Aviation Commons^™

Detectability Of Clothing Color By Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Search And Rescue Operations, Ryan Blackburn, Robert Joslin

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Search-and-rescue operations are adopting small unmanned aircraft system technology to aid traditional human search parties operating on foot or by vehicle, which can be hindered by challenging terrain and obstacles. This study utilized three camera equipped small unmanned aircraft to collect aerial images of a simulated human torso in a rural/remote desert summer daytime environment. The study compared detection rates for 10 different garment colors using image analysis software. Results indicated that garment color was statistically significant for detection rate. However, the garment colors with the highest detection rates did not correspond with the garment colors recommended by retail outlets, …

Interactive Modules For Flight Training: A Review, Stephanie G. Fussell, Robert Thomas

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The use of animation and video, combined with auditory and text components, to teach complex subjects can be beneficial to deepen understanding. A review of the literature was conducted to better understand how interactive learning modules can give flight students tools to enhance the learning process outside of traditional instruction. Instructional theories and educational environments were considered through the lens of designing course content for flight students. Several research questions were asked to guide the course of the research, all focused on how students learn a complex subject matter using interactive material. Guidelines and principles are discussed to ensure the …

Aviation English Assessment And Training, Robert Fowler, Elizabeth Mathews, Jena Lynch, Jennifer Roberts M.A.

Publications

Due to a significant global increase in demand for air travel, there has been a corresponding increase in demand for ab initio flight training. Thousands of international flight students seek admission to collegiate aviation programs in the United States and Canada every year. These international flight students come to the United States and Canada because flight training is nonexistent in their native countries. In fact, flight training in most of these countries is impossible due to airspace restrictions and onerous regulations. If there is flight training available in these countries, the cost is usually prohibitive compared to the cost in …

Leveraging Aircraft Transponder Signals For Measuring Aircraft Fleet Mix At Non-Towered Airports, Chuyang Yang, John Mott, Darcy M. Bullock

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The general aviation sector has contributed significantly to the overall growth of the aviation industry. Fleet mix and operations information is important for the analysis of both the safety and the environmental and economic impact of general aviation activity. Factual data on the impact of environment and safety is particularly important, given the scarcity of airport improvement funds and the strong stakeholder engagement that often occurs when airport investments are evaluated. The research presented herein evaluates Mode S short and extended squitter data collected from three general aviation airports over a one-month period. This article demonstrates that by utilizing the …

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Acoustic Analysis For Noninvasive Marine Mammal Response: An Exploratory Field Study, David Thirtyacre, Gennifer Brookshire, Sarah Callan, Brittany Arvizu, Patrick Sherman

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

As in countless other fields of human endeavor, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) have the potential to benefit pinniped (Pinnipedia; e.g., Phocidae [seals], Otariidae [sea lions], and Odobenidae [walruses]) response efforts. The employment of sUAS could give responders a close-up look at animals in distress in order to determine their condition as well as develop a response strategy. However, unlike other subjects that are regularly inspected by sUAS (e.g., croplands and civil infrastructure) pinnipeds may respond to the distinctive sound generated by small, multirotor sUAS. This reaction may include retreating into the water en masse, which could put …

Predictability Improvement Of Scheduled Flights Departure Time Variation Using Supervised Machine Learning, Deepudev Sahadevan, Palanisamy Ponnusamy Dr, Manjunath K. Nelli Mr, Varun P. Gopi Dr

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The departure time uncertainty exacerbates the inaccuracy of arrival time estimation and demand for arrival slots, particularly for movements to capacity constrained airports. The Estimated Take-Off Time (ETOT) or Estimated Departure Time(ETD) for each individual flight is currently derived from Air Traffic Flow Management System (ATFMS), which are solely determined based on individual flight plan Estimated Off Block Time(EOBT) or subsequent delays updated by Airline. Even if normal weather conditions prevail, aircraft departure times will differ from ETOTs determined by the ATFMS due to a number of factors such as congestion, early/delayed inbound flight (linked flights), reactionary delays and air …

Notes On Rules Of Thumb For Pilots, Yuzo Inokuchi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The rules of thumb can be found in several flight instructions or pilot's handbooks. Thus far, available rules have been presented without proof or a valid range, such as altitude or velocity ranges wherein these rules can be applied. This paper presents the background theory for a few selected rules; then, the rule is compared with a first-order approximation of the background theory. A valid range is presented by analyzing the prediction accuracy of the rule, which is defined as the relative error of the rule to the background theory. These rules of thumb provide a good approximation of the …

Identification Of Wind-Induced Hazard Zones Impacting Uas Bridge Inspection, Jack J. Green, John Mott

