Flight Incident Research Articles

Design of Novel Shaftless Pump-Jet Propulsor for Multi-Purpose Long-Range and High-Speed Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Owning to its extremely long endurance, small size, cost-effective employment, easy, and fast transported properties, the merits of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) exceed those of manned underwater vehicles. Therefore, it has become an indispensable member in navies throughout the world, as well as with oceanographic research, commercial resource explorations, and especially the underwater search and rescue (SAR) sectors. Up to date, the tragic MH370 and QZ8501 flight incidents have dramatically increasing the awareness of high-performance SAR equipment, which in turn will stimulate the states party to the incident to urgently upgrade their shallow- and deep-sea SAR equipment. To extend the range (endurance) and shorter the searching period for the next generation SAR AUV, a sea water cooled high-power density magnetically slotless permanent magnet brushless motor is proposed and integrated with pump-jet’s impeller to achieve designated shaftless pump-jet propulsor. In this paper, the developed shaftless pump-jet propulsion system is applied in Naval University of Engineering series multi-purpose long-range and high-speed deep-sea AUV, which could provide excellent performance as a SAR platform.

People’s Motivation to Participate in Social Network Sites, Subsequent Behaviours, and Situation Self-Awareness following a Crisis: Evidence from the MH370 Flight Incident

As people increasingly integrate social network sites (SNSs) into their daily lives, they also turn to these sites for timely information following crises. To date, few studies have examined the effects of different types of motivation on participatory behaviours within SNSs following crises. In this study, self-determination theory (SDT) is applied to examine how individuals are motivated to participate in SNSs following a crisis and how individuals’ participatory behaviours can better assist them understand a crisis. The Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) incident is selected as the context for this study, and data is collected following the incident. The results show that different types of motivation result in different participatory behaviours. Controlled motivation is positively related to browsing content, commenting and sharing content. Conversely, autonomous motivation is positively associated with browsing and sharing content. Besides, browsing content and commenting are positively related to people’s situational self-awareness. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

The effects of temperature, relative humidity, light, and resource quality on flight initiation in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

We investigated the environmental conditions that induce a flight response in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), including resource quality, temperature, relative humidity, and light. Over 72-h trial periods, we observed the proportion of individuals emigrating by flight to range from 0.0 in extreme heat or cold to 0.82 with starvation. Resource quality, presence of a light source, and temperature all directly influenced the initiation of the flight response. We did not detect any effect of relative humidity or sudden change in temperature on the incidence of flight. We discuss our findings in the context of Tribolium ecology and evolution.

Flights from Stocks

This paper examines the role of asset performance, volatility, illiquidity, and monetary policy on flight-to-quality episodes. We consider flights from stocks into long and short-term Treasuries, and Moody's AAA corporate bonds. Flights are shown to be associated with stock market volatility. Illiquidity appears to have a differential effect on different types of flights, as predicted by the asset pricing model with illiquidity by Vayanos (2004).Monetary policy, lagged and contemporaneous, is shown to decrease flight incidence. Our work also links market instability with the effects of overconfidence, as measured by the profitability of the momentum strategy.

Capital inflows and outflow and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper examined both the total effect and the individual effects of the sources of capital inflow [foreign direct investment (FDI), official development assistance (ODA), remittances and debt] as well as capital outflow (capital flight) on economic growth for 33 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period spanning 1970 to 2010. Using system generalised method of moments (Sys-GMM), the findings showed that FDI and remittances significantly contributed to growth with the latter taking the lead. Furthermore, the results also indicated that capital flight and debt constituted significant drags on growth, while the exact impact of ODA was uncertain. The key policy implication drawn from the results is for policy makers to design policies that would curb the incidence of capital flight and ensure an investment friendly environment. This, of course, is with a view to further attracting remittances and FDI into SSA.

