Digital Commons Network^™

Automatic Detection Of Birds In Images Acquired With Remotely Piloted Aircraft For Managing Wildlife Strikes To Civil Aircraft, Maurycio Rodrigues Oviedo, Flavio A. C. Mendonca Ph.D., Jose Cabrera, Cole A. Mcnall, Raymond Ayres, Ricardo Luís Barbosa, Rodrigo Gallis

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Wildlife strikes represent a significant threat to aviation safety and economics, as evidenced by notable incidents such as the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledges this growing concern, as evidenced by its report on Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States from 1990 to 2019.To address the need for improved risk management, airports conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA), a laborious process typically relying on visual identification by Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists (QAWB). However, technological advancements, such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and machine learning (ML), offer promising solutions to …

Performance Prism: A Comprehensive Framework For Performance Measurement In Aircraft Maintenance, Mohammed Timjerdine, Saoudi Taibi, Younes Moubachir

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Aircraft maintenance is governed by rigorous safety requirements and high operational complexity, demanding robust performance measurement frameworks to ensure optimal maintenance practices. This paper investigates existing performance measurement methodologies within the sector, highlighting their limitations and the need for a more structured evaluation system. Through this critical analysis of current literature, the paper proposes the Performance Prism (PP) framework as a novel and potentially robust solution for assessing and enhancing aircraft maintenance performance. Because the PP framework integrates multiple dimensions of evaluation, it provides a holistic assessment of aircraft maintenance performance, thereby enhancing reliability, efficiency, and overall effectiveness. Using examples …

Prioritization Of Voluntary Silence Criteria In Military Aviation For The Sustainability Or Safety Superiority, Vildan Durmaz, Cüneyt Ceyran, Ebru Yazgan

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Since aviation is one of the sectors involving high levels of risk in today’s world, the presence of a safe working environment is crucial for both flight operations and aircraft maintenance services. Thus, it is vital for aviation workers to be aware of unsafe situations as well as dangers and potential risks in order to create a safe environment and establish an organizational safety culture. One of the fundamental components of such awareness is information, and voluntary reporting of this information as well as unsafe situations by aviation employees is one of the most important ways for managers to access …

Fatigue Reporting In Hellenic Skies: Attitudes, Barriers And Insights From Military, Commercial And General Aviation Pilots, Panagiotis Kioulepoglou, Katerina M. David, Vassilios Nikolaidis, Ilias Makris

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Fatigue has long been a concern in aviation, especially today, with the ever-increasing traffic volume, pilot shortage, and operations that often disrupt the body’s natural biological rhythms. Despite the implementation of sophisticated fatigue reporting schemes, aviation organizations still face challenges, as many studies indicate that pilots often encounter barriers to effectively report their fatigue. As relevant research in Greece was scarce, the main objective of this study was to explore Greek pilots' attitudes towards fatigue reporting, identify the most significant barriers, and recommend mitigation measures based on the participants' perspectives. To that end, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed …

Airspace Saturation And Midair Collision Risk: A Case Study At A Class D Airport, Luigi Raphael I. Dy, John H. Mott

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Near midair collisions are precursor events to actual collisions and may be an indicator of risk. While previous studies have used reports of near midair collisions to relate factors such as airspace saturation to near midair collisions, the reports relied upon were generally subjective in nature. With the adoption of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), the approximate position of every equipped aircraft can be recorded. A six-month case study was performed at the Purdue University airport to relate the number of 1000-foot proximity events to airspace saturation, and whether the Class D airspace affected this relationship. Through a logistic regression analysis, …

Just Culture In Aviation: A Metaphorical Study On Aircraft Maintenance Students, Ramazan Çoban, Cengiz Mesut Bükeç

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Just Culture, a sub-dimension of safety culture, has been a prominent and debated topic in aviation safety in recent years. Just culture signifies a work environment where employees are motivated to provide essential safety-related information, but a clear distinction must be made between acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. The aim of this study is to examine the fundamental characteristics of just culture in the aviation sector. The phenomenology method, one of the qualitative research designs, has been adopted in the study. Purposeful sampling was used in the selection of participants, with the sample consisting of 78 students studying in the aircraft …

