Aviation Commons^™

Small Unmanned Aircraft System Operator Compliance With Visual Line Of Sight Requirements, Ryan J. Wallace, Kristine M. Kiernan, John Robbins, Tom Haritos

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Operating small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without appropriate waivers and risk mitigations presents a serious hazard to manned aircraft and other users of the National Airspace System. According to federal regulations codified in 14 CFR 107 and PL 112-95 Sec. 336, sUAS operators are required to fly their craft within visual line of sight. Currently, no data exists to determine if operators are compliant with these rules. The authors sought to conduct an exploratory research study to determine the distance operators fly their sUAS craft and evaluate the likelihood of remaining in visual contact …

Comparison Of Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Uas) For Agriculture Monitoring, Joseph Cerreta, Kristine M. Kiernan

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Florida citrus growers need inexpensive methods to observe citrus plants to detect disease and stress consistently. Health vegetation indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) collected from Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), can be used to identify variation in plant health. Simple-to-operate UAS may enable growers to determine within-field variation more frequently than with inspections from scouts, providing more frequent knowledge about the crop condition. This research compared two low-cost fixed-wing UAS, a $5,000 Parrot Disco Pro Ag and a $16,690 senseFly eBee, each equipped with a Parrot Sequoia multispectral camera, to determine if there were differences in the …

In-Flight Wingtip Folding: Inspiration From The Xb-70 Valkyrie, Gaétan X. Dussart, Mudassir Lone, Ciaran O'Rourke, Thomas Wilson

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Wingip folding can be used to extend aircraft wingspan, allowing designers to take advantage of reduced induced drag whilst respecting ground operational limitations. Such devices can also be used in-flight for a variety of other benefits including load alleviation and flight control. The majority of in-flight folding research takes inspiration in past developments made on the XB-70 Valkyrie, which used the folding devices for stability and lift performance benefits. In this paper, the authors investigate the capabilities of the folding wingtip system and potential scaling to large civil aircraft. Manufacturing details are used to size the actuators whilst the aerodynamic …

Effects Of A Hand Luggage Guiding System On Airplane Boarding Time And Passenger Experience, Mirte Vendel, Sagar Dangal, Jessica Coppens, Suzanne Hiemstra-Van Mastrigt, Peter Vink

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This research investigates whether a hand luggage guiding system in overhead bins decreases boarding time and improves boarding experience during aircraft boarding process. A guiding system was developed which allocates and displays the passengers luggage space in the overhead bin. The allocated space is guided by a light strip in front of the display that blinks when a passenger comes close to their allocated luggage space. This system was tested in a Boeing 737 test fuselage. Compared to regular boarding, a boarding time reduction of 16 to 23 seconds was estimated using the hand luggage guiding system in groups of …

Global Aviation System: Towards Sustainable Development, Marina P. Bonser Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Aviation around the world has integrated into a global system. As the integration process continues, more aspects and levels of it need to be lead towards the sustainable development of the whole system via advancing strategic management, global communication proficiency, and technological expertise. It becomes essential to enrich global language (English) proficiency with cross-cultural communication competence not only for communication in the air but also for airport security, passenger and cargo services, aircraft and equipage engineering, building, and maintenance. Nowadays lower levels of management need more advanced strategic thinking and problem solving skills, and higher levels of management need global …

Aviation Automation And Cns/Atm-Related Human-Technology Interface: Atsep Competency Considerations, Adeyinka Olumuyiwa Osunwusi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Abstract

The aviation industry has, no doubt, undergone profound transformations ever since the first powered aircraft flight on December 17, 1903. An especially noticeable aspect of the transformations is in the area of automation. Remarkably, aviation operations are becoming increasingly automated and it is expected that the wind of change sweeping through the industry will be getting stormier as new technologies emerge especially within the context of the emerging prospects of intelligent technologies, which may ultimately enthrone complete automated or technology-based intelligent decision making. Perhaps, in no sphere of the aviation system has there been, in recent times, a much …

A New Model For Lifting Condensation Levels Estimation, Nihad E. Daidzic Ph.D., Sc.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Knowledge of and the ability to predict lifting condensation levels (LCL) is important ingredient in weather predictions, cloud formation, planetary albedo and Earth’s energy balance. It is also essential topic in aviation safety and flight operations. In this article, we derive a new model of LCL and compare it to some older commonly-used models. This includes also the recently published Romps’ (2017) model. The new model presented here includes dependence, however weak, of the surface atmospheric pressure and the specific humidity on the LCL height and temperature. Such is not the case with widely used models and expressions by Espy …

Effects Of Exit Doors And Number Of Passengers On Airport Evacuation Effeciency Using Agent Based Simulation, Jie Chen, Dahai Liu, Sirish Namilae, Sang-A Lee, Jennifer E. Thropp, Younho Seong

