Aviation Commons^™

Enhancing Aviation Safety: A Framework For Predictive Maintenance Using Generative Data Augmentation And Uncertainty Quantification, Muhammad Najjar

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Predictive maintenance is a critical component of aviation safety, yet the development of accurate data-driven models is often hindered by the severe class imbalance inherent in real-world flight data; healthy flights are abundant, while flights preceding a failure are rare. This imbalance biases machine learning models, leading to poor detection of critical maintenance needs. This project addresses this challenge by leveraging the NGAFID aviation maintenance dataset to develop and validate an integrated predictive framework. We propose training a Time-series Generative Adversarial Network (TimeGAN) to synthesize high-fidelity, realistic "pre-maintenance" flight data. This synthetic data is used to create a balanced training …

Ergonomics Of A Pilot Workstation And Aircraft Interactions On A Cessna 172 Nav Iii, Nicole Beaulieu

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

This study analyzes the ergonomic aspects of the Cessna 172 Navigator III, a common flight training aircraft. The research investigated the interactions between pilots and the aircraft, focusing on pilot fatigue, workstation design, anthropometric data, and pilot interactions with controls. The study included surveys, interviews, and anthropometric measurements involving three pilots with varying experience levels, alongside physical measurements of the cockpit and a workstation ergonomic assessment.. Participants reported issues with limited physical space, particularly impactful to the pilot’s posture and ability to manipulate controls. Display visibility and interaction were areas of concern, often requiring pilots to lean in awkward postures. …

An Exploration Of Aviation Safety And Security Culture In Nigeria And The United Arab Emirates (Uae), Nicholas Degarmo, Kathrine Lopez, Hana Marz, Cedric Leon, Michael Chrisman

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Aviation safety and security standards are fundamental for enabling the reliability and sustainability of aviation operations. Aviation safety and security are influenced by organizational and institutional standards, as well as the application of human factors principles. This paper aims to explore the regional variances of aviation safety and security culture within Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both regions have taken great steps to align with international aviation standards, offering insight into how different regions shape their regulatory environments, organizational culture, and how cultural factors affect safety and security practices. While Nigeria continues to face challenges such as inconsistent …

Mitigating Uas Airspace Risks Through Policy Innovation, Christopher Daniel Sidor

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, have become an everyday part of our lives. Once a technology reserved for the defense industry, UAS are now widely available and affordable in the commercial market. These systems have been used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, route mapping, and kinetic deployment of munitions. In modern warfare, drones have been at the forefront, leveraging new tactics, techniques, and procedures to enhance lethality and destruction. The integration of fiber-optic (FO) connected drones, first-person view (FPV) technology, and 3D printed munition-dropping devices in particular demonstrates a dire need for legislative intervention. These …

The Wildlife Intelligence For Aviation Safety (Wild-Ai), Bao Khoa Tran

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Wildlife strikes pose a significant safety risk and economic burden to the aviation industry. Over 291,000 strikes have been reported in the U.S. since 1990, causing an estimated $248 million in annual losses. The Wild-AI (Wildlife Intelligence for Aviation Safety) project leverages cutting-edge technologies, including large language models (LLMs), machine learning (ML), explainable AI (XAI), and Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) imagery, to enhance wildlife hazard management at airports. Wild-AI transforms traditional Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHAs) by integrating advanced data analytics and UAV monitoring. By utilizing historical wildlife-strike data and ML algorithms, we will identify key predictors of damaging strikes, such …

Enhancing Wildlife Strike Risk Assessment Through Large Language Model–Driven Data Analysis, Bill Deng Pan

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Wildlife strikes remain a persistent safety and economic concern across global aviation operations, highlighting the need for advanced analytical methods to improve risk assessment and mitigation. Traditional statistical approaches to wildlife-strike data, while effective for structured variables such as altitude, phase of flight, or aircraft type, often overlook valuable insights embedded in the unstructured narrative components of strike reports. This study proposes the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) for the automated extraction, classification, and interpretation of information within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wildlife Strike Database. Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, LLMs will be utilized to identify key …

Polar Reconnaissance & Imagining Survey (Polaris), Max Brooks, Zion Carpenter, Isabel La Coss

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

In preparation for the permanent human presence on the lunar south pole as part of the ARTEMIS Accords, planned human excursions will conduct science on regions of interest to locate resources for sustained habitation. The objective of the Polar Reconnaissance & Imaging Survey simulation is to take a predetermined region sized image of a planned astronaut excursion site to identify terrain features and threats. This shall be a satellite mission control (MCC) simulation with four Earth-based satellite console operators, and one moon-based EVA encompassing.

