CHAPTER 3

AIR TRANSPORTATION

The aviation industry has gone a long way since the first airplane tool to the skies. It is the
youngest among all major modes of transportation. Sea, and land travel has been moving
man since ancient times. Air transport is a late bloomer, as it was only in the early 1900s
that the Wright brothers made the first successful flight in the history of the airplane as we
know it today.

The chapter discusses general concepts and principles in aviation. It starts with the
definition of general terms, such as aviation. It has a section on the role and significance of
air travel in the development, categories, and types of aircraft, routes, and services. It talks
about regulatory bodies involves in aviation, as well as the structure of air transport.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the history of aviation

2. Explain the important of air transportation in the tourism industry.
3. Identify the different categories of air carriers and aircraft.
4. Explain the air transport structure.
5. Identify the categories of airlines.
6. Differentiate domestic and international airlines’ services and characteristics.
7. Name the new trends in the aviation and airline industry.
8. Explain the role and the airport activities.
9. Identify the various types of airline ownership
10. Describe the different airport facilities.

AIR TRANSPORT

Air transport is an aircraft design for transporting passengers and freight from one location
to another in the air using airplanes, jets, rockets, helicopters, and drones

Each of these type of air transport has a unique way of achieving speed and the
sustainability of it voyage.

However there are other types of air transport which may or may not be used for conveying
goods, but could be used for recreational purposes. They include, hot air balloons, gliders,
hang gliding, parachuting etc.

Types of Air Transport

 Commercial airplanes
 Helicopter
 Private Planes
 Hot air Balloons
 Hang Glider
 Zeppelin
 Parachute

Advantage of Air Transport

  High Speed
 Comfortable and Quick Services
 No Investment in Construction of Track
 No Physical Barriers
 Easy access
 Emergency Services
 Quick clearance
 Most suitable for Carrying Light Goods of High Value
 National Defense
 Space Exploration

High Speed- The supreme advantage of air transport is its high speed.
It is the fastest mode of transport and thus it is the most suitable mean where time is an
important factor.

Comfortable and Quick Services – It provides a regular, comfortable, efficient and quick
service.

No investment in Construction of Track – It does not require huge capital investment in the
construction and maintenance of surface track.

No Physical Barriers- It follow the shortest and direct route as seas, mountains or forests do
not come in the way of air transport.

Easy Access – air transport can be used to carry goods and people to the areas which are
not accessible by other means of transport.

Emergency Services – It can operate even when all other means of transport cannot be
operated due to the flood or other natural calamities. Thus, at that time, it is the only mode
of transport which can be employed to do the relief work and provide the essential
commodities of life.

Quick clearance: In air transport, custom formalities can be very quickly complied with and
thus it avoids delay in obtaining clearance.

Most Suitable for Carrying Light Good of High Value – It is most suitable for carrying goods of
perishable nature which require quick delivery and light goods of high value such as
diamonds, bullion etc. over long distances.

National Defense - Air transport plays a very important role in the defense a country.
Modern wars have been fought mainly by aero planes. It has upper hand in destroying the
enemy in a very short period of time. It also supports over wings of defense of a country.

Space Exploration - Air transport has help the world in the exploration of space.

Limitation of Air Transport

Very costly

 It is the costliest means of transport

 The operating cost of aero-planes are higher and it involves a great deal of
expenditure on the construction of aerodromes and aircraft.
 The fair of air transport are so high that is beyond the reach of the common man.

Small Carrying Capacity

  Its carrying capacity is very small and hence it is not suitable to carry cheap and
bulky goods.

Uncertain and Unreliable

 Air transport is uncertain and unreliable as it is controlled to great extent by weather

conditions.
 Unfavorable weather such as fog, snow or heavy rain etc. may cause cancellation of
scheduled flights and suspension of air service.

Breakdowns and Accidents

 Air transport is the most risky form of transport because a minor accident pay
put a substantial loss to the goods, passengers and the crew.
 The chances of breakdowns and accidents are high as compared to other
modes of transport.
 Hence, it involves a comparatively greater risk.