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Many factors determine the efficiency of evacuation at an airport during emergencies. These factors are very complicated and many times, unpredictable. The Federal Aviation Administration provides numerous advisory circulars and regulations for managing airport evacuation. However, a thorough literature review suggests that research on airport evacuation is still very limited. A study was designed to simulate an airport evacuation to address this problem. This study selected a local certificated airport in the United States for this purpose. We developed and validated a situation model using AnyLogic to investigate evacuation time at this airport. Using different variables, such as the number …

A Trust In Air Traffic Controllers (T-Atc) Scale, Bradley S. Baugh, Scott R. Winter

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Trust is a concept that cannot be easily measured. Further, trust is domain-specific. Trust is a foundational aspect of safe flight operations in the National Airspace System, and while there has been much attention to trust in teams and trust in automation, there appears to be a gap in knowledge of a pilot’s trust in air traffic controllers. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Trust in Air Traffic Controllers (T-ATC) scale, a summative scale to measure a pilot’s trust in air traffic controllers. This study followed a three-step methodology. In steps one and two, words …

Fatigue Identification And Management In Flight Training: An Investigation Of Collegiate Aviation Pilots, Flavio A. Coimbra Mendonca Mr, Julius Keller, Chientsung Lu

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate collegiate aviation students’ self-awareness of their fatigue issues; to investigate possible causes of fatigue afflicting collegiate aviation students; and to investigate the collegiate aviation students’ lifestyle and perceptions of personal solutions to fatigue.

Background: Pilot fatigue is a significant safety hazard in aviation operations. Several factors can contribute to fatigue, including inadequate sleep, long work hours, and inadequate nutritional habits. Some factors, such as social and academic activities, could be unique for Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 141 collegiate aviation pilots. Previous studies have addressed fatigue in …

Double Stud Cargo Fitting Research, Alternative Cargo Clip Design And Analysis, Cemal İrfan Çalişkan, Ebubekir Koç Dr, Hamaid Mahmood Khan Dr, Mustafa Enes Bulduk

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

It can be said that today's civil aviation basics began to be laid in the 1950s. This date is also important as the period in which the rules are being written and at the same time, some system solutions are produced by testing the methods of cargo loading. The cargo clip used in these cargo loading systems will be the subject of our article. In this context, the development process of the clip, which started in 1953 until today, will be examined in the light of the patent applications of the period; Afterwards, alternative clip-on work to the current cargo …

Strategies In Developing An Aviation & Aerospace Skill Ecosystem For The State Of Telangana, India – Case Study Of Task -Telangana Academy For Skill And Knowledge, Kim Chua, Sujiv Nair, M.P Ganesh Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The aviation & aerospace sector in India has been expanding and growing through partnerships and new research facilities, thereby encouraging more players to invest and optimize the manufacturing process. Improving green and fuel-efficient technologies have contributed to a steady rise in fuelling the demand for aerospace engineers.

The state of Telangana is fast emerging as a new aviation cluster with some of the country’s best-qualified engineers and technicians. The potential of the aerospace industry is immense as it continuously requires skilled technicians and engineers. Considering the precision of skill required, it is imperative that rigorous training be imparted to all …

Satellite Maintenance: An Opportunity To Minimize The Kessler Effect, Bettina M. Mrusek Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Recently, there has been an emphasis on the growing problem of orbital debris. While the advantages of placing satellites into space are numerous, advances in satellite technology combined with the growth of the industry have resulted with a significant amount of debris in the orbits surrounding our planet. The harshness of the space environment has also contributed to the debris, as evidenced by the number of objects currently in orbit which are not operational. As the amount of debris grows, so too does the likelihood of collisions, ultimately culminating in the Kessler Effect. However, recent advances in propulsion, advanced navigation, …

Big Five Technologies In Aeronautical Engineering Education: Scoping Review, Ruth Martinez-Lopez

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The constant demands that technology creates in aerospace engineering also influence education. The identification of the technologies with practical application in aerospace engineering is of current interest to decision makers in both universities and industry. A social network approach enhances this scoping review of the research literature to identify the main topics using the Big Five technologies in aerospace engineering education. The conceptual structure of the dataset (n=447) was analyzed from different approaches: at macro-level, a comparative of the digital technology identified by cluster analysis with the number of co-words established in 3 and 8 and, a keyword central structure …

Urban Flow And Small Unmanned Aerial System Operations In The Built Environment, Kevin A. Adkins

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has put forth a set of regulations (Part 107) that govern small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) operations. These regulations restrict unmanned aircraft (UA) from flying over people and their operation to within visual line of sight (VLOS). However, as new applications for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are discovered, their capabilities improve, and regulations evolve, there is an increasing desire to undertake urban operations, such as urban air mobility, package delivery, infrastructure inspection, and surveillance. This built environment poses new weather hazards that include enhanced wind shear and turbulence. The smaller physical dimensions, lower mass and …