Injuries And Accidents On Airport Ramps, Kavya Banarjee

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Media coverage of aircraft incidents/accidents often triggers public scrutiny and heightened anxiety. But behind that are injuries and fatalities caused on the airport ramps; incidents like these are rarely covered by the media but pose just as much of a safety concern as an aircraft incident. This paper aims to inform aviation industry professionals and airline executives about the causes of incidents and accidents on the airport ramp; it also covers the importance of finding and implementing solutions for safety. The methodology for this paper focuses on research and analysis of publicly available information. Relevant data and perspectives were gathered …

Crew Resource Management Analyzed In Guyana Military Accident, Kaylee Lall

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

"In December 2023, a Guyana Defence Force Bell 412EP helicopter crashed in mountainous jungle terrain near the Venezuela border, killing five of the seven personnel on board. Preliminary investigation findings indicate the probable cause of the accident was pilot error, rather than mechanical failure. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the crew deviated from the standard route and elected to fly under visual flight rules (VFR) along the Mazaruni River. The combination of limited visibility, rising mountainous terrain, and potential spatial disorientation likely contributed to this controlled flight into terrain.

This case study applies the SHELL model to analyze the interactions …

Contrasting Coastal Dune Environments In Chile, Aurora Christianson

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Emerging coastalization and urbanization threats to the prehistoric Concón Dunes and Humedal de Mantagua coastal area of Chile is being investigated by researchers via uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Four UAS were utilized: Anzu Raptor T, DJI Mavic 3E, DJI Mavic 3M, and DJI Air 3 to collect various images of the coastal dunes. Multispectral and RGB cameras gather images by photogrammetry to create orthomosaics and monitor vegetation indexes in Pix4Dmapper. Thermal cameras provided images in rainbow, white hot infrared, and black hot infrared schemes to monitor wildlife and vegetation. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated to visualize overall …

Impact Of In-Cabin Human Machine Interface Designs On Passenger Trust In Urban Air Mobility, Ricole A. Johnson, Erika E. Gallegos

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) presents a promising solution for alleviating urban traffic congestion and enhancing transportation efficiency. However, the widespread acceptance of UAM, particularly sustained ridership of autonomous passenger air vehicles (PAVs), is contingent upon addressing critical human factors for building passenger trust, especially in the absence of a human pilot. This paper evaluates how different in-cabin human-machine interface (HMI) designs affect passenger trust in the aircraft and in-cabin display, situation awareness, and pilot preferences. Forty participants, equally split between early and late technology adopters, completed two simulated flights: a baseline flight with no HMI and a second flight featuring …

The Role Of User Experience In Virtual Reality Flight Training: A Comparison With Pc-Based Simulation, Tianxin Zhang, Christina M. Frederick, Barbara Chaparro

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The current project explores how user experience (UX) in virtual reality (VR) flight simulation influences both cognitive learning outcomes and procedural skill acquisition when compared to traditional desktop-based simulation.. Using a quasi-transfer of training design, 48 student pilots were randomly assigned to VR, Desktop, or Control groups and trained on the Chandelle maneuver. UX was measured with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), while training effectiveness was evaluated through a post-training knowledge test and recorded maneuver performance on a high-fidelity flight training device. Results indicated that the VR group reported significantly higher UX scores in Attractiveness, Stimulation, and Novelty, and showed …