Large Investment:

 It requires a large amount of capital investment in the construction and maintenance

of aero-planes.
 Further, very trained and skilled persons are required for operating air service.

Specialized Skills:

 Air transport requires a specialized skill and high degree of training for its operation.

 Unsuitable for Cheap and Bulky Goods:

 Air transport is unsuitable for carrying cheap, bulky and heavy goods because of its
limited capacity and high cost.

Legal Restrictions

 There are many legal restrictions imposed by various countries in the interest of their
own national unity and peace.

WHAT IS AVIATION?

The word aviation is a general terms that originated from the French word ‘avi’ meaning
bird.
The researched meaning of aviation is a noun that means the design, development,
production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than air craft. The definition
covers a system that has a reference to air transportation.

GENERAL AVIATION

The International Civil Aviation Organization (2009) defines general aviation as “ all civil
aviation operations other than scheduled air services and non-scheduled air transport
operations for remuneration or hire”. It involves activities such as business flights, air
charter, private aviation, flight training, ballooning, paragliding, parachuting, gliding, hang
gliding, aerial photography, foot launched powered hang gliders, air ambulance, crop
dusting, charter flights, traffic reporting, police air patrols, and forest fire fighting. General
aviation is wider term.

The airport in the Philippines see a number of general aviation activities. Aside from the
number of commercial flights taking off and landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
General aviation contributes to the airport’s congestion.

Commercial Aviation

Though commercial aviation is a part of general aviation, commercial aviation can be

differentiated as activities that involve flying for business, remuneration, or hire. The best
example is the scheduled flights of commercial airlines that operate in major airports.

Military Aviation

Military aviation involves using military aircraft and other flying machines. It is usually
done for national security, warfare, logistics deployment to military personnel, and other
military purposes. It may include carrying civilian passengers who need to evacuated or
repartriated.

History of Aviation

Aviation history can be divided into two categories:

1. One is lighter-than-air development aircraft

2. Heavier than –air development aircraft

When aviation is talked about, what comes to our mind are airplanes that are heavier-than
air craft. But other than heavier than air-craft, there are also lighter than air. Examples of
lighter than air craft are hot air balloons and airships or blimps.

Hot air balloons

French Brothers

Joseph Michel and Jacques-Estinne Montgolfier. The brothers experimented using paper and
fabric for balloon that use fire to produce hot air. A basket was attached to the balloon
where the passengers boarded.

In the Philippine airspace, the first flight was on a hot air

balloon flown by Fortugese Acrobat C.F. MARQUEZ, who
performed during a carnival exhibition in Manila on April 4,
1909. His performance was recorded in Philippine aviation
history as the first air travel.

Today, hot air balloons are used for countryside sightseeing tours in places like, Cappadocia,
Turkey and Sengeti, Tanzania. The Philippines also hosts a ballooning event once a year in
Pampanga for ballooning and aviation enthusiast.

2. Another lighter than air-craft is the

airship, dirigible, or blimp.

An airship is a rigid cigar shaped aircraft with propellers. Freudenrich and Henri Giffard built the
successful airship in 1852.

The zeppelins were used for both military

and commercial purposes. The most famous
among Zeppelins was the Hindenburg which
carried passengers across the North Atlantic.
Heavier Than Aircraft Development

Leonardo Da Vince

Is a well known for his artistic paintings such as Mona Lisa and the Last
Supper, As a young boy, his aviation designs includes machines with a
pilot in a prone position, standing vertically, using arms and legs.

George Caley

A British engineer, he built several gliders and flew almost 2,000

controlled flights with fixed wing crafts.

Otto Lilienthal

Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal was a German pioneer of aviation who

became known as the "flying man". He was the first person to make well-
documented, repeated, successful flights with gliders, therefore making
the idea of heavier-than-air aircraft a reality

John Stringfellow (1799-1883) was a designer and builder of steam power

plants. A short time after William Henson patented his design for the
Henson Aerial Steam Carriage in 1842, Stringfellow became his associate
and was responsible for the engine.