Research on Prediction of CAAC Flight Incident 10000-Hour-Rate Based on Single Regression Model

To assist the aviation safety management and decision-making, it is important to effectively predict the flight incident 10000-hour-rate for preventing the aviation accidents. For improvement of prediction level, a simple regression model is proposed. The prediction result obtained in actual example indicates that the proposed single regression model has a good prediction on CAAC flight incident 10000-hour-rate.

An analysis of flight Quick Access Recorder (QAR) data and its applications in preventing landing incidents

A long landing is one type of flight incident that will multiply the risk of a runway excursion. It occurs frequently but receives little attention in research due to difficulty in obtaining the real flight data. The aim of this paper is to discover key flight parameter features of long landing incidents by analyzing Quick Access Recorder (QAR) data and put forward prevention measures from the perspective of pilot operation at the same time. First, 73 flight performance parameter variables and 4 operation parameter variables were defined, covering major landing stages from 1500ft to touchdown. Then 128 cases of selected QAR data were divided into two groups according to the threshold of identifying normal and long landing. Second, each flight parameter variable of these 128 flights was compared between groups and then the logistic and linear regression models were developed respectively to further examine the links between touchdown distance and these flight parameter variables. Third, potential flight operation causing performance difference of long landing incidents was also analyzed. Finally results indicate that the period of 200ft to touchdown is the key stage of landing and flare is the most critical operation affecting touchdown distance. It is suggested that the pilot should inspect the ratio of descent rate and groundspeed carefully at the height of 50ft and pilot׳s faster and steady pulling up columns is probably helpful for an excellent flare and landing. The findings are expected to be applied into flight operation practice for further preventing long landing incidents and even the runway excursion accidents.

Investigation of the relationship between aircraft noise and community annoyance in China

A survey of community annoyance induced by aircraft noise exposure was carried out around Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. To investigate the relationship curves between aircraft noise and the percentage of "highly annoyed" persons in China and also to get annoyance threshold of aircraft noise in China. Noise annoyance induced by aircraft noise exposure was assessed by 764 local residents around the airport using the International Commission on Biological Effect of Noise (ICBEN) scale. The status quo of aircraft noise pollution was measured by setting up 39 monitoring points. The interpolation was used to estimate the weighted effective continuous perceived noise levels (LWECPN) in different areas around the airport, and the graph of equal noise level contour was drawn. The membership function was used to calculate the annoyance threshold of aircraft noise. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 and Origin 8.0. The results showed that if LWECPN was 64.3 dB (Ldn was 51.4 dB), then 15% respondents were highly annoyed. If LWECPN was 68.1 dB (Ldn was 55.0 dB), then 25% respondents were highly annoyed. The annoyance threshold of aircraft noise (LWECPN) was 73.7 dB, while the annoyance threshold of a single flight incident instantaneous noise level (LAmax) was 72.9 dB. People around the airport had felt annoyed before the aircraft noise LWECPN reached the standard limit.

Comparative topography of mesoalinotum and formation of trans-scutal fissure in order Hymenoptera (Hym.)

The present work deals with the comparative study of different areas and sutures of the mesoalinotum and formation of trans-scutal fissure in order Hymenoptera. The representatives of the families like Pamphiliidae, Xyelidae, Argidae, Cimbicidae, Diprionidae, Tenthredinidae and Cephidae exhibit a generalized pattern of sutures and areas associated with the mesoalinotum. However, in them the course of the convergent sutures and the prominency of the posterior lobe of the scutellum do not conform to the generalized patterns and differs widely among the representatives of these families. In Siricidae, on the other hand, the convergent sutures are absent, and the prescutum is extremely reduced. In Xiphydridae, the trans-scutal fissure is represented but the posterior lobe of the scutellum is absent. In all the apocritans the trans-scutal fissure is well represented occupying its usual position, whereas, the convergent and the median sutures are absent in them. In wingless formicids and female mutillids the mesoalinotum is secondarily modified to unobtrusively fuse with the surrounding components of the thorax, while in them the trans-scutal fissure remains altogether missing indicating thereby that the occurrence of the fissure is directly related to the incidence of flight.