Instructional Fidelity In Virtual Flight: Applying A Structured Learning Model For Vr-Based Pilot Training, Lindsay Gouedy, Bryce Jarrell, Mary Fendley, Brandon Wolf

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

As immersive training technologies reshape the future of aviation education, this study explores the impact of integrating Virtual Reality (VR) into a structured instructional model for B-52 pilot training. With the development and implementation of the I-BUFF (Integrated B-52 Unit Flight Familiarization) model, an innovative framework built upon the 4C/ID (Four Component Instructional Design) and SEEV (Salience, Effort, Expectancy, Value) models, this research evaluates whether structured VR environments improve training transfer and accelerate task proficiency for in-air refueling tasks. A sample of 233 pilot trainees was assessed across three groups: traditional training (non-VR unstructured), VR semi-structured, and VR fully structured …

Utilising Video Recordings To Assess Student Pilot Performance: An Exploratory Study During A Simulated Training Flight, Bradley Moncion, Shi Cao, Allison Lynch, Suzanne K. Kearns, Elizabeth Irving, Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

In ab initio flight training, the quality of the feedback a flight instructor provides their student is essential to their success. While other high-performance and safety-critical industries have incorporated the use of video recordings into training and assessments, the aviation industry generally has not. There are some studies addressing the potential benefits of video recordings in training professional pilots, but there is a lack of research at the ab initio level. In this study, five flight instructors assessed the performance of student pilots conducting a simulated training flight using a 4-point marking scale. The flights instructors were then tasked with …

Navigating The Challenges: Preflight Planning With Notam In Australia’S General Aviation Sector, Joshua Chiang, Guido Carim Junior

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) are an integral part of a pilot’s preflight navigational briefing, providing pertinent information in textual format. However, significant shortcomings have been found in the NOTAM system and in its use, with many of the shortcomings revolving around the interface. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the challenges general aviation pilots face when interacting with NOTAMs during preflight navigational planning. A thematic analysis study was conducted and included episodic semi-structured interviews with 15 pilots and document analysis. The interview transcription and excerpts of NOTAMs were analyzed following a thematic analysis technique. The findings of this preliminary …

Evaluation Of Tactile Cueing Embedded In An Aviation Headset On Pilot Altitude Control, Nicholas D. Wilson, Jessica Van Bree, Matthew Cleveland, Sunny Charakuru, Thomas Petros, Richard Ferraro, Kouhyar Tavakolian

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study evaluated the effectiveness of tactile cueing integrated into a pilot’s headset on pilot altitude control during simulated instrument conditions. Pilots typically rely on visual and auditory inputs to maintain situational awareness, but in high-workload or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), these channels can become overloaded. One underutilized alternative for alerting is a tactile cueing apparatus. Using an X-Plane simulation of a Piper Archer equipped with a G-1000 avionics suite, 39 FAA-certified pilots flew two precision approaches. The experimental group (n = 20) received haptic cues via ear seal-embedded tactors when deviating from assigned altitude or glideslope. The control group …

Evaluating Kansai Airport's Ppp: Grounded Ambitions, Concession Of Financial, Geotechnical, And Climate Risk, Edmund Cho, Dimitrios V. Siskos

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This study critically examines the Kansai Airports Group’s 44-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) monopoly-type concession encompassing Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM), and Kobe (UKB) airports. The research uses financial analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and NPV-at-risk modeling to evaluate how Japan’s fixed-term private monopoly model allocates financial, operational, and environmental risks. In 2015, there were significant developments in the promotion of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Act. It was revised in 2015; as a result, it finds that the underestimated long-term maintenance liabilities, especially Kansai airport (KIX) foundation subsidence, and lacked flexibility to manage exogenous shocks like COVID-19 and Typhoon Jebi. …

Preparing Tomorrow’S Professionals: Industry-Informed Ai Integration, Brent A. Terwilliger Ph.D, John Faraca

Publications

As AI reshapes operations across aviation and aerospace, organizations are investing in ways to preserve data integrity, safeguard proprietary knowledge, and uphold critical professional competencies. This presentation shares emerging findings from a study that surveys and interviews industry professionals about their use of AI tools, their concerns about misuse, and the importance of secure, enterprise-controlled “walled garden” environments. The work explores how employers define appropriate, effective, and innovative AI adoption, particularly in roles requiring high-stakes decision-making, compliance, and technical acumen.