Aircraft Interior Design And Satisfaction For Different Activities; A New Approach Toward Understanding Passenger Experience, Golnoosh Torkashvand, Lucas Stephane, Peter Vink

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Among airlines and aircraft manufacturers there is much attention for passenger experience. However, there is not much literature on how the activities of passengers can be supported by the aircraft interior. The current study focuses on the need finding and requirements analysis of flight passengers. Twenty-three activities were defined based on retrospective interviews and brainstorming sessions. Respondents were asked to rate their overall perception related to the importance of each of those 23 activities on a Linkert scale, from “not at all important” to “extremely important”. On a separate question they were also asked to rate their overall satisfaction by …

Crew Resource Management For Large Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, Peter S. Neff

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Abstract

The author explored the application of crew resource management (CRM) principles to commercial flight operations conducted by large unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Currently, there is no regulatory structure governing the operation of large UAS in commercial flight operations. However, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) forecasted the future by demonstrating the feasibility of large remotely piloted UAS flight in June 2018 by flying Ikhana, a modified MQ-9 Predator B aircraft, over a 415-mile route in Class A and in Class E airspace over southern California (Kooser, 2018). Ikhana is a 10,500-pound aircraft with a wingspan of 66 feet …

On Atmospheric Lapse Rates, Nihad E. Daidzic

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

We have derived and summarized and most important atmospheric temperature lapse rates. ALRs essentially govern vertical atmospheric air stability and creation of some cloud types. The sensitivity analysis of various atmospheric lapse rates and their dependence on actual ideal-gas air properties and gravitational attraction was conducted for the first time to the best of our knowledge. SALR, which has DALR as the upper asymptote, showed steepest decrease at around 9 degrees Celsius then flattening out and apparently approaching another asymptotic solution which has not been investigated as it falls outside of the terrestrial temperature range. ISA lapse rates are adopted …

Brand Awareness, Purchase Intention And Price Premium Of International Airlines Operating Between Australia And The United Kingdom, Yi Gao, Nigel Wai Keong Choy

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Brand equity has a profound impact on the pricing and sales of consumer products and services. Inspired by existing literature on customer-based brand equity in various domains, this study examines brand awareness (a dimension of brand equity), purchase intention and price premium of international airlines operating on a specific aviation market, Australia - the United Kingdom. Through surveying a sample of 259 participants in the metropolitan Melbourne area, the study captures a snapshot of brand recognition and brand preference of international airlines among local travelers. Statistically significant association is found between brand awareness and purchase intention, and between brand awareness …

Determination Of Takeoff And Landing Distances Using An Ipad Performance Application For The Diamond Da40, Tyler A. Babb, Christina Hiers

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

All pilots are required to calculate aircraft performance parameters prior to flight. This includes takeoff and landing distances. Traditionally, pilots in training have planned for takeoff and landing performance using paper charts provided by the manufacturer. However, professional pilots use devices such as Flight Management Systems (FMS), Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) applications, or on-board performance computers (OPC) to make such calculations. During primary flight training, student pilots could make performance calculations with proper software, similar to the method they will typically use at the professional level. Recently an iPad application was released which can calculate numerous performance parameters for specific …

The Perceived Value Of Frequent Flyer Program Benefits Among Australian Travelers, Yi Gao, Madeline Carrigg, Robert Lewinski, Danielle Polderman, Paul Tkalcevic

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Understanding the perceived value of frequent flyer program benefits is crucial for commercial operations of airlines. This study aimed to investigate if travelers value various benefits provided by airlines and if such valuation correlates with certain characteristics of travelers. Through a scenario-based questionnaire it was confirmed that travelers do value extra and premium benefits offered by airlines, and such valuation increases along with the distance of route. It was also been found that top-tier members were willing to make a much higher offer for the same benefits on long-haul international route than members of lower status, but such difference in …

Portable Electronic Devices On The Flight Deck, Irena Wentzel, John E. Deaton

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The emergence of portable electronic devices (PEDs) has provided people with most anything at the touch of a button but has caused many safety-related distractions at the same time. A somewhat addictive reliance on PEDs, mostly smart phones, seems to exist even during times that would prohibit their use. Operation of PEDs during these times has led to some fatal accidents in all areas of transportation. The urgency of this safety issue now means the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) studies what role a PED may have played in every new accident investigation. Examining the use of PEDs on the …

A Comparison Of The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Small-Format Aerial Photography Platforms, Jeremy W. Aber, Tyler A. Babb, Douglas E. Campbell, Kevin M. Corns

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The demand for small-format aerial photography continues to grow in large part due to the rapid adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Prior to the explosion of UAV use, this kind of photography was collected using older technologies such as tethered kites and blimps. Due to the increased demand for aerial imagery, this article looks at four platforms commonly used to collect small-format aerial imagery: multi-rotor UAVs, fixed-wing UAVs, kites, and blimps. Practical use considerations are explored, including characteristics of flight and operation, atmospheric and site factors, imaging sensors and costs, and regulatory limitations.