The Role of Capital Flight and Remittances in Current Account Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract: The literature on capital flight and remittances is copious, as a plethora of studies in recent years have focused greater attention on the determinants and impact of capital flight and remittances in the development process. These issues are particularly pertinent to Africa in view of its relatively high incidence of capital flight in the presence of foreign exchange constraints, limited foreign capital inflows, external indebtedness and high dependence on overseas development assistance. The principal aim of this paper is to estimate the extent and magnitude of capital flights from Africa and remittance inflows to Africa, and to assess their role in current account sustainability. The paper employs standard methodological approaches to estimating capital flight and remittances for selected African countries and analyses their relationships with current account balance and key economic indicators. The findings from the statistical exercises in the paper yielded a number of important results: • The magnitude of capital flight from Africa has increased considerably in recent years, with widespread fluctuations and volatility. • The volume of remittances into Africa has increased dramatically but steadily. • There is a negative association between balances on current account and capital flight, implying that capital flights tend to worsen current account difficulties. • There is a positive relationship between remittances and current account, suggesting that remittances could play an important role in mitigating current account problems. • The link between remittances and economic growth is positive, albeit insignificantly in the statistical sense, suggesting some evidence of the crucial role of remittances in the economic growth and development process. • External debt and capital flight are positively intertwined, providing support to the so-called ‘round-tripping’ or ‘back-to-back’ hypothesis The policy implications of these findings are that in spite of the good progress made by many African countries towards economic and political reforms, more innovative policy thinking and reform deepening must be initiated to create a conducive environment for private sector participation in general and foreign capital (including capital flight reversal) in particular. Similarly, there is a need for incentivising and mainstreaming remittances into national development strategies with the view to promoting the growth-enhancing effects of remittances. A wide range of policy options and forward thinking analyses were advanced in the paper.

Hypoxia–reoxygenation contributes to increased frequency of venous thromboembolism in air travellers

Commercial air travel is widespread, with close to 2 billion people traveling each year. The association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and confined sitting has been established and a correlation between the distance traveled and its incidence had been documented. Most studies underscore stasis caused by immobility as the cause of VTE and ignore the possible contribution of additional factors including coagulation and the blood vessel wall. Recent studies indicate that hypobaric hypoxia may contribute to blood vessel wall alteration and activation of coagulation. We suggest that air travel associated hypobaric hypoxia may lead to endothelial injury and initiation of a pro-coagulatory response, effects which are augmented by the reoxygenation upon landing, thus culminating in thrombosis. Prevention of air travel associated hypoxia and reoxygenation injury may decrease the incidence of flight associated VTE.

Development of numerical computational model for revolving metallic particles' behavior in GIS and its evaluation

It is widely accepted that gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) has proven to be reliable, compact and has high availability. However, metallic particles forced to fly and kept in motion in a high electric field can cause partial discharges which lead to a flashover of GIS. For a metallic wire particle less than 3 mm long, its revolving flight and horizontal migration behavior become remarkable. This has been confirmed using a high-speed framing video camera. For the revolving particle, we also found that the viscous drag which acts on it controls its flying behavior predominantly. We have formulated a time motion equation for a revolving metallic particle on the basis of statistical analysis of the time-resolved and digitized motion data obtained by a high-speed framing video camera and taking the drag as one of the major force terms. Numerical solution of the time-motion equation gives the maximum flight height-time curves, incidence, departure velocity, and migration velocity of the revolving particle against the grounded electrode with or without slope. Fairly good agreement has been confirmed between the measured and simulated dynamic behavior of the revolving particles. Other major parameters such as allowable maximum flight height, the climbing or descending speed and distance along the slope of the grounded electrode and the trapping factors of a particle trap have been revealed deductively through the simulation. This enables it to optimize the configuration and the operational performance of the particle trap. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(2): 28–38, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20122

Behavioral responses of adult female tobacco hornworms, Manduca sexta, to hostplant volatiles change with age and mating status

