Aviation Commons^™

Culture And The Management Of Advanced Automation: An Analysis Of Two Airlines, Surendra Cudah Ratwatte

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between National, Organizational and Professional Cultures and the attitudes toward managing advanced automation among the flightcrew of two international airlines. The Flight Management Attitudes Questionnaire developed by the University of Texas was utilized to determine the attitudes and perceptions held by airline pilots of various nationalities who fly late model Airbus and Boeing airliners. A census survey was conducted at the crew bases of the two airlines, one in the Middle East and other in South Asia. A total of 230 completed surveys were received. Chi Square analysis was used …

Effect Of Multiple Range Rings Vs. A Single Range Ring On Pilot Perception Of Vertical Separation On A Cockpit Display Of Traffic Information, Daniel B. Rizzardi

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of both a two and four mile range ring versus a single three mile range ring on pilot's perception of future vertical separation as viewed on a cockpit display of traffic information. The subjects consisted of 30 volunteer pilots from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the surrounding Daytona Beach, Florida area.

The simulation of a cockpit display of traffic information was generated using SuperCard® Version 1.6 software and a Macintosh IIx® personal computer. Eighty unique scenarios were monitored by the pilots in which they determined, as early as possible, what the …

A Comparison Of Pseudo 3-Dimensional Collision Avoidance-Predictor Displays For Free Flight, Steve Kertesz Jr.

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study was the second of two studies to evaluate the use of a pseudo three-dimensional display to present information about future possible conflicts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate variations of a cockpit screen display that transfers relevant data to the pilot in a manner which is easy to interpret and to facilitate the possible stressful situations that may be encountered due to the proposed free flight environment. In the first phase, three display concepts, using three different screen designs were compared. In this study, three different displays, all of which used using the space-time predictor concept …

In-Flight Fatigue Crack Monitoring Of An Aircraft Engine Cowling, Samuel Gordon Vaughn Iii

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This research investigates the feasibility of implementing an in-flight fatigue crack monitoring system in an airplane to identify fatigue crack growth. An acoustic emission data acquisition system coupled with a Kohonen self organizing map neural network were used to perform the analysis.

Fatigue cracking was responsible for ripping the top of a fuselage off an Aloha Airlines Boeing 737-200 as it carried passengers over the Pacific Ocean, killing some aboard. This tragedy is perhaps a precursor of problems to come, as our nation’s aircraft age. These planes experience fatigue as they perform their daily routine of ferrying passengers from location …

Fatigue: Investigation Of A Human Factor For Regional Airline Pilots, Doug Mikkelsen

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study analyzed the causes of regional airline pilot fatigue and the impact on pilot performance. An instrument was developed and refined through a field study validation by a panel of experts. The final instrument was distributed to three groups of regional airline pilots. The data supported the literature review, which revealed many causes of pilot fatigue, including flight crew schedules that are not compatible with human limitations; Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) that have not evolved with the advancement of aircraft performance and the public demand for 24 hour availability of flights; and poor personal habits. An analysis of the …

A Quasi-Experimental Approach For Assessing Air Traffic Controller Workload, Ana Theresa Borja

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The objective of this thesis was to evaluate and determine the operational impacts to the Oceanic Air Traffic Controller (controller) from deficiencies of an Oceanic Data Link system. These deficiencies in the Oceanic Data Link system are in regards to the Computer Human Interface (CHI) and its effect on the cognitive effort and physical task requirements imposed on the controller. The various workload methodologies and techniques were reviewed for specific workload techniques applicable to the operational environment when resources, such as time and funding, are lacking for a laboratory design. Data was collected from a live oceanic control facility where …

Three-Bladed Propeller Design For The Reduction Of General Aviation Radiated Noise Characteristics, Ronald W. Finn

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to design a quiet 3-Bladed propeller for general aviation aircraft. A combination of design technique and analytical predictions using the NASA Aircraft Noise Prediction Program - Propeller Analysis System (ANOPP-PAS) was used to achieve this goal. The propellers were designed for an engine power of 200 hp, a rotational speed of 2,400 RPM and a free-stream speed of 160 kts. A straight 76 in. diameter 2-bladed propeller was designed as a reference for the 64 in. diameter 3-bladed propeller. The ANOPP-PAS computer code was used for predicting the aerodynamic performance and radiated noise characteristics …

The Effect Of Automation On Helicopter Crew Communication: A Low-Fidelity Investigation, Margaret A. Maclsaac

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Increasing levels of technology have changed the task of flying modern helicopter cockpits by allowing many crew functions to be performed automatically. This study attempted to understand the relation between automation and helicopter crew coordination. Twenty-eight helicopter pilots were assigned to two-person crews and asked to fly a simulated mission in either automated or manual conditions using a low-fidelity helicopter simulator. Communication was transcribed and coded into a nine-category content classification system by two trained raters. The inter-rater reliability was +.84. Results indicated that a higher frequency of total communications was demonstrated during manual flights.

