Improve Aviation Safety Research Articles

A Study on Countermeasures to Prevent Runway Excursion to Improve Aviation Safety Using RSARA : The case of Ulsan Airport

A Study on Countermeasures to Prevent Runway Excursion to Improve Aviation Safety Using RSARA : The case of Ulsan Airport

The influence of self-efficacy on human error in airline pilots: The mediating effect of work engagement and the moderating effect of flight experience

Bandura’s self-efficacy theory has been extensively studied in the fields of education, sports, military science, commerce and so forth. The primary aim of this study is to explore the relationship between self-efficacy, work engagement, flight experience, and human error among pilots during in-flight missions. The Perceived Professional Self-Efficacy Scale (PPSEC), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), and the Safety Operation Behavior Scale (SOBS) were used to evaluate one hundred and forty-three airline pilots’ self-efficacy, work engagement, and human error. Correlation analysis indicated that self-efficacy, work engagement, and human error were significantly correlated with each other. A causal steps regression and bootstrap analysis showed that airline pilots’ self-efficacy significantly influenced their human error in aviation. Meanwhile, work engagement also mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and human error. Multiple group regression analysis showed that flight experience moderated the association between pilots’ self-efficacy and human error. Implications for further research and instructions for how to improve aviation safety are discussed.

Perception of safety culture: Surveying the aviation divisions of Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan, Republic of China

The Aviation Divisions of the Ministry of National Defense (ADMND), Taiwan, Republic of China (ROC) have established internal independent safety audit systems across various divisions to improve aviation safety performance and maintain safety records. The safety audit systems include a pilot reporting system, operation risk management, operation information resource management, flight and base service reporting system, etc. that are similar to the key elements of Safety Management Systems (SMS). SMS shapes the local culture and is thus, a safe operational environment. As the safety culture is one of the critical deliverables of SMS implementation, this study examined the architecture of the relationships between components of organizational safety culture, including informed, reporting, just and learning/adaptive subcultures–all embedded within the ADMND in Taiwan. A total of 915 valid questionnaires, collected from crewmembers (pilots and ground support staff) of ADMND, were analyzed and formed the basis for structural equation modeling and subsequent analyses. The analytical results indicated that safety culture has been well-established within the ADMND which is fully in compliance with the fundamental implementation of SMS (AC 120-32C) issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of the Ministry of Transportation, Taiwan, ROC.

Design of a Novel Multifunction Decision Support Display for Anesthesia Care: AlertWatch\xae OR

BackgroundThis paper describes the design of a multifunction alerting display for intraoperative anesthetic care. The design was inspired by the multifunction primary flight display used in modern aviation.ResultsThe display retrieves live data from multiple sources; the physiologic monitors, the anesthesia information management system, the laboratory values and comorbidities from patient’s problem summary list, medical history or history & physical. This information is integrated into a display composed of readily identifiable icons of organ systems, which are color coded to signify normal range, marginal range, abnormal range (by green, yellow, red respectively) and orange outlines for comorbidities/risk factors. There are dozens of text alerts, which can be presented as black text (informational), red text (important information) and red scrolling text (highest importance information). The alerts are derived from current standards in the literature and some involve complex calculations being conducted in the background.ConclusionsThe goal of such a system is to improve the quality and safety of anesthetic care by providing enhanced situational awareness in a fashion analogous to the “glass cockpit” and its primary flight display which has improved aviation safety.

Effects of the Field Complexity and Type of Target Object on the Performance of the Baggage Screening Task for Improving Aviation Safety

Effects of the Field Complexity and Type of Target Object on the Performance of the Baggage Screening Task for Improving Aviation Safety

How Did Crew Resource Management Take-Off Outside of the Cockpit? A Systematic Review of How Crew Resource Management Training Is Conceptualised and Evaluated for Non-Pilots