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) continue to grow in both popularity and utility within the national airspace system. The use of commercial UAS for civil inspection, specifically that of bridge structures, is becoming commonplace among practitioners and academics alike. The development of an integrated bridge-inspection hazard model provides a way for UAS operators to prepare for and respond to changing environmental conditions that could otherwise prevent a successful UAS flight. The interaction of wind-induced airflow with bridge surfaces creates an aerodynamic wake that can result in hazardous conditions for a UAS platform operating in close proximity. An analysis of this airflow …

Aviation Culture: A ‘Glass Sky’ For Women Pilots - Literature Review, Ivana Gorlin, Donna Bridges

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This paper reports on a review of literature covering gender issues in aviation. It considers the impacts of aviation culture on women pilots. The focus of the review was on empirical studies over a 25-year period (1996-2020). Two research questions underpin the review; firstly, we investigated how aviation culture impacts women pilots’ experiences, secondly, we considered its effect on women as pilots. Using a hermeneutic methodological framework, we found that cultural attitudes towards women pilots in the aviation industry are biased and discriminatory. The studies in the review overwhelming concur that the hegemonic masculine culture that dominates aviation significantly diminishes …

Pilot Visual Detection Of Small Unmanned Aircraft On Final Approach During Nighttime Conditions, Jon M. Loffi, Ryan J. Wallace, Samuel M. Vance, Jamey Jacob, Jared C. Dunlap, Taylor A. Mitchell, Dane C. Johnson

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In December 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the release of a new final rule, permitting operators of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to perform routine night operations. Public comments to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking indicated potential safety concerns regarding a pilot’s ability to spot a low-altitude sUAS during nighttime conditions. Leveraging data from the FAA’s UAS Sighting Report Database, the research team evaluated the significance of aircraft encounters with UAS at night. Researchers conducted an inflight experiment in which 10 pilots performed an instrument approach to airport during nighttime conditions in which a multi-rotor sUAS presented a …

Inter-Dom Integrated Terminals - The Impact On Airlines Efficiency And Safety, Cassio Greo Campos, Gustavo Faria, Lucas Jusus, Nathália Bião, Rogério Quintela

Student Works

This report performed research to assess the possibility of implementing hybrid passenger terminals. The benefits would be the integrating domestic and international passengers in the same restricted area. The initial hypothesis of this study was to focus on optimization that could bring advantages in terms of efficiency, customer service, and operational safety.

The goal of this project was not to bring in-depth data on the topic, but to expose readers to the main players in the industry and understand the variables that impact the topic. Thus, although there are different perspectives on the integration of terminals, it was possible to …

A Comparison Of General Aviation Accidents Involving Airline Pilots And Instrument-Rated Private Pilots, Douglas D. Boyd, Mark Scharf Ph.D., David S. Cross

Publications

Introduction: The extremely low accident rate for U.S air carriers relative to that of general aviation (~1 and ~60/million flight hours respectively) partly reflects advanced airman certification, more demanding recurrency training, and stringent operational regulations. However, whether such skillset/training/regulations translate into improved safety for airline pilots operating in the general aviation environment is unknown, and the aim of this study. Methods: Accidents (1998-2017) involving airline pilots and instrument-rated private pilots (PPL-IFR) operating non-revenue light aircraft were identified from the NTSB accident database. An online survey informed general aviation flight exposure for both pilot cohorts. Statistics used proportion testing and Mann-Whitney …

The Impact Of Automation On Student's Career Decision, Muhammad Hizkil Imran, Arshveen Ramesh, T Rudran

Introduction to Research Methods RSCH 202

We study the impact of automation on employment and students’ career paths, by obtaining credible datasets from the Government of Singapore. The manufacturing and construction sectors were the most affected industries over the last 15 years. Along with the limited studies, we propose a survey to quantify and analyse students’ views on automation. The shift in employment rate in various sectors due to automation was found to be a contributing factor for students’ career decisions. Based on our findings, we observed that more students are acknowledging the impact of automation and finding the need for job securities and opportunities by …

An Analysis Of Wildlife Strikes To Aircraft In Brazil: 2011-2018, Flavio A. C. Mendonca, Julius Keller, Chenyu Huang Ph.D.

Publications

Purpose: Aircraft accidents due to wildlife hazards have become a growing safety and economic problem to the Brazilian and international aviation industries. These safety occurrences have resulted in significant direct and indirect economic losses as well injuries and fatalities worldwide. The purpose of this study was to develop empirical information obtained from the analysis of wildlife strike and aircraft operations data in Brazil that could be used for accident prevention efforts.