We present evidence for two behaviors influenced by intact, vegetative plant odor — upwind flight and abdomen curling — in female Manduca sexta and demonstrate the influence of the age and mating status of the moths on these behaviors. We compared the behavioral responses of laboratory-reared M. sexta. of discrete ages and physiological states (2,3, and 4 day old for virgin; 2 and 3 day old for mated) as individual moths flew upwind in a flight tunnel to a source of hostplant volatiles. We monitored odor-modulated flight and abdomen curling in the presence of volatiles released by potted hostplants. Mated 3 day old females exhibited the highest incidence of odor-modulated flight and abdomen curling. Similarly, as virgin moths aged, a greater percentage of the individuals displayed odor-modulated flight patterns and abdomen curling. In contrast, younger virgin moths exhibited high levels of abdomen curling only after contact with the plant.

Behavioral responses of adult female tobacco hornworms, Manduca sexta, to hostplant volatiles change with age and mating status

We present evidence for two behaviors influenced by intact, vegetative plant odor - upwind flight and abdomen curling - in female Manduca sexta and demonstrate the influence of the age and mating status of the moths on these behaviors. We compared the behavioral responses of laboratory-reared M. sexta. of discrete ages and physiological states (2,3, and 4 day old for virgin; 2 and 3 day old for mated) as individual moths flew upwind in a flight tunnel to a source of hostplant volatiles. We monitored odor-modulated flight and abdomen curling in the presence of volatiles released by potted hostplants. Mated 3 day old females exhibited the highest incidence of odor-modulated flight and abdomen curling. Similarly, as virgin moths aged, a greater percentage of the individuals displayed odor-modulated flight patterns and abdomen curling. In contrast, younger virgin moths exhibited high levels of abdomen curling only after contact with the plant.

Flight behaviour of seabirds in relation to wind direction and wing morphology

We studied flight direction relative to wind direction (hereafter referred to as “flight direction”), the relation between wing morphology and flight behaviour and interspecies relationships in flight behaviour among all major seabird taxa. We calculated wing loading and aspect ratios for 98 species from 1029 specimens. Species were sorted into 13 groups on the basis of similarity in patterns of flight direction. The primary flight direction of Pelecaniformes and Charadriiformes was into and across headwinds. The most common flight direction of Procellariiformes was across wind. Seabirds avoided flying with tailwinds. Wing loading and aspect ratios were positively correlated in Procellariiformes, Pelecaniformes and alcids but negatively correlated in larids. In Procellariiformes, incidence of headwind flight and that of tailwind flight were significantly correlated with wing loading and aspect ratio; species with higher wing loading and aspect ratios flew more often into headwinds and less often with tailwinds. In contrast, the proportion of Pelecaniformes and Charadriiformes flying with tailwinds increased significantly with increased wing loading. Our results demonstrate a close link in seabirds between flight behaviour, wing morphology and natural history patterns in terms of distribution, colony location, dispersal and foraging behaviour.

The effect of larval phase on flight performance of African armyworm moths, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

AbstractThe characteristics of the high and low density forms of noctuid moths, including Spodoptera exempta (Walker), exhibiting a density-dependent phase polyphenism have frequently been discussed in relation to migration. However, the only previous (unpublished) demonstration of an effect of larval phase on adult flight performance, using a tethered-flight technique, was invalidated by the recent discovery that the principal determinant of flight potential in S. exempta is genetic. When the incidence of prolonged flight was measured in moths derived from genetically-matched (full-sib) samples, there was a clear increase in long flights by females derived from the high-density gregaria phase larvae compared with those from solitaria phase larvae. The reasons for the apparent absence of a similar effect in males is not clear, but it is possible that the tethered-flight technique provides a less reliable index of flight capacity in this sex. The characteristics and significance of phase polyphenism in migratory noctuids are discussed. It is suggested that, in S. exempta and possibly some other comparable species, the high-density phase is adapted to accelerate re-dispersal after populations become concentrated, in order to escape the detrimental consequences of high larval densities.