Success Of Achieving Student Learning Objectives: Compressed Vs. Traditional Courses, Irene Miller, Timm Bliss

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Institutions of higher learning are offering varying course modalities to accommodate the changing needs of students. Notably, institutions of higher learning are offering an increasing number of compressed courses to meet student demand and remain competitive in higher education. The increase in the number of compressed classes presents the challenge of ensuring that similar academic rigor and breadth of knowledge are maintained in comparison to the traditional 16-week semester. The purpose of this research study was to determine if students enrolled in off-campus classes with compressed schedules are receiving a similar quality of instruction and achieving the equivalent student learning …

Addressing Empty Space Myopia To Enable Deep Space Travel With Extended Reality Auditory Biofeedback, Ethan Waisberg, Joshua Ong, Nasif Zaman, Phani Paladugu, Sharif Amit Kamran, Bruce Markovitz, Andrew G. Lee, Alireza Tavakkoli

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Empty space myopia is a phenomenon that has been observed in pilots when flying in the open sky. Previous research has been conducted to develop training biofeedback devices to help pilot visual accommodation in empty skies. During future long-duration spaceflight, astronauts may also experience empty space myopia due to prolonged periods of time in vast space. Extended reality is a relatively novel technology that has emerged as a powerful tool for tracking ocular movements. Extended reality with auditory feedback may serve as a low-cost, easily applicable method to improve ciliary muscle control and vision during long-duration spaceflight to combat empty …

An Examination Of Airlines Employees' Perceptions Of Sustainability, Green Business Behaviors And Employees' Views On Corporate Reputation, Seda Mumlu Karanfil, Büşra Karakuş

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Purpose: The increase in environmental pollution due to the depletion of natural resources has attracted the attention of society and businesses, and the importance of sustainability has increased. In this direction, enterprises have started to carry out activities related to sustainability. The sustainability activities carried out by businesses also have an impact on their corporate reputation. One of the important issues regarding corporate reputation is the perception of sustainability among employees and green business behaviors. For this reason, the research aims to determine the sustainability perceptions and green business behaviors of employees and to evaluate the corporate reputation of businesses …

Managing Uncertainty In The Airline Industry: The Interaction Of Strategic Flexibility, Organizational Learning, And Dynamic Capabilities, Mehmet Sahin Durak, Ferhan Sengur Prof. Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The airline industry is one of the sectors characterized by being highly competitive, dynamic, and uncertain. In addition, the constantly renewed, growing structure and vulnerability to conjuncture of the sector usually renders the sector unstable and unpredictable. In such this environment, one of the most important strategic tools airline companies can use to keep their activities sustainable is increasing their strategic flexibility levels. In this context, this study aims to reveal whether dynamic capabilities mediate the relationship between organizational learning and strategic flexibility in the airline industry. In the research model, the Process Macro plugin, which was developed by Hayes …

Exploring The Atmospheric And Weather Conditions For Hoar Frost Formation At Or Tambo International Airport: A Case Study Of Ground Aircraft Icing Events For The Period 2017-2023., Thabisile P Z Ntleko Ms, Xolani Matlou Mr

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Ground aircraft icing has an adverse effect on the aerodynamic performance of aircrafts as well as the efficient operations of airlines and airports. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) Aviation Weather Centre (AWC) issues forecasts and warnings for the aviation community, which include aerodrome warnings for hoar frost accumulation. The infrequent and notable temporal occurrence of this weather phenomena renders it a rare aviation hazard to warn for, therefore understanding the weather and atmospheric conditions conducive for its formation is important for accurate forecasting. This study analyses 28 incidents of ground aircraft icing events at OR Tambo International Airport, South …

The Impact Of Thunderstorms On Take-Off Data In South Africa, Quinton Jacobs Mr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Aviation and meteorology are entwined disciplines, as aviation occurs in the atmosphere. Prevailing weather conditions at take-off are of utmost importance to aviation. This determines the payload of the aircraft and runway in use. Forecast verification is essential to aviation as it determines the quality of the forecasting products. The tolerances for take-off data are stringent and slightly relaxed tolerances are used in South Africa by mutual agreement.

