Aviation Commons^™

A Literary Survey On The Challenges Of Adopting Lean In Aerospace Production And Aviation Maintenance, Seanan C. Lee

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Lean production began as a new method for creating value through the elimination of waste, continuous process improvement by workers, and fostering respect for people. Despite its success in other industries, the significantly lower production volume, the substantially higher complexity, and the service-oriented nature of aviation maintenance demand significant adaptation of Lean principles to be effective. The lack of a holistic study on Lean adoption for aerospace production and aviation maintenance organizations hinders transformation as the two industries are intertwined in product and characteristics. Lean adoption in aerospace production is hindered by the lingering notion that it is an ‘‘automotive …

The Impact Of Flight On Cabin Crew Wellness: A Literature Review, Ashleigh Roderick

Senior Honors Theses

Since its conception in 1903, aviation has captivated the attention of people across the globe and has been utilized in many sectors of society. Aviation related occupations pose a unique set of risks to those working in the field, health risks being one of the most prominent. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal ailments, and genetic damage have all been studied as potential consequences of working in the aviation industry, as some studies indicate a higher prevalence of these issues in aviation employees. Apart from physiological issues, mental health issues have also been observed in those working in aviation. Mental health issues …

Simulating Dielectric Barrier Plasma Actuators With Varying Geometries, Cass Wiederkehr

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The idea of Ionic Wind Propulsion has long been a topic of research for whether or not it can be used as a practical power source for flight. MIT researchers proved in 2018 that a plane with zero moving parts powered by Ionic Wind Propulsion was possible, and sustained flight could work with an internal power supply. However, due to the thin wire electrodes required to generate the ion cloud that made such propulsion possible, large amounts of drag rendered the plane extremely inefficient and impractical. Dielectric Barrier Discharge Devices (DBDs) are being investigated as to whether they can serve …

The Examination Of Factors That Influence Trust In A Multi-Agent Team Context, Cherrise Ficke

Theses and Dissertations

Current dyadic teams in the human-agent teams literature demonstrates that Propensity to Trust in Technology (PTT), previous experience with an agent, levels of autonomy (LOA), workload, and mission performance affect trust and mission performance to some capacity. However, the purpose of this study was to expand this line of research by examining how these factors influence trust and mission performance in a multi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) context. To investigate the relationship between these factors and trust, an archival study was conducted using data from a previously-conducted, multi-UAV study. The previous study utilized a within-subjects repeated measures design in which …

Disaster Resilience In Air Traffic Control: Recovery Of Airspace Activity At U.S. Primary Airports That Experience A Catastrophic Hurricane, Victoria Thorpe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between U.S. airport characteristics, hurricane strength, and hurricane proximity and the time it takes airspace activity to recover to normal after experiencing a catastrophic hurricane. It determined the relative influence of five airport characteristics and two hurricane characteristics as predictors of time for airspace activity to recover to normal. The result is a predictive airport disaster resilience equation to estimate the expected airport recovery rate for a forecasted catastrophic hurricane. This supports expectation management for aviation practitioners. This is significant for air traffic controllers because post-hurricane airspace is unpredictable, demanding, …

Investigating The Costs And Economic Impact Of Flight Delays In The Aviation Industry And The Potential Strategies For Reduction, Ashmith Anupkumar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study addressed a critical issue in our travel life: flight delays. This study covers all aspects of a flight delay, from its causes and consequences to reduction strategies. The focused research questions were: To determine the outcome of flight delays in the aviation industry, to determine costs associated with flight delays for airlines, airports, and passengers, and to determine strategies for reducing flight delays in the aviation industry for robust findings. The findings for each question were as follows: the primary causes were overscheduling, airport hubbing, late check-ins, technical failure, etc. And the consequences were significant financial loss, the …

Willingness To Fly Based On First Officer Experience, Madison Larkin, Christopher Hudak, Ashley Babiarz, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study examined passengers’ willingness to fly with a first officer whose experience is 500, 1000, or 1500 total flight hours and concluded that there is no difference in passengers’ willingness to fly between first officer experience levels.

Measuring Willingness To Fly Onboard Aircraft Equipped With Two Pilots, A Single Pilot, And A Single Pilot With Artificial Intelligence, Dillon J. Hanrahan, Andrew C. Angelo, Jeremy S. Mcfarland, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

There is no statistically significant difference between consumers’ willingness to fly on aircraft with two pilots and traditional automation, a single pilot with traditional automation, and a single pilot with artificial intelligence (AI).

Willingness To Pilot With Vertical Take-Off And Landing Aircraft , Geovany A. Rodriguez, Rayan Khayyat, Jenna M. Elwood, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Part 141 collegiate flight students’ willingness to pilot (WTP; Rice et al., 2020) was significantly different in airspace with, above, or without an operating vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The scenario without an active VTOL had significantly higher willingness to fly.

Academic Workload, Willingness To Pilot, And Perceived Stress, Derek M. Dolnik, Carlie Swords, Shahd Abualhamayl, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study found no relationship between perceived stress and number of credits. However, willingness to pilot (WTP) for flight students in a Part 141 flight training program was significantly lower with three or more exams than with one or two exams.

Unruly Passenger Reports During And After The Mask Mandate, Jacob Coutant, Travis Richards, Nicholas Brunetti, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study found a significant difference in weekly reported unruly passenger incidents per 10,000 operations during and after the federal COVID-19 mask mandate.