Crew resource management (CRM) training for flight crews is widespread and has been credited with improving aviation safety. As other industries have adopted CRM, they have interpreted CRM in different ways. We sought to understand how industries have adopted CRM, regarding its conceptualisation and evaluation. For this, we conducted a systematic review of CRM studies in the Maritime, Nuclear Power, Oil and Gas, and Air Traffic Control industries. We searched three electronic databases (Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus) and CRM reviews for papers. We analysed these papers on their goals, scope, levers of change, and evaluation. To synthesise, we compared the analysis results across industries. We found that most CRM programs have the broad goals of improving safety and efficiency. However, there are differences in the scope and levers of change between programs, both within and between industries. Most evaluative studies suffer from methodological weaknesses, and the evaluation does not align with how studies conceptualise CRM. These results challenge the assumption that there is a clear link between CRM training and enhanced safety in the analysed industries. Future CRM research needs to provide a clear conceptualisation—how CRM is expected to improve safety—and select evaluation measures consistent with this.

How to make the most of your human: design considerations for human–machine interactions

Reconsidering the function allocation between automation and the pilot in the flight deck is the next step in improving aviation safety. The current allocation, based on who does what best, makes poor use of the pilot’s resources and abilities. In some cases, it may actually handicap pilots from performing their role. Improving pilot performance first lies in defining the role of the pilot—why a human is needed in the first place. The next step is allocating functions based on the needs of that role (rather than fitness), and then using automation to target specific human weaknesses in performing that role. Examples are provided (some of which could be implemented in conventional cockpits now). Along the way, the definition of human error and the idea that eliminating/automating the pilot will reduce instances of human error will be challenged.

Developing a performance indicators lean-sigma framework for measuring aviation system's safety performance

Abstract: The paper introduces a conceptual framework that could improve aviation safety performance and the safety performance measurement process. The framework provides guidance on how organisations could design, implement and use a proactive, performance-based measurement tool for assessing and measuring Acceptable Levels of Safety (ALoS) performance at sigma (σ) level, a statistical measurement unit. Nevertheless, the framework provides a holistic view on how organisations could set leading performance indicators and monitor metrics on the top of identified root-causes that affect system's safety performance or how to set lagging indicators and feedback metrics on the top of safety outcomes. In fact, the framework adapts and combines classical Quality Management tools, a leading indicators programme and Lean-Six Sigma methodology to formally and continuously improve a stable and in-control safety management process. Finally, the paper underlines the necessity of a new way of thinking for the development of a robust, proactive process for measuring aviation safety performance and system performance variability.

Improving Aviation Safety in Indonesia: How Many More Accidents?

Numerous and consecutive aircraft accidents combined with a consistent failure to meet international safety standards in Indonesia, namely from the International Civil Aviation Organization and the European Aviation Safety Agency have proven a nightmare for the country’s aviation safety reputation. There is an urgent need for bureaucracy reform, harmonization of legislation, and especially ensuring legal enforcement, to bring Indonesian aviation safety back to world standards. The Indonesian Aviation Law of 2009 was enacted to reform the situation in Indonesia. The law has become the ground for drafting legal framework under decrees of the Minister of Transportation, which have allowed the government to perform follow-up actions such as establishing a single air navigation service provider and guaranteeing the independency of the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee. A comparison with Thailand is made to enrich the perspective. Finally, foreign aviation entities have a role to assist states, in this case Indonesia, in improving its aviation safety, considering the global nature of air travel.

An exploratory study on the post-implementation of threat and error management training in Australian general aviation

Threat and Error Management (TEM) training, endorsed and recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), was mandated in Australia with the aim of improving aviation safety. However, to date, there has been very limited, if any, formal post-implementation review, assessment or evaluation to examine the ‘after-state’ in terms of the effectiveness of the introduction of TEM. This exploratory study, is a first step in examining how TEM is regarded among Australian general aviation pilots in terms of its use and effectiveness. Fifty-nine general aviation pilots participated in a survey. The survey results indicated a large decline in positive support for TEM compared with the findings of an earlier study. Other results from the current survey indicated a variable uptake of TEM principles and differing opinions as to its effectiveness, suggesting further study should be conducted in respect of TEM as an important safety initiative within Australian general aviation.