There are six aerodromes in South Africa where Take-off Data are produced, in varying climatic conditions as South Africa is in both the tropics and midlatitudes. Thunderstorms are a common occurrence over …

The Impact Of Corporate Social Responsibility On Airline Reputation And Passenger Satisfaction And Loyalty, Tamilla Curtis, Scott Ambrose, Wilfred S. Manuela Jr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Aviation is a driving force of economic and social progress but has negative externalities such as carbon emissions and noise. This paper investigates passenger perceptions of airline corporate social responsibility and its impact on airline reputation and passenger satisfaction. Over 1,300 passenger responses were analyzed using the partial least squares model. The results indicate that the perception of corporate social responsibility influences airline reputation, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, customer loyalty. The findings suggest that focusing on corporate social responsibility initiatives leads to enhanced likeability among airline passengers above and beyond offering quality service. Moreover, likeability is the key aspect of …

Justifying The Cost Of Implementing Contactless Travel In Non-Primary Airports: A European Perspective, Sumeet Hassan Anwar Mr., Humna Asad Miss

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry faces an unprecedented push towards digital transformation. This paper delves into the economic, operational, and safety imperatives of implementing contactless travel solutions in Europe's non-primary airports. By juxtaposing the substantial upfront costs against the long-term operational savings and improved passenger experience, the study presents a compelling financial justification for such investments. Drawing on case studies and current trends, the research demonstrates that, despite initial expenditures, the adoption of contactless technology is a prudent strategy that aligns with evolving consumer preferences and the heightened need for efficiency and safety. The paper …

Passenger Preferences For Ultra Long Haul Flights Vs. Connecting Flights: A Comparative Study Between Asia And Europe, Sumeet Hassan Anwar Mr., Humna Asad Miss

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This study looks at passenger preferences in air travel, specifically ultra-long-haul and connecting flights, utilizing a comparative lens between Asia and Europe. It investigates how economic conditions, cultural differences, and regional infrastructure affect flight choices. According to the findings, Asian travelers prefer connecting flights that use hub-and-spoke networks because they are more affordable, whereas European tourists choose direct flights for time efficiency. Furthermore, the interaction between purchasing power and travel intent has a major impact on flight preferences, with business travelers favoring full-service carriers and leisure travelers preferring low-cost options. Cultural factors also influence these decisions, altering airline loyalty, service …

The Value Addition Of National Civil Aviation Policy Implementation To Airport Development In Nigeria: A Qualitative Assessment, Salisu Ojonemi Paul Phd, Prof. Chikelue Ofuebe Phd

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Through “Top Down theory of Implementation,” the study assessed the extent to which the implementation of NCAP 2013 has enhanced infrastructural transformation of airports in Nigeria. The paper discussed how the sector witnessed an accelerated infrastructural development, which situated the industry. With case study design and qualitative approach method, we found that the implementation of the policy was not discontinued. That facilitated ICAO certification of airports in Nigeria. The paper recommended the creation of Civil Airports Infrastructural Maintenance Standing Committee whose membership should be drawn from all the critical stakeholders in the industry with the responsibility of periodic turnaround maintenance.

A Scale Development Study For Evaluating The Competency Perception Of Air Traffic Controllers, Arif Tuncal, Ertan Çinar

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Ensuring the competencies that influence the performance of air traffic controllers is a key priority for the aviation sector in terms of flight safety. Notwithstanding the efforts of international organizations, the absence of a statistically valid and reliable scale in the academic literature for the measurement of air traffic controllers’ competency perceptions signifies a notable gap. The aim of the study was to develop a scale for measuring air traffic controller competency. The study sample comprised 482 air traffic controllers. Following semi-structured interviews and document analysis, an item pool was established, ensuring content validity through expert input, with a CVR …

Brittle-Viscous Deformation Cycles At The Base Of The Seismogenic Zone In The Continental Crust, Francesca Prando

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The main goal of the study was to determine the dynamical cycle of ductile-brittle deformation and to characterise the fluid pathways at different scales of a brittle-viscous fault zone active at the base of the seismogenic crust. Object of analysis are samples from the sinistral strike-slip fault zone BFZ045 from Olkiluoto (SW Finland), located at the site of a deep geological repository for nuclear waste. Combined microstructural analysis, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and mineral chemistry were applied to reconstruct the variations in pressure, temperature, fluid pressure, and differential stress that mediated deformation and strain localization along BFZ045 across the BDTZ. …