Design/methodology: The research team collected and analyzed aircraft operations as well as wildlife strike data from the 32 busiest commercial airports in Brazil, from 2011 through 2018. …

Racial Diversity In Aviation, Lindsay Stevenson, Haydee M. Cuevas, Katie S. Kirkpatrick

Student Works

Commercial aviation has grown rapidly since the 1950s yet racial diversity in the aviation workforce has showed little progress. To explore this issue, this archival study was conducted to examine the representation of Black individuals in aviation occupations and other specialized professions from 2009 to 2018. Data were obtained from the American Community Survey using Public Use Microdata Sample from the United States Census Bureau. The frequency count and percent were calculated each year for each occupation by race (White or Black). Five aviation occupations were selected for comparison: aircraft pilot and flight engineer; air traffic controller and airfield operations …

Methodologies And Techniques For Determining The Value Of An Aircraft, Bijan Vasigh, Farshid Azadian, Kamran Moghaddam

Publications

Aircraft valuation and the estimation of an accurate aircraft price is undoubtedly a challenging task that has significant consequences for airlines. This paper presents an asset valuation model to show how a series of endogenous as well as exogenous factors can influence the value of an aircraft. Specifically, a discounted cash flow methodology is used to forecast the valuation of an old or new generation aircraft. Both total operating revenue and aircraft operating costs are taken into account to devise a reliable pre-tax profit measurement that is used as the basis of the discounted cash flow analysis. A sensitivity analysis …

Women In Aviation: A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Needs And Wants Necessary For Graduation, Eugene Kim, Jorge L. D. Albelo

Student Works

Despite the increased awareness of gender and race equality movements, today's population of minority women in aviation is still underrepresented. This research focused on underrepresented minority women who want to pursue a career in the aviation field and what factors affect their level of success in a specialized aviation higher education institution. There is not enough data and research surrounding the topic of minority women in aviation and their paths to success in these institutions. This qualitative research aimed to bridge the existing gap in the literature related to minority women in aviation and their needs and wants to complete …

Decision-Making Matrix To Enable Shorter Connections, Fernanda Torezan Godoy, Sergio Abrao Retes Jr., Talita Zucchini Rabelo

Graduate Student Works

MCT is known as Minimum Connection Time. It refers to the time needed for a passenger to connect from a flight to another in a specific airport, varying according to the connection type. MCT is an essential tool for airlines. It is used as an input in constructing their network and daily, specifically by operational teams, to connect or disconnect a passenger from a flight, for example, during an IROPS scenario. However, the MCT is considered the worst scenario of the variables that composes it, which means that there are opportunities for airlines to reduce the connection time in daily …

In-Flight Fuel Management Committing To The Destination, Aldo Bien, Daniel Araguaia Galli Ribas, Paulo Cesar Serafim Pacheco, Rodrigo Garcia De Freitas Cardoso

Graduate Student Works

This project intends to clarify the Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulation RBAC 121 on its topic relating to the current ICAO recommendation from Doc. 9976 (Flight Planning and Fuel Management Manual), which regards the committing to the destination policy.

The present Brazilian regulation is not precise whether the alternate fuel could or could not be used to proceed to the original destination without compromising the emergency fuel, once exact specific requirements are met. As a result of unclear directrices, each major airline in Brazil comprehends and applies the ICAO recommendation in its way. Such a non-standardized interpretation of the current …

Covid 19 Impact On Aircraft Ground Time At Congonhas Airport (Cgh), Fabio Pereira Teixeira, Felipe Massao Higa, Ricardo Matsumoto Jakabi, Rodrigo Moreira Riberiro

Graduate Student Works

This project aims to research and analyze the impact of the increase of ground time at Congonhas Airport caused by the new safety procedures in aviation to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Aviation is a highly regulated industry, with the high cost and tiny margins. It focuses on optimizing one of the most expensive assets, the aircraft. To keep aircraft flying is one of the airline's primary goals as aircraft on the ground means no revenue generation and cost increase.

Congonhas Airport is one of the busiest airports in Brazil and already operated on its limited capacity before …

A Ranking Method To Prioritize Vfr Airports To Be Provided With Instrument Approach Procedures, Marcelo Soares Leao, Gustavo A.M. Ortegal Leal, Fabio Rodrigues Paukoski Fernandes

Graduate Student Works

The primary purpose of this work is to investigate the necessity of a more comprehensive and systematic method to prioritize airports to be provided with instrument approach and landing procedures in the Brazilian air transportation landscape. An overview of the main contributors to risks associated with the approach and landing phases is provided, covering the most important aspects of unstable approaches and CFIT events. Considering the emergence of Terrain Awareness and Alerting Systems (TAWS), the role of its contribution to safety is discussed, as well as the certification context related to the design, installation, and operation of those systems. A …

Engine Light Repair Shop Evaluation For A Brazilian Airline, Gustavo Henrique Melhado Trevilatto, Marcelo Miranda, Leila Halawi

