ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2020 - 15

Jetrader: What do you see as the challenges facing the aviation industry
now and in the near future?
AP: The big challenge right now for aviation is the environment. Things will
be changing, and even the U.S. will have to accept that reality eventually. But
this doesn't mean we will stop flying. We will have to develop dramatically new
technologies. This will cost a lot and take a lot of effort. But I think about it as a
glass half full, not half empty. There will be huge demand for radically new planes.
It's not the end of aviation, but the challenges in the environment will have to be
addressed eventually, and they will be. The other big change is speed of flight.
Younger generations don't have time. They don't want a 19-hour flight. Yes, it will
be more expensive to have to fly faster, but for 60-70 years, we did not increase the
speed of flying. I think there will be more new products, more fuel efficient, faster.
Some people who have the older generation planes, those who invested in them, I
think the technical term is "sucks for them," but anytime you have changes, some
people benefit and some lose. The good news for traders is there will probably be
more space for trading.
Jetrader: For young people considering going into aviation, what thoughts or
advice would you give them for how to approach their careers?
AP: With almost any job, the more you can enjoy what you are doing, the better it
is. Like the old saying goes, "If you like what you're doing, you don't work a day
in your life." Aviation is a fascinating industry. It's fairly small, and most people
know each other. There's so much money involved with expensive products that
it's important to have good and trusting relationships. And there are changes
coming. Think about how the world will be changing and how you can be productive
wherever you end up working. It's
worked for me quite well. I was an
academic with no idea about planes.
I came to McDonnell Douglas, and I
managed from knowing nothing about
the industry to learning things. I'm
not an engineer and never wanted
to be one, but if you have an open
mind and you can use your ability
to find something that you can do
better than others, there are plenty of
opportunities in aviation.
Jetrader: What is most exciting
to you about where the industry
is heading?
AP: It is exciting to see what is
happening; it's almost like every day
there is something new. We know that in the future things will be very different,
and aviation is one of the industries that I can guarantee will have big changes, and
that's exciting.
Jetrader: What sort of activities or hobbies do you have outside of aviation?
AP: I like research and reading and traveling, but basically I am a family person.
I spend a lot of time with my kids, and I have more than anybody can count. But I
also think of my colleagues, ISTAT people and other people in the industry as my
extended family. And I really mean it. To me this is very personal. I like people. At
Douglas, at one time we had an HR directive that told us to look at all the people

that work for you and divide them into
Super Great, Great, Average, Below
Average, etc. I remember I had a freak
attack with our management and said
"No, I only have good people." If you
put people as below average, when
there are layoffs, they have a red mark
on them. I said no. To me, this was an
extension of family. I can't bring my
kids in for a meeting and say "With the
economic realities, I have to let one of
you go." If somebody is not performing
right now, what can we do to make it
better for them and us? If you don't
have kids, you can still have this
approach. Think about how you would
like people to treat you and treat them
the same way.
Keeping contact with friends
and their families is a big part of my
activities. I like football, so I try to
go to football games. My youngest
child is 16, and he is a junior in high
school and plays football. Recently,
I took him to Buffalo to see a local

Congratulations
to the 2020 ISTAT
Award Winner

Adam
Pilarski, Ph.D.
university play because they might be
interested in him. I'm also a very firm
believer that chocolate is the answer
to everything in life. I am a confirmed
chocoholic. I try to keep in touch with
people I've known for a long time even
if they have nothing in common with me
now. I collect airplane models and have
a wonderful collection of them, many
signed by famous people in aviation. I
like writing and still do that. 
Jetrader

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ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2020

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