Where flight was once novel, it is now commonplace. However, its ubiquity in the modern era stems from the fact that it has revolutionized the world around you. More specifically, it has given people a way to travel greater distances in a shorter amount of time, and that has had major ramifications for both recreational travel and commercial shipping. Designing an airplane is a potentially lucrative endeavor, because the ability to fly will always be in demand, but there are certain factors that need to be taken into account before you can get a new aircraft off the ground. Here’s what you need to know.

Assembling a Team

Designing and building an aircraft is no easy feat. Aeronautics alone is a complex field, and the design of an aircraft will take numerous skills from various disciplines. Unless you're a Renaissance man or woman, you're almost certainly going to come up against some obstacles that are insurmountable with your current levels of skill and knowledge. That means that you'll need the expertise of various professionals in order to create a competent design that addresses all the needs of a certified aircraft. For example, the design of any vehicle depends on engineering expertise, and flight in particular requires an understanding of aerodynamics. Bringing together a team that encompasses all of the disparate skills required to actualize an aircraft is a necessary part of producing a comprehensive design.

Patenting Your Design

Designing an aircraft, like designing any other product, entails creating an IP that can be valuable to bad actors. Therefore, you'll need to consult with IP attorneys in order to go through the proper channels to protect your design. Failing to protect yourself from IP theft, your design will need to be patented. More people than ever are familiar with the concepts of copyrights and trademarks, and patents operate in a similar way; each of them protect the intellectual property of individuals and businesses. However, the design of a product falls under the purview of patents, whereas the name of the product would require trademark protection. This matters all the more if your aircraft design incorporates parts of your own design, because each of those designs would need to be patented individually, as well. However, modern patent law doesn't offer these protections for "ordinary innovation," a method of invention that hinges on combining two technologies together in a fairly obvious way.

Safety

In addition to preventative safety measures such as quality hardware and design, you’ll also need to account for in flight safety measures. Oxygen masks are essential safety features on commercial airplanes, because the access to oxygen is scarce at high altitudes. Airplanes are designed with that scarcity in mind and feature pressurized hulls. However, when the pressurization of the plane is compromised, that lack of oxygen will become a problem that will impact the health of your passengers. The ensuing lack of oxygen can quickly cause health problems to passengers, but the access to oxygen is also crucial for keeping passengers calm during an emergency situation. Nothing can drive a situation from bad to work like a panic. Beyond the well known safety features that are shared with passengers, it’s common practice for airlines to hide safety features in plain sight in order to protect their passengers without constantly alerting them to the potential for danger. This is because flying is a fear for many, despite being safer than driving a car, on average. Telling your passengers too much too soon can actively feed into that irrational fear when it’s otherwise not necessary.

Starting an airline is a sound business decision, because people will always need the miraculous service that airlines provide. There are numerous challenges that running an airline entails, and failing to address them can land you in hot water. However, these tips will help you tackle the safety of your company, your equipment, and your precious human cargo.