On 12 November 1894 Lawrence HargraveAustralian inventor,

astronomer, explorer and historian, connected four box kites of his own
design. Having added a seat, he flew with the kites 16 feet (4.8 metres)
off the ground, thus proving to the world that it was possible to build a
safe, heavier-than-air flying machine.

Samuel Pierpont Langley was an American aviation pioneer, astronomer

and physicist who invented the bolometer. He was the third secretary of
the Smithsonian Institution and a professor of astronomy at the
University of Pittsburgh, where he was the director of the Allegheny
Observatory.
The Wright brothers, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright, were American aviation pioneers
generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful airplane.

History of Philippine Aviation

 The Philippines is known for shipbuilding.

 The Department of Trade and Industry (2017) reported that Philippine-based
shipbuilders have exported ships since 1994.
 However, the country in not known for airplane manufacturing. Airline companies
will have to complete their fleet by ordering aircraft from aircraft manufacturers
overseas. Aviation history viewed from different perspective, that is, through
milestone throughout the years.
 Aviation came to the Philippines as early as 1911, just eight years after the
successful flight in kittyhawk. And commercial aviation followed when the first mail
service was delivered by Tom Gunn in 1914. But aviation has a gone a long way
now.

Philippine Firsts

The following firsts were written in the book titled 100 years of Philippine Aviation (1909-
2009): A focus on Airline Management by Dr. Avelino Zapanta, a former president and chief
operating office of Philippine Airlines in 2005.

On February 27, 1911, James “Bud’ C. Mars flew his red devil biplane 10 miles out of Manila.
Though it seems a simple feat, it was recorded in history as the first cross-country flight in
the Philippines.

The first Filipino passenger as Gagaban, an Igorot chieftain flown over Luneta Park (now
Rizal Park) by Lee Hammond on February 12, 1912. But even with a passenger, it was not a
commercial activity. The flight was during an airshow.

Cora Wong, a nurse from the Chinese General Hospital, won a popularity contest whose
prize was to fly with Tom Gunn on April 11, 1914. The momentous event made her the first
woman passenger in Philippine Aviation history.

Ton Gunn made two other firsts aside from flying Cora Wong. On the same day, he dropped
a bag of mail for the Manila Post Office. This event proves the viability of air transportation
as a commercial venture. The next day, on April 12, 194, Tom Gunn flew to Guam, bringing
with him Rosario Reyes, who was recorded as the first international passenger.

It was late 1919 when the first airline was established in the Philippines. Major Joseph E.H.
Stevenot and Alfred J. Croft incorporated Philippine Airway Service, Inc. (PASI) to operate
commercial airmail between Manila, Cebu and Iloilo. Other businessmen followed suit soon
after.

In 1931, the Philippine government saw the need to create an office to handle aviation
matters. The office was then organized under the Department of Commerce and
Communications (WCC Aviation Company).

Following this event, several entrepreneurs and businessmen ventured into the airline
industry. Here are some of the more significant companies that were established in 1919.