By analyzing organizational expectations around AI-related knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), this research offers practical guidance for academic programs seeking …

Student Perspectives On Ai-Enabled Tools For Adaptive Learning, John Faraca

Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing the delivery of higher education, especially in aviation technical disciplines. From AI-assisted gimbals and video production tools to generative AI platforms, these technologies are helping learners to engage with course material, accomplish objectives, and connect academic concepts with professional applications. By offering pathways for personalization, streamlining resource access, and supporting interactive instruction, AI tools expand opportunities for effective learning. This work builds on a current collaborative research project with a faculty researcher to explore the student perspective in the active review and application of these tools to highlight their potential to improve usability, address …

Aura Aero, A Perspective On Sustainability And Resilience, Mattia Padulo

Sustainability Conference

Since its foundation, AURA AERO has committed to tackle aviation related environmental impacts, through an incremental industrial approach that has allowed the company to become the first fully fledged aircraft manufacturer among the new players in the field of Advanced Air Mobility. AURA AERO product policy has been gradually shaped to scale-up towards bigger, smarter, greener products, and is now enriched by unmanned technologies, as an adaptation to newer societal demands induced by the current geopolitical context. The presentation will give an update on the latest company and product developments, and particularly those related to the INTEGRAL E - the …

A Scoping Review Of Aviation Loss Of Control Inflight Research, Brian J. Roggow

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Loss of control – inflight (LOC-I) contributes to aircraft accidents at unacceptably high rates. Significant industry efforts and research have aimed to improve LOC-I prevention, detection, and recovery. This scoping review of literature systematically analyzed LOC-I literature between 2014 and 2024. The scoping review synthesized research findings and recommendations from 116 relevant articles. The research findings and recommendations were also categorized using the SHELL model to identify prevalent and understudied themes. Significant research has examined angle of attack indicators, integrated flight directors, automated LOC-I avoidance, detection, and recovery systems, as well as associated nonlinear aerodynamic modeling. Additionally, human performance shaping …

Invisible Aircraft In U.S. Airspace: Regulatory Gaps And Mid-Air Collision Risk For Part 121 Operators, Philip Vandette

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Scheduled air carrier aircraft operate at large and small commercial airports across the U.S. National Airspace System. These turbine-powered aircraft fly at high speeds during departure and approach, yet many commercial airports are not covered by regulations requiring general aviation aircraft to transmit their positions, and some remain exempt from existing requirements. This regulatory gap forces airline pilots to rely on see-and-avoid methods that are impractical at turbine aircraft speeds. This study conducts a quantitative exploratory analysis of three data sources, using a PRISMA-style flow diagram, to examine the frequency of near mid-air collisions involving airline and general aviation aircraft …

Aligning Aviation Safety Reporting System Anomaly Codes For Crew Communication And Coordination With Human Factors Taxonomies, Jennifer Rose Herr

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This study addresses the lack of theoretical grounding and definitions for the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) anomaly codes, particularly those related to pilot communication and coordination errors. To improve the conceptual consistency and analytical usability of ASRS data, the research developed a framework that maps ASRS codes to three established theory-based human factors taxonomies: the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), Threat and Error Management (TEM), and Aviation Causal Contributors for Error Reporting Systems (ACCERS). The study used qualitative text mining to systematically code communication and coordination errors submitted by Part 121 pilots for a stratified sample of …

Monte Carlo Simulation Models To Enhance Air Cargo Network Resilience And Sustainability, Shereen Marie Hashemi

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This dissertation focuses on developing and validating an empirical set of simulation models for an air cargo network under large-scale disruption to test recovery strategies that improve resilience. Understanding and quantifying network resilience and recovery strategies is critical for ensuring sustainable operations. These operations become essential during disruptive events as air cargo is used to transport time-sensitive and critical goods. The collective research steps result in a Monte Carlo simulation framework to evaluate air cargo network resilience and identify strategies that enhance performance during disruptions.

