Law Commons^™

Ground Risk Model For Uavs, Andrew V. Shelley

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This paper develops an alternative to the ground risk model provided by JARUS SORA. Key inconsistencies in the SORA ground risk model are identified, specifically ground risk continuing to increase when there is no further increase in fatality probability.

Population density is a critical component of UAS ground risk. Definitions of population density adopted by various regulatory jurisdictions are reviewed. A categorisation of population density is developed based on official statistics categories for New Zealand. This categorisation is more granular than that provided by SORA, enabling a more nuanced assessment of risk.

A ground risk model is then developed using …

An Analysis Of Federal Aviation Administration Enforcement Actions Against Suas Operators, Trevor Simoneau, Ryan J. Wallace, Tyler B. Spence, Jonathan Rupprecht

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has promulgated regulations to govern the commercial operation of small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS). Compliance with these regulations is essential for maintaining safety in the National Airspace System. And if sUAS operators fail to comply with applicable federal aviation regulations, the FAA has been granted the authority to enforce these regulations. This study explores how the FAA has been exercising its enforcement power in the context of sUAS operator regulatory noncompliance. Using data obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request, this study examines 62 FAA enforcement actions levied against sUAS operators from 2012 until …

Anthropometry Considerations In The Design And Evaluation Of Flight Deck Displays And Controls: Literature Review, Robert Joslin

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The regulatory requirements and guidance for showing compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration anthropometric considerations in aircraft design are widely dispersed in an array of source documents. Consequently, they are difficult for aircraft manufacturers/applicants to identify, interpret, and address thereby extending the time to certify new/modified aircraft and aircraft systems. This literature review is intended to provide a compendium of the anthropometry considerations in the design certification of displays and controls in aircraft flight decks. This document is not a compliance document and the references herein are frequently updated, hence should be verified by the reader.

Use Of Unmanned Aircraft Systems And Regulatory Landscape: Unravelling The Future Challenges In The High Sky, K Kirthan Shenoy, Divya Tyagi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The individuals on the ground nowadays often observe objects distantly hover over the sky, which raises the question of who might be operating the object or what the object might record. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Drones today have quickly penetrated civilian, military, and commercial sectors. The drones or UAS, with the advancement of technology, are now capable of traversing long distances, having long endurance, and having multipurpose functionality. The UAS industry is fast expanding, with trade investment touching the billion-dollar mark in flourishing economies. The advent of the Covid 19 pandemic saw a steep rise in the use of …

Establishing Commercial Aviation Safety Privilege: Court Precedent Versus Statute, Jason Powell

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This concept paper evaluates the pros and cons of establishing commercial aviation safety privilege beyond the almost uniquely United States Department of Defense (DoD) legal protection built upon court precedence (stare decisis) as a statutory concept that can apply across all aviation investigations. The protection offered under Title 49 CFR 1114 only applies to the information provided that is not part of the safety investigation and allows full release of interviews that pertain to the investigation, which is further applied in the National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Investigation Manual (2002). The Supreme Court of the United States recognized different privileged …

Uas For Public Safety: Active Threat Recognition, Joseph Cerreta, Tray Denney, Scott S. Burgess, Anthony Galante, David Thirtyacre, Gloria A. Wilson, Patrick Sherman

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The Center for Homeland Defense and Security identified an increase of active threat events, such as mass shootings, annually since 1999. Literature suggests that 90% of shootings were over before law enforcement arrived at the scene and the first responder response was limited to “surround and contain” until Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (SWAT) arrived on the scene. Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to detect which individual was the threat and type of weapon used can provide useful information to increase the speed of the response for first-on-scene rather than waiting for SWAT if the type of weapon was known. …

In Flight Management - Committing To Destination, Aldo Bien, Daniel Ribas, Paulo Pacheco, Rodrigo Garcia, Leila Halawi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

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 regulation certainly compromises both the airline industry's safety and efficiency in the country. Therefore, this research proposes a more comprehensive and clear text for the Brazilian rules, encouraging airlines to adhere to what the ICAO recommendation preconizes widely.

A Looming Pilot Shortage: It Is Time To Revisit Regulations, Christopher L. Caraway

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Forecasts predict we will need 790,000 pilots by 2037. This prediction means airlines will need to increase pilot levels by 267%. Finding a solution to this pilot shortage requires the aviation community to address limiting regulatory and other core factors. Many have claimed that 1,500-hour rule and mandatory retirements are critical issues contributing to the pilot shortage. However, the data does not support these claims. Instead, trends in pilot population levels and safety records indicate these regulations are only effecting the demographics of the current pilot population. The shift in the pilot population will harm future airline operations if the …

An Evaluation Of The Operational Restrictions Imposed To Congonhas Airport By Civil Aviation Instruction121-1013, Glanski Pacheco, Jr., Marcus Camargo, Leila Halawi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Due to aircraft accidents, in 2008, operational restrictions were imposed on Congonhas airport by IAC 121-1013. These restrictions sought to create a balance between flight safety and operational efficiency. The purpose of this research was to investigate the results of the operational restrictions. The researchers calculated the landing performance (using specific software), taking into account particular aircraft system failures that increase landing distance. The results indicated that the measures imposed by the IAC have little or no effect on operational safety. Additionally, the restrictions created operational complexity for the airport and reduced its efficiency by impacting airline costs. Finally, the …