Sofa-Surfing: The Cartographies Of Young People Utilising Host-Dependent Shelter., Kieran Green

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In 2016, 35% of UK young people (16-25 years) reported having sofa-surfed in the past. Past research highlights that spaces where people sofa-surfing stay are often tenuous, short-lived and worsen over time, reducing mental health, educational attainment, and the ability to find work (McLoughlin, 2013; Albanese et al., 2018). However, a study has not elucidated how young people’s preferences, identities, experiences, and access to support create highly varied sofa-surfing geographies and outcomes. This study examined young people's different geographical experiences and outcomes of sofa-surfing. Specifically, I outline key sofa-surfing experiences centred on uses of space, mobility, and identity (cartographies) and …

Success Factors Facilitating Care During Escalation (The Suffice Study), Jody Ede

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

BACKGROUND: In the United Kingdom, there continues to be preventable National Health Service (NHS) patient deaths. Contributory factors include inadequate recognition of deterioration, poor monitoring, or delayed escalation to a higher level of care. Strategies to improve care escalation, such as vital sign scoring systems and specialist teams who manage deterioration events, have shown variable impact on patient mortality. The need for greater care improvements has consistently been identified in NHS care reviews as well as patient stories. Furthermore, current research informing escalation improvements predominantly comes from examining failure to rescue events, neglecting what can be learned from rescue or …

An Exploration Of Preconception Care For People With Health Conditions Using Realist Methodology: What Works, For Whom, And In What Circumstances?, Heather Hopper

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

Background: People living with pre-existing physical or mental health conditions are over-represented in audits and confidential enquiries regarding maternal morbidity and mortality and thus often advised to stabilise or optimise their health prior to becoming pregnant. Preconception care may include medication or behaviour change, which can be effective but not always accessed by those who need it, and there is a lack of evidence demonstrating how this can be achieved. The aim of this study was therefore to explore what form of preconception care for people living with health conditions works, for whom, how do these approaches work, and in …

Navigating A Complex Transition: From Qualifying As A Nurse To Becoming A Confident Practitioner., Rachel Pascoe

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

This thesis explores the complexities of transition to professional practice of newly qualified nurses following an undergraduate professional preparation programme. Transition to professional practice from student to qualified nurse and then to confident practitioner has been explored since the late 1960s and is recognised as a complex and multi-faceted issue for the newly qualified nurses. They can feel unprepared for clinical practice and for the organisational demands who require competent and confident personnel to join the workforce. Adopting a social constructionist approach, this study utilises a combination of diaries and interviews to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and …

Development And Validation Of A Patient-Reported Experience Measure For Older Adults Attending The Emergency Department: The Prem-Ed 65 Study, Blair Graham

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

Emergency Department (ED) care traditionally focuses on resolving single-organ pathology, emphasising rapid patient flow. As such, ED care may fall short of addressing the holistic needs of older adults, where atypical and complex presentations exacerbated by frailty, comorbidity, polypharmacy, and sensory deficits are much more prevalent than in the general population. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ED crowding and prolonged length of ED stay and suffer increased in-hospital mortality as a result.Patient experience is a central determinant of quality of care and is positively associated with improved outcomes for acute conditions, including pneumonia, asthma, and acute …

The Reconstruction Of Climate In Beringia By Analysis Of Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraether (Gdgt) Distributions Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (Hplc-Ms)., Lauren Beth Pankhurst

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The reconstruction of past environments, including temperatures, aids in the production of climate models which predict how the Earth will respond to future climatic changes that are occurring at an accelerated rate, due to global warming. High-latitude seas, including the Bering Sea, are sensitive to changes in global climate, across both glacial and interglacial timescales. Membrane lipids synthesised by archaea and bacteria are retained within the sediment and when extracted give evidence to the environmental conditions present during the organism’s lifetime. The membrane lipids are structured in a way that is chemically favourable to their environment, and calibrations derived in …

Using Remote Sensing To Track Complex Sinuous Ripple Migration On A Barchan Dune In Herschel Crater, Mars, Elizabeth Visick