Utilizing A Product Rejuvenation Framework To Investigate University Aviation Association Members' Perceptions Of The Cessna 172 As A Single Engine Trainer, George A. Wrigley Iii

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this research was to utilize a product rejuvenation framework to investigate if sufficient market demand exists for Cessna in relaunching the 172 in the collegiate trainer market. The Collegiate Aviation Guide, a publication of the University Aviation Association listing UAA members and their respective aviation offerings, was used to establish the initial population for the research. The UAA members located within the 50 United States which 1) had a flight training program, and 2) owned and operated their own fleet of aircraft, represented the survey population. A total of 64 schools met the established criteria, with 55 …

Application Of Active Noise Control To Reduce Cabin Noise In Single Engine General Aviation Aircraft, Jeroen Hendrik Dolmans

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The application of active noise control to reduce cabin noise in single engine, general aviation aircraft is investigated through the use of the 'filtered x' least mean square algorithm and a simple acoustic feedforward method to generate a reference signal is tested. The system is designed to utilize one reference signal and up to two feedback signals and two audio speakers. The feedforward system consists of a microphone placed in close proximity to the front windshield and isolated from the cabin noise. Cabin noise and reference signals are recorded during flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a Piper Cherokee 140 …

Structural Design Of A Crashworthy Energy Absorbing Passenger Seat For A Large Transport Aircraft Using Large Displacement, Nonlinear Material Finite Element Analysis, Javier Fuentes

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Federal Aviation Regulations certification criteria for transport aircraft seats require performing dynamic tests using anthropomorphic test dummies. Floor decelerations of the tests are 16g forward with the seat tracks misaligned by up to 10 degrees and 14g downward at a pitch angle of 30 degrees. In this project the dynamic response of the passenger/seat/restraint system is modeled using nonlinear finite element analysis. The interference between a dummy model and the seat is modeled using a contact interaction algorithm. This algorithm did not converge and multiple-point constraints were used to transfer the dummy's inertia load. This approach was validated with the …

An Optimization Technique Of Airlines' Seat Inventory Management, Husam Abdallah Mahmoud Fanasheh

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study consisted of a simulation to maximize an airline's Origin- Destination revenues. It has been hypothesized that Linear Programming is capable of maximizing airlines' networks revenues. Simulation was performed with Linear Interactive Discrete Optimizer (LINDO). This project was designed to consider different fares and its classes along with multi flight connections. The seats' allocation process came out with the maximum possible revenues, and enough flexibility in terms of changing such allocation to work around competition and trends. Results came supportive to the hypothesis. Sensitivity analysis provided our model with a tool to modify and change different variables, like fares, …

Passenger Knowledge Of Airline Safety Icons: A Cultural Study, Bridget L. Mattingly

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Japanese, Korean, and American cultures in their ability to comprehend icons used in airline passenger safety information. The 116 subjects were outbound international airline passengers traveling from San Francisco International Airport to either Japan or Korea. The instrument used contained thirteen icons similar to those on current passenger safety briefing cards. Subjects were asked to identify the icons as accurately as possible. Answers were graded on a three point ordinal scale, and frequency data were obtained. To test for significant differences between cultures, the data were analyzed through use …

The Design And Experimental Optimization Of A Wingtip Vortex Turbine For General Aviation Use, Andrew Roberts

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

A wingtip vortex turbine (WVT) is an induced drag reduction device that straightens the vortex flow (reducing induced drag and wake turbulence) and also produces a thrust force component. The WVT also has the advantage of extracting the rotational energy of the vortex to turn a generator, which could be used to power onboard applications during normal or emergency flight operations. A 1/4-scale model of a thrust-producing WVT has been designed and tested in a wind tunnel for optimal drag reduction and power generation for general aviation aircraft — specifically, a Piper Cherokee — in both a stationary and a …

Analysis Of Small Airports Within A One Hundred And Twenty Mile Radius Of Medium And/Or Large Airports, Cheryl Mitchell Cunningham

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this research is to investigate how income, population age, scheduled air carrier services, and distance between competing airports impact annual scheduled passenger enplanements for airports in smaller communities. Small airports located within a 120 miles radius of larger sized (medium or large) airports are considered to be within the "shadow" of larger airports with which they must compete for passenger enplanements.