Publications

The maintenance cost of a commercial aircraft comprises airframe, components, and engines. The most expensive of them are engines, which may represent up to 60% of an aircraft cost, and therefore will have a significant impact on any airline finance. As a result, engine fleet maintenance management is crucial for any airline sustainability. Apart from heavy maintenance where life-limited parts are replaced and its performance restored, aircraft engines are often required to come off wing for light repair due to operational issues like foreign object damage, high oil consumption, and vibration issues. In other cases, even though being operational, engines …

Geomagnetic Aided Dead-Reckoning Navigation, Andrei Cuenca

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The dependence of modern navigation methods on global positioning systems has led to developing alternative algorithms for localization, capable of providing reliable and robust estimations. Global position system is commonly used in a vast majority of the world’s devices, and it can supply real time position and velocity information. However, its accuracy can be compromised by external operational effects such as signal availability, cyber-attacks or weather conditions. This thesis investigates an alternative approach to enhance navigation in GPS-denied environments. Particularly, it develops an integrated navigation architecture based on geomagnetic referencing models capable of dead reckoning at GPS denied intervals. A …

An Exploratory Study Of General Aviation Visual To Instrument Meteorological Condition Contextual Factors, James Harry Hartman Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this dissertation was to bridge the existing literature gap of outdated contextual factor (CF) research through examination and determination of current General Aviation (GA) Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR)-into-instrument meteorological condition (IMC) contextual factors. Contextual factors are a multifaceted arrangement of pertinent events or occurrences contributing to pilot accidents in weather-related decision-making errors. A total of 46 contextual factors were identified and examined from the reviewed research literature. The study examined and determined the presence of the 46 contextual factors, frequencies, and manifestations in the GA VFR-into-IMC Aviation Accident …

Brazilian Regulation Aspects And Their Impact On Costs, Alexandre Berbel, Frederico Zaccaro, Philippe Dos Santos, Rogerio Maldonado

Graduate Student Works

This project analyzes the Brazilian regulation for the airline and the current public data provided by the stakeholders. It intends to scientifically support a possible change in Brazil's existing regulation related to airline responsibilities on passenger accommodation for different types of situations, including ANAC 400 and other ramifications. This project aims to compare the Brazilian law with various regulations adopted in other markets where the rules are created considering different circumstances to define responsibilities for the passenger accommodations. This study will analyze the differences, measuring the impacts that changes could bring in terms of costs for the Airlines. It will …

Parking Effects On Aircraft Reliability And Flight Performance, Danilo Scolfaro Fava, Fabio Renato Rossi Do Nascimento, Lucas Serrano Rodrigues, Rafael Gustavo Shoiti Yamashiro

Graduate Student Works

During the pandemic period caused by Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020, the airlines have parked or stored their fleets partially or wholly worldwide. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated a major downsize in approximately 65% of the worldwide airline fleet's airline operational activity at the end of April 2020. With that said, mechanical and electrical systems, when stopped during long periods, can deteriorate by corrosion, contamination, discharge, and oxidation (Boeing, 1998). During the aircraft parking or storage process, it is not different (Airbus, 2020). This study aims to understand how much the aircraft performance and reliability are affected by parking …

Training Synergy, Andre Vieira Caputo, Everton Amieiroe, Lucio De Araujo Alves, Renan Dapena Roveran, Leila Halawi

Publications

Brazil is facing a growth in the airline industry where all the major airlines are currently hiring pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics. One of the challenges of those airlines is to provide training for all these professionals. Many times they do not have instructors or classrooms available. It is crucial for the airlines to promote faster and better training, to reduce cost, save time and resources to prepare a better professional. In this paper, we are showing the possibility of increasing the cost performance of airline training by providing alternatives to airlines. The idea is to promote synergy between the …

From Classroom To Industry: Human Factors In Aviation Maintenance Decision-Making, Bettina Mrusek, Stephanie Douglas

Publications

The presence of human factors in aviation remains a critical area of research given the safety implications of human error. Understanding what specific factors contribute to human error allows managers and operators to take steps to mitigate these hazards. Several methods have been tested in the cockpit and cabin crew environments, but less attention has been given to the aviation maintenance sector, despite the prevalence of accidents resulting from human error. With the introduction of AC-172A, the FAA validated the need for additional research and training on the role of human factors in aviation maintenance errors. However, a key component …

Examining Unstable Approach Predictors Using Flight Data Monitoring Information, David Alan Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The approach and landing phase of flight is statistically the most dangerous part of flying. While it only accounts for 4% of flight time, it represents 49% of commercial jet mishaps. One key to mitigating the risks involved in this flight segment is the stabilized approach. A stabilized approach requires meeting rigorous standards for many flight parameters as the aircraft nears landing. Exceeding any of these parameters results in an unstable approach (UA). The energy management (EM) accomplished by the flight crew, represented by the EM variables in the study, influences the execution of a stabilized approach.

While EM is …

Predicting General Aviation Accidents Using Machine Learning Algorithms, Bradley S. Baugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

No abstract provided.