A framework for risk management decisions in aviation safety at state level

Aviation is a key industrial sector for global development. Safety is essential for its healthy growth. However its management is pervaded by simplistic methods based on risk matrices. We provide here a framework for risk management decisions in aviation safety at state level. This helps us in identifying the best portfolio that a state agency may implement to improve aviation safety in a country. We illustrate our proposal with a case study.

MONITORING AIRCRAFT MOTION AT AIRPORTS BY LIDAR

Improving sensor performance, combined with better affordability, provides better object space observability, resulting in new applications. Remote sensing systems are primarily concerned with acquiring data of the static components of our environment, such as the topographic surface of the earth, transportation infrastructure, city models, etc. Observing the dynamic component of the object space is still rather rare in the geospatial application field; vehicle extraction and traffic flow monitoring are a few examples of using remote sensing to detect and model moving objects. Deploying a network of inexpensive LiDAR sensors along taxiways and runways can provide both geometrically and temporally rich geospatial data that aircraft body can be extracted from the point cloud, and then, based on consecutive point clouds motion parameters can be estimated. Acquiring accurate aircraft trajectory data is essential to improve aviation safety at airports. This paper reports about the initial experiences obtained by using a network of four Velodyne VLP- 16 sensors to acquire data along a runway segment.

MONITORING AIRCRAFT MOTION AT AIRPORTS BY LIDAR

Abstract. Improving sensor performance, combined with better affordability, provides better object space observability, resulting in new applications. Remote sensing systems are primarily concerned with acquiring data of the static components of our environment, such as the topographic surface of the earth, transportation infrastructure, city models, etc. Observing the dynamic component of the object space is still rather rare in the geospatial application field; vehicle extraction and traffic flow monitoring are a few examples of using remote sensing to detect and model moving objects. Deploying a network of inexpensive LiDAR sensors along taxiways and runways can provide both geometrically and temporally rich geospatial data that aircraft body can be extracted from the point cloud, and then, based on consecutive point clouds motion parameters can be estimated. Acquiring accurate aircraft trajectory data is essential to improve aviation safety at airports. This paper reports about the initial experiences obtained by using a network of four Velodyne VLP- 16 sensors to acquire data along a runway segment.

Fault detection for turbine engine disk based on an adaptive kernel principal component analysis algorithm

For commercial aircraft, real-time fault detection is essential for condition monitoring of rotating engine components, which can improve aviation safety and reduce maintenance cost for airline companies. In this article, based on the adaptive kernel principal component analysis method, a real-time fault detection algorithm is proposed for turbine engine disk condition monitoring. A sample reduction strategy based on the k-nearest neighbors method is presented to speed up the kernel principal component analysis approach while still guaranteeing correct results. To efficiently detect fault, the fault detection model is updated timely to suit the working process of turbine engine disk. Sample clusters are obtained through the k-mean method, and the parameter of the kernel function is adaptively adjusted by minimizing the within-cluster distance and maximizing the between-cluster distance in the feature space. Experiments have demonstrated the superiority of the proposed approach in fault detection for turbine engine disk.

SAFETY CULTURE ASSESSMENT – OPTIMIZATION OF EXISTING PRACTICE

Improving aviation safety has always been a priority for the aviation industry. While in recent decades the reliability of machinery and computers dramatically improved the reliability of the people and the organizational aspect of safety did not change much. Many of air accident investigations have shown that one of the causal factors, which increase the probability and severity of accidents, is exactly poor safety culture. The purpose of this paper is to present the concept of safety culture assessment and the overview and review of different methods of measuring the safety culture in aviation. This research provides the suggestion that by use of different methods of assessment (evaluation) of the results, more credible insight into the level of safety culture in the organization can be obtained. It also provides an understanding of how measurement systems in order to guide future performance can be used proactively.

Screening for Sleep Apnea in Morbidly Obese Pilots.