Airline Name Date Established Owners/ Notes

Incorporators
Philippine Airways November 1919 Major Joseph E.H.
Service (PASI) Stevenot & Alfred J.
Croft
Philippine Air Service July 1920 The Philippine
(PAS) Government
Philippine Airways Inc. November 1927 S.F. Aubrey, W. Was not able to
(PAI) Briggman, Rafael operate later
Alunan, A.B. Cresap, renamed as
Crisanto Delos Reyes, Philippine Airlines.
Florentino Cairuz, and
Alfred Croft
Aviation Corporation of May 25, 1929 Fulgencio Borromeo, Was not able to
the Philippines (ACP) Clyde A. DeWitt, Juan operate for lack of
M. Elizalde, Ramon qualified pilots.
Fernandez, Carlos
Fernandez, and
Leopoldo Kalaw
Compania Aerea July 12, 1930 Was not able to
Spanish Businessmen operate due to
financial constraints.
Philippine Aerial Taxi December 03, 1930 Emil Bachrach, Joseph Operated non-
Company (PATCO) Stevenot, and Andres scheduled services,
Soriano field for bankruptcy
in 1940.
Iloilo-Negros Air April 1932 Lopez Family Ceased operation in
Express Company 1947.
(INAEC)
Air Manila 1964 Merged with
Philippine Airlines in
1973 and ceased
operations in 1984.
Aerolift August 1982 Lead by Carmelo Closed due to
Flores financial difficulties
in 1996.
Star Asia Airlines 1994 Vicente de Villa Jr. Ceased operation in
1996.
Grandair December 1996 El & Aviation Closed due to
Consultants, Inc. financial constraints
brought about by
1997 Asian
Contagion.
Cebu Pacific ( CPA) March 1989 JG Group
Air Philippines October 1990 Taken over by
Corporation (APC) Philippines Airlines
and later renamed
as PAL Express
Asian Spirit Airline 1995 Airline Employee Later bought by
(ASA) Cooperative Zesto, became Zest
air, and sold to
Philippine Air Asia.
Sea Air Corporation 1996 Iren Dornier Merged with Tiger
(SEAIR) Air Singapore and
then later sold to JG
Group to become
Cebgo
Corporate Air 1995 Headed by Alberto Lina Initially operated as
 a non scheduled
carrier.
Laoag International 1995 Chaired by Shirley Ng Stopped operations
Airways ( LIA) after a couple of
fatal air accidents.
Zest Air 2008 Rebrand as Air Asia
Zest in 2013.

What lessons can be learned from this historical listing of airlines in the
Philippines.

 Success may require government support in policies as well as financially.

 Competition may lead to the failure of some airlines because of over-capacity
 Airline operation and management is capital intensive, but financial funding needs
solid plans and strategies.
 Though safety is a priority for airlines, aircraft accidents can cause heavy strain on
the financial standing of airlines.

The rise and fall of new airline companies did not only happen in the Philippines. It has been
a common phenomenon throughout the history of the airline industry.

Significance of Air Transportation

1. Transportation support human activities. It connects countries, regions, and the rest of
the world.
2. The fact is that the Philippines is archipelago. The current transportation system is quite
extensive, if not world-class. Tourist destinations can be reached with different means of
transportation, such as land, sea and air transportation.
3. Tourist will need to travel to different destinations, be it domestic or international. Given
the convenience of spec, most tourist will prefer to travel by air.

Categories of Aircraft

Aircraft of air transport vehicles can be categorized according to their size and how
maneuverable they are. Based on the CFR-14 categorization, the 10 categories of aircraft
are acrobatic, commuter, experimental, light sport, limited, normal, primary, restricted,
transport, and utility (Aircraft categories and Classes explained, 2018.)

ACROBATIC AIRPLANES - An aerobatic aircraft is any craft that

is heavier than air (aerodyne) which can be used in flight
exhibitions, aerobatic competitions, and the like. For the most
part, any aerobatic aircraft will fall into one of two main
categories: training and aerobatics.

COMMUTER AIRPLANES - Airplanes of this category are

limited to have 19 or fewer passengers and weigh no more
than 19,000 pounds.
 EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANES – These aircraft may not have
been fully proven in flight, hence the name experimental.
They may be amateur built or kit built aircraft. They are
sometimes unmanned or used for light sport. It is further
explained that these aircraft are typically used for
experimental aircraft for research and development, crew
training, exhibitions, air racing, and surveys.

LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT – LSA is how some know this

airplane category. It is given a special airworthiness
certificate for operations. Some classify two-seat ultralight
type aircraft, powered parachutes, antiques and classic
airplanes. The convenience makes recreational flights
easier for adventure seekers.

LIMITED AIRPLANES - Airplanes categorized as limited are

either modified or converted military aircraft, which is
currently being used for civilian purposed. These
airplanes are usually military surplus planes.

NORMAL AIRCRAFT - Airplanes categorized as normal

airplanes have the same size as acrobatic airplanes, that
is having a maximum weight of 12,500 pounds and nine
or fewer passenger seats. The difference lies in the
fact that they have approval for acrobatic flights.