Willingness To Fly On Supersonic & Non-Supersonic Aircraft, Jacob Filer, Nicholas Paul Digrazia, Jae Won Yoon, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

A survey conducted on Amazon MTurk found that there is no statistically significant difference between the willingness to fly on a supersonic or non-supersonic aircraft.

Covid-19: Visualized Qualitative Aviation Research Themes, Chien-Tsung Lu, Huabo Sun

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

The purpose of this study is to review pandemic-related publications that help the aviation industry cope with pandemic outbreaks like that of COVID-19. Published documents were searched and downloaded from academic libraries including Web of Science for a qualitative analysis. After the triangulation of publications for decisionmakers, and researchers, all important research clusters were visually generated based on the VOSviewer process. Some research clusters were further discussed for a thorough understanding of existing research perspectives. The result discovered that wearing a face mask and vaccination have been the two most effective means to counteract pandemic outbreaks. Additional findings were extracted …

Technical And Regulatory Factors Of Adopting Electric Training Aircraft In A Collegiate Aviation Setting, Nick Wilson, Lewis Archer, Ryan Guthridge, Jeremy Roesler, Michael Lents

Aviation Faculty Publications

Electric-powered aircraft have entered the market. The arrival of the Pipistrel Velis Electro and other developmental efforts by companies such as Bye Aerospace, Piper, and eViation, have signaled to the aviation community that more electric-powered aircraft can be expected in the coming years. But how useful are they for training pilots in a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Part 141 collegiate aviation environment? To identify candidate flight courses and lessons, the authors examine flight hour distributions of a one-year window of invoiced flights (N = 52,728), including flight hour data cut-points at 60 minutes (n = 6,050) and 90 minutes …

Loss Of Control In-Flight (Loc-I): A Mixed Methods Study Of Voluntary Versus Mandatory Reports From The United States Of America, Roger Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) is one of modern aviation’s three most prominent fatal accidents. In the United States, air accidents are mandatorily reported to and investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Established in 1976, the Air Safety Reporting System (ASRS) is a voluntary safety reporting (VSR) system administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Over 1.7 million ASRS reports have been processed to date. While the NTSB system handles LOC-I accidents, less severe incidents may have been reported voluntarily through the ASRS.

Safety reporting has been deemed the most valuable activity and the centerpiece …

The Influence Of In-School Time (Ist) And Out-Of-School Time (Ost) Learning Experiences On Aviation Career Entry, Andrew Koch

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Increased demand for aviation has created a skill and workforce gap. An understanding of how to increase this potential workforce is vital to ensure the ongoing success and sustainability of the commercial aviation industry. This research explores science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs as a potential avenue for increasing the available aviation workforce. Specifically, it explores how STEM programs and their associated learning experiences influence career entry.

Utilizing a mixed methodology approach, this research retrospectively explored the self-reported effect of out-of-school time (OST) and in-school time (IST) STEM experiences on aviation career development. Through interviews, a survey instrument was …

An Investigation Into The Economic Useful Life Of Commercial Aircraft As Impacted By Maintenance And Economic Variables, Robert Gallagher

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This research involved examining the economic useful life of commercial aircraft and the impact of maintenance and economic variables on the viability and longevity of the asset. The data sample consisted of the entire population of Boeing commercial aircraft produced between 1956 and 2021. The objective was to determine the effect of both maintenance and economic variables on the longevity and usefulness of commercial aircraft. As manufacturers work with issues such as service life, economic life, safety, and critical design features, those in the aviation community focus on the operational side of the equation––how long can one operate the asset, …

Utilizing Flight Data Monitoring At A Part 141 Flight School To Determine Predictors For Unstabilized Approaches And Go-Arounds, Hannah Rooney

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

As general aviation accident rates are much higher than those of Part 121 air carriers, and the approach and landing phase of flight accounts for more accidents than any other phase of flight, the study of the approach and landing phase of flight is warranted in greater detail. Flight Data Monitoring provides an excellent source of data for the study of individual landing parameters. The intent of this study was to evaluate potential predictors of unstable approaches as well as go-arounds.

Flight data provided by a Part 141 flight school was examined to determine predictors for unstable approaches and go-arounds. …

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Operator Workload And Situation Awareness Utilizing First Person View Techniques, Ross Lucas Stephenson Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) sector within the aviation industry is experiencing unprecedented growth. However, the regulatory guidance for the safe integration of sUAS into the National Airspace System (NAS) has not kept pace with this technological growth within the market. Current regulatory limitations of line-of-sight operations may have an impact on the establishment of an equivalent level of safety for sUAS operations as maintained by manned aircraft. The focal point of the discussion of line-of-sight operations has been the ability of the sUAS pilot to see and avoid all obstacles and other aircraft in a safe and timely …

Language As A Factor In Aviation Accidents And Serious Incidents: A Handbook For Accident Investigators Ed. 3, Elizabeth Mathews, Joan Carson, Anthony Brickhouse, Enrique Valdes

Handbooks

In an increasingly multicultural and multilingual aviation industry, it is important that accident investigators understand the complex role of language in maintaining safe operations. This Handbook supports investigators to systematically identify language factors in aviation accidents and serious incidents.