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Dunes on Mars are known to migrate, in particular ripples have also been found to migrate. This is known to have occurred in eastern, western and southern Herschel Crater, but it was not known if this was true for Central Herschel Crater. Central Herschel Crater is of particular interest as the dunes found there were deemed indurated. However, since the release of HiRISE (2023) satellite images it is clear that these dunes are in fact very much the opposite. These dunes were actively migrating and presented some unique superimposed ripples. With this, we set out to measure the migration of …

Volcanic Debris Avalanche Propagation And Emplacement Mechanisms: Sedimentological Field Evidence And Bidisperse Granular Flow Experiments, Symeon Makris

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Volcanic debris avalanches mobilise large volumes and achieve long runouts with high destructive potential. Although many theories have been proposed regarding the mechanisms that enable their long runouts, the processes remain unknown. Theoretical and numerical models are unable to account for their long runout while being consistent with deposit observations. Therefore, evaluation of their dynamics in reference to deposit structure and sedimentology is fundamental for constraining such models. This thesis explores volcanic debris avalanche propagation dynamics and evaluates potential factors contributing to their long runouts. A systematic comparison of volcanic debris avalanches and lahars allows the evaluation of water as …

Resilience Thinking And The Influence Of Street-Level Bureaucrats On The Implementation Of Eu Environmental Policies In Overseas Territories: Lessons From Gibraltar., Jaime Sanchez-Garcia

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The policy implementation literature has provided important insights on how policy formulation processes affect the achievement of policy goals and how street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) involved in policy implementation utilise coping mechanisms to overcome shortages in resources, expertise and other local constraints. However, it has struggled to provide a systematic analysis of how contextual factors influence the work of SLBs or the implications of their coping mechanisms for the functioning of implementation systems, particularly in smaller countries and non-states territories, where mismatches between policy requirements and resources are more acute. This thesis addresses these knowledge gaps by examining the implementation of …

Andean Sediment Response To Natural And Anthropogenic Changes At The Catchment Scale, Jessica Kitch

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Changing climate and population growth poses a challenge for the water, food and energy security nexus, particularly in glacier-fed mountainous catchments. Soil erosion, driven by both natural and anthropogenic activities, further exacerbates the challenge for resource security. Soil erosion is contributing to increased levels of sediment in river systems threatening crucial river functions, including crop irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectricity. Past studies in the Andes regarding soil erosion have indicated that human activities have accelerated soil erosion and rates often exceed natural soil production. To date, the majority of Andean studies have primarily focused on larger eastern catchments, with fewer …

Technology Impacts, Justice, Place, And Worldviews: An Integrated Framework For Understanding Perceptions Of And Attitudes Towards Shale-Gas Fracking In English Host Communities, Kechagia Magdalini

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Despite growing national opposition, local resistance, and moratoriums in Scotland and Wales, successive UK governments have supported the use of fracking to exploit oil and gas from shale formations in England in response to declining North Sea reserves and concerns about geopolitical instabilities affecting energy security. Although scholars have examined technological, justice, and socio-psychological drivers of social attitudes to fracking in order to challenge ‘Not-In-My-Back-Yard’ explanations of perceptions and attitudes, existing studies have rarely examined these factors in an integrated way. The aim of this research is to investigate whether and how an integrated approach, combining insights from the factors …

Association Of Pulmonary Artery Pressures With Mortality In Adults With Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Seshika Ratwatte, Simon Stewart, Geoff Strange, David Playford, David Celermajer

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Background

The independent effect of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) severity on mortality in those with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is not well known.

Objectives

The authors aimed to examine the prognostic impact of increasingly elevated pulmonary pressures in a large clinical cohort of adults with reduced LVEF.

Methods

The authors analyzed data from the National Echocardiography Database of Australia, a large clinical registry linking routine echocardiographic investigations to mortality. In 23,675 adults with a recorded tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity (TRV) and reduced LVEF (<50%), the authors evaluated the relationship between conventional thresholds of increasing risk of PHT and mortality during median follow-up of 2.9 years (Q1-Q3: 1.0-5.4 years).

Results

Mean age was 70 ± 15 years, and 7,498 (31.7%) individuals were female. Overall, …