Each of the four categories of …

Book Review: Fundamentals Of International Aviation, Alan Bender

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Not applicable.

Us Regional Airline Pay Scale Changes, Alex Nikle, Elizabeth Bjerke

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The United States regional air carrier industry has recently undergone a substantial transformation in pilot salaries and hiring practices. Regional airlines are employing professional aviators at unprecedented rates in response to economic growth, regulatory reform, and legacy air carrier retirements. The combination of these factors has spurred demand for qualified air carrier pilots. As the hiring continues to increase, regional airlines are finding new ways to attract certified pilots to include: salary increases, bonuses incentives, and legacy airline employment flow agreements. The following report analyzes the salary changes that have occurred at US regional airlines from 2007-2017. From this data, …

Ranking Of Human Senses In Relation To Different In-Flight Activities Contributing To The Comfort Experience Of Airplane Passengers, Joyce Bouwens, Suzanne Hiemstra-Van Mastrigt, Peter Vink

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Bubb, Bengler, Grünen, and Vollrath (2015) identified six environmental comfort factors and ordered them from most important to least important (smell, light, vibrations, sound, climate and anthropometry). This paper attempts to verify whether this suggested order of comfort-related factors also applies to the expectations of aircraft passengers. For this purpose, two studies were carried out. First, a survey was conducted among 183 aircraft passengers between 19 and 64 years old. In this survey, respondents were asked to rank six comfort factors by selecting the most important factor from 15 pairs of factors (e.g. light versus smell). The respondents indicated anthropometry …

Exploring Commercial Counter-Uas Operations: A Case Study Of The 2017 Dominican Republic Festival Presidente, Ryan J. Wallace, Jon M. Loffi, Michael Quiroga, Carlos Quiroga

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The proliferation of commercial off-the-shelf unmanned aircraft technology has resulted in a growing number of illicit or hazardous UAS activities, highlighting the growing need for effective counter-UAS mitigations. The purpose of this exploratory research is to develop a better understanding of the existing tactics, techniques, procedures involved in counter-UAS operations. Using a critical paradigm approach, the authors conducted a qualitative, unstructured interview with counter-UAS professionals. The authors sought to identify mission planning considerations, counter-UAS engagement tasks, and unanticipated conditions associated with performing a commercial [non-military] counter-UAS mission. The authors codified 11 key mission planning tasks and a 22-step engagement process …

Characteristics Of Helicopter Accidents Involving Male And Female Pilots, Scott S. Burgess, Robert O. Walton, P. Michael Politano

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Studies examining aviation accidents have not found differences in accident rates by gender, though there may be gender differences in the types of accident. Baker, Lamb, Grabowski, and Rebok (2001) examined fixed-wing aviation accident rates of male and female private pilots and found that males were more likely to have accidents related to inattention or poor planning while female pilots were more likely to have accidents due to mishandling the aircraft. This research analyzed the National Transportation Safety Board’s aviation accident database system to examine the severity of injury and aircraft damage in rotary-wing (helicopter) accidents by gender. The data …

Building Evidence The Federal Aviation Administration's Uas Safety Strategy Needs Improvement, Ryan J. Wallace, Tom Haritos, John Robbins

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The growth of unmanned aircraft operations within the National Airspace System (NAS) reveal an uptick of alarming safety indicators that suggest unmanned aircraft system (UAS) regulatory policy may require adjustment. Recent reports of aircraft collisions with UAS, an increase in pilot-reported near-misses, and research findings that indicate UAS platforms are capable of causing structural damage to aircraft suggest safe and effective UAS integration may not be proceeding as planned. The authors examine several safety indicators within the context of Heinrich’s Triangle to reveal the UAS industry’s susceptibility to evolving safety-related problems.

The Role Of Mentoring In The Careers Of Female Airline Transport Pilots, Paul E. Cline

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Women have been a part of aviation since its inception, yet they have been traditionally underrepresented in the ranks of commercial pilots. This study explored what role mentoring played in the lives and careers of female Airline Transport Pilots (ATP).

It was determined that there was no statistically significant difference in self-reported perceptions of success between female ATP who had been mentored and those who had not. Of the female ATP who had been mentored, those who reported an informal mentoring relationship rated their relationship higher than those who reported a formal mentoring relationship when it came to career oriented …