Two methods were employed to evaluate shadow airports within a 120 mile radius of larger airports. First, an historical view, analyzing each of the airports with regard to schedule passenger enplanements, median disposable incomes, median ages, …

Detection Of Fatigue Crack Growth In A Simulated Aircraft Fuselage, Michael Lee Marsden

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Acoustic emission (AE) nondestructive testing can detect fatigue cracks as they occur in complex structures. One use for AE has been in-flight detection of fatigue cracks in aircraft. The KC-135 aircraft were successfully monitored as early as 1979. The main problem with this and subsequent applications was an unfavorable signal to noise ratio, the key being to separate the small amplitude crack signals from the large amplitude ambient noise. This was accomplished here through the use of a Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM) neural network.

In order to simulate a fuselage undergoing fatigue, a pressure vessel was constructed from a 0.040 …

A Methodology For The Prediction Of The Empennage In-Flight Loads Of A General Aviation Aircraft Using Backpropagation Neural Networks, Maciej Marciniak

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Backpropagation neural networks have been used to predict strain resulting from the maneuver in-flight loads in the empennage structure of a Cessna 172P. The purpose of this research was to develop a methodology for the prediction of strain in the tail section of a general aviation aircraft and to determine the minimum set of sensors necessary to adequately train the neural networks. Linear accelerometer, angular accelerometer, rate gyro, and strain gage signals were collected in flight using DAQBook portable data acquisition system for dutch-roll, roll, sideslip left, sideslip right, stabilized g turn left, stabilized g turn right, and push-pull maneuvers …

An Investigation Of The Relationships Between The Angle Of Mental Rotation Required For Spatial Orientation, Response Times, And Accuracy, Ronald D. Archer

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the angles of mental rotation when attempting to spatially orientate and the resulting response times and levels of accuracy. By means of a computer program, participants were presented with 64 mental rotational trials. The mental rotational trials consisted of a triangle placed in the center of the screen with a standard stick symbol of an aircraft appearing at various headings and orientations around the triangle. The participants were required to imagine themselves inside the flight deck of the aircraft, and then respond as quickly and accurately as possible to …

Privatization And Its Impact On National Economy With A Close Look At Saudi Arabian Airlines, Abdulatef Halawani

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This thesis investigates the possibility of privatizing Saudi Arabian Airlines. The research study has been divided into different sections. The author investigates the privatization programs in airlines and airports.

A number of airlines have been chosen to evaluate the effectiveness of privatization. An overview of Saudia regional performance was conducted. This was done to show the Saudia position among other regional carriers. The last chapter includes a regression analysis and empirical findings.

The major finding of the research study concluded that Saudi Airlines would have been profitable if it had been privatized at the same time as British Airways. The …

The Use Of Electronic Ticketing - A Case Study, Olav C. Unger

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This thesis will look at the impact of electronic ticketing travel on the behavior and acceptance trends by airline customers, its effects on revenue generation and cost-cutting opportunities, and the implications in the established transaction flow processes. This form of ticketing is becoming increasingly popular among U.S. and European airlines due to the reduced costs in different areas of passenger and transaction flow handling when compared to the current paper-based ticketing method. While at first glance this new ticketing technology application seems like a move in the right direction for airlines, there is no evidence as to the views from …

A Comparison Of Two Geo-Centric Attitude Indicators As Aids To Unusual Attitude Recovery: Pictorial Vs. Symbolic Displays, Christopher Cohoes

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Aircraft require high cognitive quality aircraft attitude information. Evidence will be presented on aircrew decision-making performance on an unusual attitude recovery task using three different types of attitude displays. Results indicated that among a sample of low-flight time student pilots attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, mean reaction times were significantly faster and error rates significantly lower using an outside-in pictorial display than with either an outside-in symbolic display or an attitude gyro. This is attributed to the pictorial display being a more intuitive display by providing a more natural or realistic representation of aircraft orientation than the other two displays. The …

Personality As It Relates To Performance Among Primary Flight Students At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Caroline F. Farmer

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of primary flight students' performance as it relates to personality. Previous research has provided the basis for the relationship between what an individual accomplishes and personality traits. The individual performance of 30 students were evaluated by two different techniques during an observer flight. One was an evaluation form developed by the researcher and the other, the flight instructor's (P.I.C.) evaluation. The performance data gathered by the researcher was collected in order to provide a secondary set of performance data in case there was no discriminability amongst the flight instructor's evaluation. …

A Feasibility Study On The Automation Of Domestic Airline Passenger Customer Service Check-In Procedures For Far Part 121 Carriers, Don Michael Trevor Bennett

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether airlines can benefit from a fully automated customer service system which will be used by major, Part 121, operators for domestic travel purposes only. The proposed system will be designed to alleviate airport terminals check-in counter congestion and improve customer service personnel effectiveness and efficiency.

