Engineering Commons^™

Applying The Technology Acceptance Model To Understand Aviation Students’ Perceptions Toward Augmented Reality Maintenance Training Instruction, Yu Wang, Amadou Anne, Tim Ropp

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Augmented Reality (AR) Technology, since its inception, has been enhanced significantly by software and hardware developers, and has been widely utilized in various fields such as manufacturing, entertainment, architecture, commerce and education. In recent years, maintenance instructions developed on the basis of AR technology have demonstrated their potential to positively impact maintenance training and technical tasks in aviation. Features of AR maintenance instructions include interactive content, user-friendly operation interface, enhanced visualization and real-time data feeds. The researchers conducted a case study of forty-one aviation maintenance students at a Midwestern university. The purpose of this study was twofold: to evaluate the …

Investigation Into Unmanned Aircraft System Incidents In The National Airspace System, Rohan S. Sharma

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

With the promulgation of Federal Aviation Regulations for small unmanned aircraft systems, the volume of unmanned flight operations is expected to increase, which demands an analysis of potential hazards to the National Airspace System. Descriptive statistics were used to investigate reports archived in the Aviation Safety Information and Analysis and Sharing system involving unmanned aircraft systems, as well as the FAA UAS Sightings Reports database. The frequency of reports involving airspace violations, and Near Mid-air Collisions by unmanned aircraft systems as well as an analysis of the location, sponsor category, phase of flight, altitude, and airspace type in which the …

Seeing The Threat: Pilot Visual Detection Of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems In Visual Meteorological Conditions, Jon M. Loffi, Ryan J. Wallace, Jamey D. Jacob, Jared C. Dunlap

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

One key challenge of integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) platforms into the National Airspace System (NAS) is the potential for midair collisions between manned aircraft and the unmanned system. The lack of an established UAS benchmark for Detect, Sense & Avoid Systems put the preponderance of avoidance efforts on manned aircraft pilots to visually see and avoid potential collision threats. The small size, unusual configurations, and diverse operational applications of unmanned systems make UAS platforms difficult to visually identify. This paper sought to determine the mean visibility distance of small UAS systems (sUAS) to an alerted pilot flying a general …

Position Paper: Safety Culture: Why The Faa Should Consider Adapting The Wings Pilot Proficiency Program As A Method Of Remote Pilot Recertification, Ryan J. Wallace

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The FAA’s release of 14 CFR 107 establishes a new Remote Pilot certification for operation of small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platforms. Remote Pilot privileges are valid for two years, during which the operator must complete a recurrent aeronautical knowledge test covering the seven topical areas of knowledge identified by 14 CFR 107.73(b). While the existing recertification methods allow for validation of remote pilot knowledge, they fail to engage this new group of aviators in establishing positive safety culture. The author proposes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) adapt the existing framework for the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program to offer regular …

Increasing Collegiate Flight Training Fleet Utilization Through The Use Of An Aircraft Assignment Algorithm, John H. Mott, Daniel Henao, Mitchell S. Hodgen, Darcy M. Bullock

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The operational efficiency of fleet aircraft employed for student flight training in collegiate aviation programs is strongly influenced by scheduling, among other factors. The average utilization rate for the fleet operated by the Purdue University School of Aviation and Transportation Systems was found to be 24% (Avery, 2014), and there is no data to suggest that that this rate is atypical in similar institutional programs. Mott and Bullock (2015) identified several means by which the utilization rate could be increased, and improvements in the dispatch and scheduling process were a key component of those recommendations. This article describes a scheduling …

Optimization Of Takeoffs On Unbalanced Fields Using Takeoff Performance Tool, Nihad E. Daidzic

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Unbalanced field length exists when ASDA and TODA are not equal. Airport authority may add less expensive substitutes to runway full-strength pavement in the form of stopways and/or clearways to basic TORA to increase operational takeoff weights. Here developed Takeoff Performance Tool is a physics-based total-energy model used to simulate FAR/CS 25 regulated airplane takeoffs. Any aircraft, runway, and environmental conditions can be simulated, while complying with the applicable regulations and maximizing performance takeoff weights. The mathematical model was translated into Matlab, Fortran 95/2003/2008, Basic, and MS Excel computer codes. All existing FAR/CS 25 takeoff regulations are implemented. Average forces …

Quantifying The Effects Of Humidity On Density Altitude Calculations For Professional Aviation Education, Thomas A. Guinn, Randell J. Barry

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The effects of humidity on density altitude are quantified in detail and graphically represented as a function of temperature and dew-point temperature for ease of use in professional aviation education. A ten-year climatology of dew-point temperatures for various representative locations throughout the United States is created to provide a basis for comparison and use with the graphical displays. Density altitude is demonstrated to be a function only of dew-point temperature for a given pressure altitude. The absolute errors between density altitude calculations that incorporate humidity to those that do not are combined with linear regression techniques to create a simple …

A Model Of Human Harm From A Falling Unmanned Aircraft: Implications For Uas Regulation, Andrew V. Shelley

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This paper quantifies the human harm, in the form of fatalities and skull fractures, which could occur as a result of an unmanned aircraft falling from a height. The analysis is used to establish the maximum height at which an unmanned aircraft can be flown over people to achieve a level of safety consistent with the rate of ground fatalities from General Aviation. The maximum height is dependent on the aircraft mass and the population density of people on the ground below.