The causes of causes: determinants and background variables of human factor incidents and accidents.

Abstract 1448 German Air Force pilots took part in an anonymous investigation of critical flight incidents. A 315-item questionnaire was applied, which included relevant preflight and inflight data, physiological and psychological parameters (behaviour variables, subjective state ratings before and during critical situations, pilot errors and their consequences) as well as environmental factors. Extensive data analysis revealed various human errors, which can be intepreted as a four-dimensional error-structure: vigilance errors, perception errors, information processing errors and sensorimotor errors. Determinants and background variables of human factor incidents and accidents were discussed in a model of basic man–machine system interaction patterns. Preventive measures to limit and control human factor incidents and accidents are proposed in a four-step programme.

Environmental Influence on the Incidence of Flight in the Rough-Legged Hawk

LARGE numbers of the Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) winter in the agricultural areas of the northern one-third of Illinois. In the course of my investigation of the winter habits and behavior of this species in DeKalb County, Illinois, during the winters of 1964-65 and 1965-66, it became apparent that there were pronounced day-to-day differences in the relative numbers of Rough-legged Hawks flying and standing. It appeared that these differences might be related to fluctuations in local weather conditions. Therefore, I attempted to learn more about the activity patterns of the hawks in relation to major environmental variables. Rough-legged Hawks hunt for food either by soaring and hovering or by watching for prey from a perch. Although I have no direct evidence, it may be that more prey animals are captured per unit time by flying birds as compared to perching hawks. Thus, the presence or absence of favorable conditions for flight may be a determining factor in the relative number of Rough-legs flying in search of food at any one time. The study was conducted in a 43.1 square mile area located near the center of DeKalb County; the major part of this area is in Afton Township. The terrain varies from flat to gently rolling; no large areas of timber are present and more than 80 per cent of the land is in crops. Lone trees, small groups of trees, and other suitable perching sites are scattered throughout the study area.

Dispersion on the Soil Surface of Marked Adult Ctenicera destructor and Hypolithus bicolor (Coleoptera: Elateridae), with Notes on Flight2

Marked beetles and pitfall traps were used in studying dispersal on the soil surface of adults of two species of wireworms, and their incidence of flight was determined by tanglefoot wind-traps. Approximately 7% of 1200 marked males and 4% of 855 marked females of Ctenicera destructor (Brown) were recovered. At 120 yards from the central release point, marked males were captured 24 hours after release, females in a minimum of 9 days. No evidence was obtained that adults of C. destructor fly. Of Hypolithus bicolor Esch., approximately 3% of 475 marked males and 2% of 1852 marked females were captured; both males and females were trapped at 60 yards in a minimum period of 6 days, and one female was taken at a maximum distance of 80 yards 10 days after release. Adults of H. bicolor flew during all three seasons of the study. There was a difference in the rate at which females of both species tended to disperse on the ground, suggesting a heterogeneity in the marked populations with respect to dispersal.

STUDIES ON THE APHIDES INFESTING THE POTATO CROP

SUMMARYThe results are given of laboratory experiments on the effect of variation in wind velocity upon the flight of Myzus persicae Sulz.When no wind passed through the experimental chamber, twenty‐five winged aphides averaged 154‐8 flights per minute. The incidence of flight in a range of wind velocities is recorded. Low wind velocities had a marked influence on flight which ceased when the speed of the wind was increased to 3–75 m.p.h.The aphides remained stationary on the glass surface of the chamber when high winds of 20 and 30 m.p.h. passed through the chamber and even when the full force of the wind, equivalent to a gale of 70 m.p.h., passed over them the aphides adhered to the surface with ease. Microscopical observation showed that the aphides possess a small membranous pad between each claw and another at the base of each tarsus; these are adpressed to the surface and facilitate adherence.The literature on the subject of the dissemination of aphides by wind is reviewed and the phenomenon of voluntary migration as compared with involuntary transportation is discussed.