COVID-19 Series: Aviation Vs Aerospace - What is the Difference?

24 Apr 2020, Singapore: The recent COVID-19 situation, Singapore Government, under IRAS provided the "Jobs Support Scheme" (JSS). In summary, JSS provide 75% financial assistance to the Aviation industry. If you want to know more about what is Singapore JSS -

visit this website: https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Schemes/Businesses/Jobs-Support-Scheme--JSS-/

I am working working in the Aerospace industry - under JSS, my company only get 75% financial assistance for the month of April and May while other months the company only get 25% financial support on employees' payroll who are Singaporean and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR). Some of our employees, misunderstood that the company was getting 75% financial assistance for the 1st half of 2020.

This article is about the difference between Aviation and Aerospace Industry! In summary, Aerospace is an engineering effort to fly in the atmosphere (know as aeronautics) and surrounding space (known as astronautics) while Aviation is a design, development, production, operation and use of aircraft. In layman, Aerospace is company like Pratt & Whitney, Bell Helicopter, etc. while Aviation is AirAsia, Singapore Airline, etc.).

I found this article  and it clearly explain the differences: - 

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Aerospace

Aerospace is the human effort in science, engineering, and business to fly in the atmosphere of Earth (aeronautics) and surrounding space (astronautics). Aerospace organizations research, design, manufacture, operate, or maintain aircraft or spacecraft. Aerospace activity is very diverse, with a multitude of commercial, industrial and military applications.

Aerospace is not the same as airspace, which is the physical air space directly above a location on the ground. The beginning of space and the ending of the air is considered as 100 km above the ground according to the physical explanation that the air pressure is too low for a lifting body to generate meaningful lift force without exceeding orbital velocity.

Aviation

Aviation, or air transport, refers to the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morph able wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as balloons and airships.

Aviation began in the 18th century with the development of the hot air balloon, an apparatus capable of atmospheric displacement through buoyancy. Some of the most significant advancements in aviation technology came with the controlled gliding flying of Otto Lilienthal in 1896; then a large step in significance came with the construction of the first powered airplane by the Wright brothers in the early 1900s. Since that time, aviation has been technologically revolutionized by the introduction of the jet which permitted a major form of transport throughout the world.

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I hope this article help you understand Aviation and Aerospace Industry better!

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COVID-19 Series: Job Satisfaction Working In Aviation and Aerospace Industry

18 Apr 2020, Singapore: Someone asked me ... any pointers for "Job Satisfaction Factors working in the Aviation ad Aerospace Industry" ... at time of COVID-19 pandemic?

Let me start with the negative side which people don't know ...

1. Highly regulated and audited industry.
2. Highly unionism industry ... some company have 3 different union in one company. 
3. High level of stress - especially those is the MRO and Engine Center, every mistake you do can cause "hundred-thousand" and affect air-safety of a plane. You can even ground a plane - your family will be very proud!
4. Processes driven industry! If you don't like reading policies and manuals, this is not the industry for you.
5. A lots of certification to maintain the company business operations e.g., CAAS, FAA, etc.
6. It is not a high paying industry if you compare it to pharmaceutical or oil and gas industry..
7. An industry that is currently affected by COVID-19 and it is easily impacted by wars, terrorist, oil and gas industry, tourism industry and etc.

The positive side of working in the aviation industry ... can lead to Job Satisfaction: - 

1. Lots of learning opportunity - believe me as a HR professional, when I talk to people about EHS or International Trade Compliance (ITC) topics - you will not think I am in HR.
2. The aviation industry is a very structured, policies and processes driven - the positive side is - very well written policies and procedures for your next create career development.
3. Management are highly engage with the employees - it is part of the industry culture.
4. Lots of communication channel for employees to voice out and there are reporting mechanism in place to govern ombudsmen issues and address potential non-compliance behave.
5. Elements of Human Factor - when it comes to work, the aviation industry embrace the elements of Human Factors in their shop-floor management e.g., they will always have some form of balance on work-life for you.
6. Remuneration: In this industry, either you are (i) high in base salary (or fixed cash components) and low in variable bonus; or (ii) low base salary (or fixed cash components) with high variable bonus. You will always be fairly compensated ... you only need to manage your own life style ... but some people in Singapore will tell you "Money is Always Not Enough".
7. Education Assistance Program - it is a common employment benefits in the aviation industry that the company will sponsor your education or development - you only need to make a commitment to develop yourself and invest personal time to study. 

The above pointers is just my personal opinion and observation - does not represent the industry and the organization I work with. 

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COVID-19 Series: Work From Home (WFH)

18 Apr 2020, Singapore: When COVID-19 hit Singapore, most of the companies here had a structure Business Continuity Plan (BCP) - these are some of the existing structure / SOP left over from the previous SARS crisis. When the Government roll-out the "Circuit Breaker" (source: https://www.gov.sg/article/what-you-can-and-cannot-do-during-the-circuit-breaker-period) on 7 Apr 2020, which partially lock-down the country, and force more companies to adopt a model of Work From Home (WFH) - most unprepared companies just when into WFH without much guideline and preparedness for their employees.

Listed below are just some of the pointers: -

1. Make sure you activate all your company IT security device e.g., be issued a company Laptop, secure VPN software, security token, access code creator, etc. 
2. Make sure your home or alternative workplace have a wireless broadband facility
3. Activate your email "Out of Office" (OOO) notice, indicating that your are working from home (WFH), dates / duration WFH, and contact details (e.g., mobile number, home fix line, alternative emails, etc.) and when will you be working "on-site".
4. If you are on annual leave (Singapore context that you are on vacation), please indicate in your email OOO notice.
5. When you are on video tele-conferencing - please mute your communication device when you are not talking and deactivate your camera (for your privacy) - I will just stick a "Pokemon" sticker over the laptop camera to be sure.
6. If you WFH, good to indicate signboard at your office workstation that you are on "WFM" - share with your colleagues your working location.
7. For those based in Singapore - take the opportunity if your company can apply the Singapore Government grants on Flexi Work Arrangement (source: https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/good-work-practices/work-life-grant)

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