The results are used to inform a critical evaluation of recent recommendations from the FAA-chartered “Unmanned Aircraft Systems …

Impact Of A Reverse Delta Type Add-On Device On The Flap-Tip Vortex Of A Wing, Afaq Altaf, Tan Boon Thong, Ashraf Ali Omar, Waqar Asrar

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The effect of interactions of vortices produced by an outboard flap-tip of a half-span wing (NACA 23012 in landing configuration) and a slender reverse delta type add-on device, placed in the proximity of the outboard flap-tip, on the upper surface of the half-span wing is investigated using Particle Image Velocimetry in a closed loop low speed wind tunnel. Specifically the characteristics of the vortex interactions generated downstream in planes perpendicular to the free stream direction and their dependence on angles of attack at a chord-based Reynolds number of Re_c=2.75×10⁵ have been determined. It was found that the …

User Interface Design Recommendations For Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Suas), Camilo Jimenez, Caitlin L. Faerevaag, Florian Jentsch

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The number of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) has dramatically increased in recent years. As a consequence, the number of incidents involving manned and unmanned aircraft has soared. For this reason, the Federal Aviation Administration has released a notice of proposed rulemaking to delineate the operational limitations for sUAS. Many efforts have been introduced to regulate the operations of these systems and educate operators. Despite these efforts, there are no clear standards related to the type of information that should be available to operators, or how this information should be conveyed during flight operations. For this reason we present a …

Peer Reviewed Safety Management System (Sms): Collaboration For Continuous Improvement (Literature Review), Michael F. Canders Ph.D. Cfii

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Safe operations are essential for organizational success, perhaps no more so than in aviation. A culture of safety can be a leading contributor to an aviation organization’s success but developing such a culture and maintaining it can be very challenging. Collegiate aviation programs provide an exceptional opportunity to teach essential safety culture components to new aviators. A Safety Management System (SMS) is an effective framework to present and reinforce key safety principles and can be effectively tailored for the collegiate aviation flight training environment. Some aviation colleges may have developed a safety program or SMS but sharing and benchmarking the …

Pilot Perceptions On Impact Of Crew Rest Regulations On Safety And Fatigue, Lukas Rudari, Mary E. Johnson, Robert C. Geske, Lauren A. Sperlak

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The risk of fatigue on pilot performance and safety is well recognized in aviation. In response to increased safety concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration addressed fatigue risk for passenger airline pilots in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 117, which included accommodations to address fatigue related risk-factors such as circadian rhythm and the phenomenon commonly described as jet-lag. The rule became effective in January 2014. A survey was conducted in March and April of 2014 to better understand pilot perceptions of the new Part 117 rule. This study analyzed survey responses from 92 self-identified pilots to determine the effect …

System Safety Modeling Of Alternative Geofencing Configurations For Small Uas, James T. Luxhoj

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

As is well known, the integration of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) or “drones” into the National Airspace System (NAS) has captured significant industry, academic, regulatory and media attention. For sUAS that typically fly low and slow, the possibility of a mid-air collision with a nearby general aviation aircraft needs to be studied from a system safety perspective to identify possible hazards and to assess mitigations. The Aviation System Risk Model (ASRM) is a first-generation socio-technical model that uses a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) methodology to integrate possible hazards to assess a non-linear safety risk metric. Using inductive logic, the …

Not-So-Risky Business? Assessing The Risk Of Integrating Large Rpvs Into The Current Air Traffic System, Hans-Joachim K. Ruff-Stahl, Steven Esser, Dirk Farsch, Thomas Graner, Robert Klein, Christian Schneidt, Stefan Schoenborn

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In spite of considerable efforts to commercialize large remotely piloted vehicles (RPV), an integration of these RPVs into the existing Air Transportation System (ATS) and Airspace Structure is pending. The purpose of this paper was to assess the risks of an exemplary integration of a Heron 1 type RPV into the existing European air space structure within the current regulatory framework and without the availability of sense and avoid technology. Six incident occurrence scenarios were investigated, based on a modified Fault Tree Analysis and Eurocontrol’s risk matrix. It was found that without the implementation of technological or procedural changes, an …

Determination Of Rejected Landing Roll Runway Point-Of-No-Return And Go-Around In Transport Category Airplanes, Nihad E. Daidzic, Ph.D., Sc.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The decelerate-accelerate-takeoff maneuver in transport category airplanes has been discussed. Mathematical model based on total energy conservation has been used to calculate the rejected landing point-of-no-return on a runway which will still enable the airplane to safely execute go-around and achieve regulatory screen heights and takeoff safety speeds. After this point has been exceeded or below the point-of-no-return speed no go-around should ever be considered. Landing long and fast and/or decelerating on slippery runways may very well result in an overrun which could be prevented if the go-around is attempted before reaching this critical runway point. The point-of-no-return on the …

A Cross-Sectional Investigation Of The Relationships Education, Certification, And Experience Have With Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Among Aviation Professionals, Daryl Watkins, Jason M. Newcomer, Matthew P. Earnhardt, James W. Marion, Rose A. Opengart, Aaron M. Glassman

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The aviation industry is a complex system with many different segments and as such, makes hiring the right person a complicated endeavor. Previous research suggested that knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are composed of elements that include education, certification, and experience (ECE). The relative importance of ECE is dependent on the type of job within the aviation sector. The objective of this mixed-methods concurrent triangulation study was to examine aviation industry professionals’ perceived relationship between their ECE and the development of their KSAs. The convenience sample consisted of 404 professionals in the aviation industry who completed the KSA Composite Measure …