Domestic traffic is expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2004. An Automatic Ticketing and Baggage (ATB) system will allow passengers to process all flight related transactions only once. A self checking-in system allows a passenger to obtain boarding passes and destination bag …

Job Satisfaction And Dissatisfaction Factors Of Airport Security Screeners: National Survey Results, Francis X. Goeddeke Jr.

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study is to accurately and reliably determine what factors are most important to airport security screeners that effect job satisfaction and excessive employee turnover. Using survey items generating in a previous study, job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction survey scales for this population were developed and validated. A modified version of the Rensis Likert Scale of Organizational Climate was also developed. These surveys, including a demographic questionnaire, were administered to a large nationwide sample of airport security screeners. The results were analyzed using chi-square contingency tables, one-way analysis of variance tests, and the Fisher post-hoc procedure. Post-hoc …

A Direct Synthesis Method For The Conceptual Design Of Transport Aircraft, Pierre Andre Fruytier

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The problem of synthesizing a transport aircraft at the conceptual design level is considered. A direct sizing algorithm that does not require iteration is developed. Such direct synthesis methods can be used as important building blocks in an aircraft optimization process. New statistical equations based on current aircraft are derived for approximating the widths and lengths of the cabin and fuselage. A more accurate static thrust over gross weight, which is based on the equations of motion specified by the FAR part 25 climb requirements, is presented. A cruise at constant altitude with optional step-climb is taken into account. The …

The Effects Of A Pathway-In-The-Sky Display On Performance Of A Two Axis Tracking Task By Instrument Rated Pilots, Leonard W. Hennessy, Iii

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study was founded on the premise that airplane cockpit operations, while generally safe and relatively efficient, can be made even more so by employing instrument displays which are potentially more intuitive than existing displays. A low fidelity flight simulator was used to conduct an experiment comparing the performance of twenty-four instrument rated pilot subjects on a two axis tracking task (an Instrument Landing System Approach) under three instrument display conditions: (1) conventional instruments (INST); (2) a Pathway-in-the-Sky (PITS) display; and (3) a combination of the two (BOTH). The primary hypothesis, that pilot performance using the PITS and BOTH display …

Dynamic Simulation Of General Aviation Cabin Environments And Occupant Restraint Systems, Mark A. Shilladay

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

After a five year study of General Aviation (GA) accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that aircraft cabin environments place the occupant at high risk of suffering severe injuries in an emergency crash situation. Studies of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seat tests were used to form the basis of a computer analysis to address dynamic cabin environments. In this effort a simplified system of masses, springs, and dampers are used to simulate the more complex configuration of cabin structure, seat, pilot, and restraints on a personal computer. The primary objective of this study is to accurately simulate …

A Summative Evaluation Of Flightsafety International's Computer Assisted Instruction Known As "Principles Of Troubleshooting", Willie Don Middlebrooks

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The objective of this experimental research was to ascertain if cognitive skills developed by the "Principles of Troubleshooting" (POT) educational course improved aircraft fault diagnostic ability in aircraft maintenance trainees. Sixty randomly chosen Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) students served as control and experimental subjects with the POT course as the independent variable. Because random assignment was possible, a posttest-only control group design was used. Thirty ERAU maintenance trainees who had received basic and advanced ERAU fault diagnostic training were administered the POT course. A practical test administered to both groups using two tailed t tests for independent means indicated improvement …

Improving Operational Readiness Of Airport Emergency Response Crews: Utilization Of Gaming Theory In Decision Making Simulations, William E. Vines Jr.

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of simulation gaming technique on the decision-making skills of airport emergency response technicians. Through the use of descriptive research methods this study has examined the benefits of using simulation training to enhance operational readiness. A specialized questionnaire was developed using a Likert scale format to attain the opinion of 20 airport directors--or their representatives. Findings did support the research hypothesis that the introduction of simulation training (Table Top) exercises would increase the operational readiness of airport emergency response crews. Statistical analysis of survey responses found that no significant difference …

Low Level Alcohol And Its Residual Effect On A Pilot's Threshold For Detecting Angular Motion, Regina G. Bolinger

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to examine a pilot's sensitivity to a change in angular motion after alcohol ingestion and determine the duration of effect after the time the blood alcohol content (BAC) reached zero. An earlier study determined that a pilot's threshold for detecting angular motion was affected by 30% with low doses of alcohol ingestion. An important question remaining is whether the pilot's sensitivity to angular motion will continue to be significantly affected after the time BAC reaches zero. Twelve instrument-rated pilots flew a partial panel rotating simulator under an in-flight scenario, and thresholds were measured before …