Uas For Public Safety Operations: A Comparison Of Uas Point Clouds To Terrestrial Lidar Point Cloud Data Using A Faro Scanner, Joseph S. Cerreta, Scott S. Burgess, Jeremy Coleman

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) can be useful tools for public safety agencies during crime or vehicle accident scene investigations if it can provide value to the resource-constrained agency. The speed of data collection, while minimizing first responder risk, while sustaining an acceptable level of accuracy and precision compared to other tools is where the agency may find value. During a recent homicide investigation in Florida, a UAS provided saved 81% in law enforcement labor hours with an acceptable level of accuracy compared to traditional methods. The purpose of this research was to compare UAS to determine if there were differences …

Contingency Fuel Reduction In Brazil, Diogo Youssef, Fabiano Gomes De Oliveira, Joao Centeno, Luciano Figueiredo, Leila Halawi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This project reviews the minimum fuel regulations for commercial passenger flights in different countries and intends to scientifically support a change in the existing contingency fuel requirement regulation in Brazil. This change represents fuel savings for Brazilian air operations, and it deploys into a competitive advantage for Brazilian airlines compared to foreign air operators.

Discussion: The objective of this project is to provide the Brazilian civil aviation regulators with the necessary data to justify the reduction of the contingency fuel values from the current 10% to 5%. This project bases the analysis on the historical data of fuel planning and …

Assessment And Comparison Of Aviation Manufacturing Industries Throughout Mexico And Brazil, Omar E. Morsi, Kelly A. Whealan-George, Aaron D. Clevenger

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This literature review serves to provide insight and understanding in regards to the evolving aviation manufacturing industry throughout the globe and more specifically, Mexico and Brazil. Increased demand for aircraft units both in the commercial and private sectors have led to unprecedented expansions in aircraft manufacturing across the industry. In order to illuminate certain potentials and current growth levels of such industries, this review will delve into an array of information and specifications in regards to economic, political, and cultural influences throughout both Mexican and Brazilian markets respectively. In conclusion, the review will identify the transformation of an aviation manufacturing …

How Law Enforcement Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Uas) Could Improve Tactical Response To Active Shooter Situations: The Case Of The 2017 Las Vegas Shooting, Ryan J. Wallace, Jon M. Loffi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Using a case study methodology, this paper assesses the unique tactical challenges faced by law enforcement officers responding to the October 1, 2017, Las Vegas active shooter incident. The authors assessed the tactical strengths of the assailant, Stephen Paddock, and challenges faced by law enforcement personnel. The authors present several proposed applications of unmanned aircraft systems that could have potentially mitigated the active shooter’s tactical advantages.

Evolution Of Uas Policy In The Wake Of Taylor V. Huerta, Ryan J. Wallace, Jon M. Loffi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration exceeded their statutory authority in requiring model aircraft and hobbyist UAS operators to register their aircraft in a national database. The ruling represents a significant blow to the agency’s credibility in leading UAS integration into the National Airspace System. The paper points to several possible outcomes of the Taylor v. Huerta decision and its impact on the FAA’s ability to continue to lead change in the burgeoning UAS field.

A Model Of Human Harm From A Falling Unmanned Aircraft: Implications For Uas Regulation, Andrew V. Shelley

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This paper quantifies the human harm, in the form of fatalities and skull fractures, which could occur as a result of an unmanned aircraft falling from a height. The analysis is used to establish the maximum height at which an unmanned aircraft can be flown over people to achieve a level of safety consistent with the rate of ground fatalities from General Aviation. The maximum height is dependent on the aircraft mass and the population density of people on the ground below.

The results are used to inform a critical evaluation of recent recommendations from the FAA-chartered “Unmanned Aircraft Systems …

Pilot Perceptions On Impact Of Crew Rest Regulations On Safety And Fatigue, Lukas Rudari, Mary E. Johnson, Robert C. Geske, Lauren A. Sperlak

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The risk of fatigue on pilot performance and safety is well recognized in aviation. In response to increased safety concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration addressed fatigue risk for passenger airline pilots in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 117, which included accommodations to address fatigue related risk-factors such as circadian rhythm and the phenomenon commonly described as jet-lag. The rule became effective in January 2014. A survey was conducted in March and April of 2014 to better understand pilot perceptions of the new Part 117 rule. This study analyzed survey responses from 92 self-identified pilots to determine the effect …

Book Review: Foundations Of Aviation Law, Ian Mcandrew

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This review provides insight on the content and a review of the quality of the recent release of Foundations of Aviation Law from Ashgate Publications.

This review does not reflect the views of IJAAA or ERAU. This work was not peer reviewed.

Sms - Reaching Beyond Low Hanging Fruit, Stewart Schreckengast

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Human nature predisposes us to maximize our accomplishments while making a concerted effort to balance resource expenditures so we achieve an optimal return on our efforts. All too often what this really means is that we do the easy things that can be done with minimal effort; we grab the low hanging fruit. Traditional incident investigation methodology enables us to reach beyond the obvious reactive solutions. The incident investigation methodology is also an exceptional foundation for safety management system (SMS) development because it supports a holistic approach to reaching the fruit that is ripe for harvesting, the deficiencies that become …