The modeled system is a hub-and-spoke network centered on Memphis (MEM) with 23 domestic airports …

Student Insights Into Airline Pathway Program Participation, Lauren Burmester, Becky Lutte, Donald Seeterlin, Isabella Gianni

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Airlines and universities have increasingly established partnership agreements for the purpose of providing a clear path for employment for professional pilots. ERAU has multiple agreements with airlines and corporate flight departments. The purpose of this research project is to examine the motivation for students to join these pilot pathway programs. The authors will explore why students choose to join such programs and what barriers keep them from participating.

The research will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, supported by an internal grant, involves a comprehensive literature review, and the development of a survey instrument and interview protocol. The …

Aircraft Bird Strike Risk Prediction Using Machine Learning And Analytic Hierarchy Process, Jason Anthony Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

To address the limitations of Next Generation Radar-based bird strike forecasting, this study modeled 12 spatiotemporal weather features from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alongside bird strike risk using Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network (LSTM-RNN), XGBoost regression tree, and Bayesian network algorithms. Five years of bird strike data from four geographically diverse airfields served as the target risk variable, categorized as low, moderate, or severe based on Department of the Air Force risk models. The ensemble model, which combines the LSTM-RNN and XGBoost regression algorithms, yielded the most accurate forecasts, achieving 80% to 93% accuracy across all airfields, …

Examining The Impact Of Stress On Collegiate Flight Students, Shivanee D. Cannon-Patron

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

Stress may negatively affect the timely completion of a student pilot's flight training. A student pilot influenced by stress may be subject to what is known as "falling behind the aircraft," a condition that constantly requires minor interventions from their flight instructor. This lack of situational awareness and decreased performance may inadvertently cause the student pilot to repeat the flight lesson, increasing the time spent in the training course.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence In Education To Drive Cross-Sector Innovation, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes educational practices, particularly in technical fields such as uncrewed systems, robotics, and aviation/ aerospace, its integration raises promise and complexity. This exploratory study features an investigation of the impact AI tools adoption has on instruction, curriculum support, and workforce preparation, with a focus on online learning environments. Drawing from pilot survey data across aviation and aerospace education stakeholders and hands-on evaluation of AI video production platforms, findings reveal diverse applications, perceived benefits, and critical concerns, including ethical, pedagogical, and institutional challenges. Additionally, the analysis explored how AI-enabled education intersects with broader industry and government innovation …

Rfid Security For Iot Airport Infrastructure, Owen Guerra-Mondragon Saenz, Aaron Tulino, Benjamin Higgins, Philippe Shchetinin, Sawyer Hansen

Discovery Day - Prescott

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses active and passive tags to communicate via radio signals at various frequencies. Currently, it is being used in several applications in areas like merchandise tracking during transit, inventory management, access control for authorized personnel, and data sharing via Near Field Communication (NFC). RFID technology is used in airports to track both people (passengers and employees) and luggage. For employees, RFID helps control access to specific areas based on their role or hierarchy within the organization, allowing them to enter restricted zones based on their permissions. For passengers, RFID plays a crucial …

Rookies To Aces: Investigating The Intuitiveness Of Pilot Interaction For Operating Evtol Aircraft, Shivani J. Patel

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft introduce unique movement dimensions beyond traditional fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft, requiring novel control interfaces for pilot operation. This study examines the compatibility of gesture-based control movements across participants with varying flight experience levels. This study included a total of 60 participants across four groups; novices (no real or virtual flight experience, n=30), flight simulator gamers (n=10), fixed-wing pilots (n=10), and rotor-wing pilots (n=10). Participants viewed eighteen simulated first-person eVTOL aircraft movements (e.g. pitch, roll, yaw, heave, translations) assessing their intuitive gesture inputs for the different aircraft motions. Additionally, they were asked to sketch …