)

             10-Review Articles

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You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures

in the Undergraduate (pp. 268-270) [Graduate (pp. 24-26)] Catalog that pertain to Academic

Integrity. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple

submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have

been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial

Affairs. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are

not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if

you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment

or test.