Debate regarding the merits of screening pilots for sleep apnea has been stimulated by recently issued guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration. It has long been appreciated that sleep apnea results in poor quality sleep, and that poor quality sleep is associated with daytime fatigue and decrements in performance. However, the relationship between sleep apnea and poor performance, including risk for accidents is not as well understood. Good quality data are available for commercial truck drivers and have helped influence transportation policy, but there is a lack of pilot specific data. The purpose of this article is to review the basic epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of sleep apnea, including major risk factors for apnea, such as body mass index (BMI), and to look at what is known about the impact of sleep apnea on performance in transportation related occupations. While pilot specific data may be lacking, good quality data for commercial truckers are available and can be used to formulate rational public policy with the goal of improving aviation safety. This article was reviewed by the Council of the Aerospace Medical Association and approved as a position paper of the Association.

Crew Resource Management in the Intensive Care Unit: a prospective 3-year cohort study.

BackgroundHuman factors account for the majority of adverse events in both aviation and medicine. Human factors awareness training entitled “Crew Resource Management (CRM)” is associated with improved aviation safety. We determined whether implementation of CRM impacts outcome in critically ill patients.MethodsWe performed a prospective 3‐year cohort study in a 32‐bed ICU, admitting 2500–3000 patients yearly. At the end of the baseline year, all personnel received CRM training, followed by 1 year of implementation. The third year was defined as the clinical effect year. All 7271 patients admitted to the ICU in the study period were included.The primary outcome measure was ICU complication rate. Secondary outcome measures were ICU and hospital length of stay, and standardized mortality ratio.ResultsOccurrence of serious complications was 67.1/1000 patients and 66.4/1000 patients during the baseline and implementation year respectively, decreasing to 50.9/1000 patients in the post‐implementation year (P = 0.03). Adjusted odds ratios for occurrence of complications were 0.92 (95% CI 0.71‐1.19, P = 0.52) and 0.66 (95% CI 0.51‐0.87, P = 0.003) in the implementation and post‐implementation year. The incidence of cardiac arrests was 9.2/1000 patients and 8.3/1000 patients during the baseline and implementation year, decreasing to 3.5/1000 patients (P = 0.04) in the post‐implementation year, while cardiopulmonary resuscitation success rate increased from 19% to 55% and 67% (P = 0.02). Standardized mortality ratio decreased from 0.72 (95% CI 0.63‐0.81) in the baseline year to 0.60 (95% CI 0.53‐0.67) in the post‐implementation year (P = 0.04).ConclusionOur data indicate an association between CRM implementation and reduction in serious complications and lower mortality in critically ill patients.

Review and Implementation Analysis of Safety Management Systems in Aviation Design

In January of 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an 80-page document outlining Safety Management Systems (SMS) for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 air carriers. This advisory circular provides a description of regulatory requirements, methods of development, and implementation of an SMS (Federal Aviation Administration, 2015). The release of this document began a race to implement SMS across aviation. An all-encompassing Safety Management System currently does not apply to the manufacturing of airplane parts. This research will examine current safety management processes in place for applicants and holders of supplemental type certificates (STC). Upon review of current procedures, a model for an SMS will be created specific to supplemental type certificate applicants and holders. This SMS process created for STC holders will ultimately improve aviation safety. The FAA should mandate this framework for all applicants pursuing and holding a supplemental type certificate.

Identifying Emerging Human Factors Risks in North American Airline Operations

In order to provide insight into the emerging human factors risks in North American commercial aviation operations, this paper identifies the major aircrew human errors in recent airline operation accidents and incidents. The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) was used to categorize 267 accident and incident final reports, obtained from National Transportation Safety Board and Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigation report databases from 2006 to 2010. The results show that Unsafe Acts and Preconditions of Unsafe Acts are still the most prominent human factors risks, whereas trend analysis for 10 major HFACS categories shows that the violation increases compared to previous study. The study also finds that Crew Resource Management is still one of the prominent causal factors and that there is a growing demand for training. The study will support safety departments developing corresponding risk mitigation methods to improve aviation safety.

Aircraft Evacuation Simulation: A Developing Method to Improve Aviation Safety

Aircraft Evacuation Simulation: A Developing Method to Improve Aviation Safety