Copyright (c) 2013 Purdue University All rights reserved. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate Recent documents in Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering en-us Wed, 08 May 2013 09:15:48 PDT 3600 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/11 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/11 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:31:05 PDT http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/10 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/10 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:31:03 PDT http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/9 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/9 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:31:01 PDT Jennifer E. Kirschner et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/8 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/8 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:30:59 PDT http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/7 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/7 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:20:35 PDT Safety is critical to the success of the aviation industry, and as it continues to develop worldwide and link more people and places, how aviation safety is standardized has been and will continue to be a global concern. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has developed a comprehensive framework for safety management at airlines and airports, known as Doc. 9859 Safety Management Manual (SMM). Safety Management Systems (SMS) have since been required to be implemented by all ICAO member states beginning January 2010. Taiwan, administered by the Republic of China (ROC), is in a unique position as a non-member state of ICAO that is strongly connected to the world’s aviation system. Using the Delphi Technique and convenient sampling, this research is a case study of how aviation safety is managed at a major international airport in Taiwan with respect to ICAO’s SMS standards. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with participants from three major organizations operating at the surveyed airport: air traffic controllers, the airport management company, and a ground services provider. Results found that despite Taiwan’s non-member status with ICAO, safety management was very consistent with ICAO SMS standards, especially in the areas this study focused on: safety policy and objectives, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion.

]]> Steven Leib et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/6 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/6 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:01:02 PDT The air traffic control system is a vast network of people and necessary navigational equipment that ensures the safe operation of commercial and private aircraft throughout the world. Air traffic controller service is responsible for area, approach and aerodrome control. Aircraft fatal accident data for commercial jet airplanes between 1959 and 2008 show that 36% of the accidents happen in the final approach and landing phase, possibly due to mechanical failure or human error resulting from poor communication between the pilot and air traffic controller. This paper presents an integration of a radar system with a GPS-based Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) for approach control separation between all instrument flight rules (IFR) flights and between IFR flights and visual flight rules (VFR) flights operated as controlled flights. The integration is simulated using MATLAB. Results of the simulation show that aircraft separation is easier and safer than relying only on an air traffic controller. We note, however, that the service of air traffic controllers is still required for successful aerodrome control.

]]> Ayeni K. Bakare et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/5 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/5 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:01:00 PDT Data captured by flight data recorders are generally stored on the system’s embedded hard disk. A common problem is the lack of storage space on the disk. This lack of space for data storage leads to either a constant effort to reduce the space used by data, or to increased costs due to acquisition of additional space, which is not always possible. File compression can solve the problem, but carries with it the potential drawback of the increased overhead required when writing the data to the disk, putting an excessive load on the system and degrading system performance. The author suggests the use of an efficient compressed file system that both compresses data in real time and ensures that there will be minimal impact on the performance of other tasks.

]]> Yair Wiseman et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/4 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/4 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:00:57 PDT Best economy (lean of peak or LOP) operation of aircraft engines rather than best power (rich of peak or ROP) has been suggested as a means to reduce fuel consumption in light aircraft with modest speed reduction leading to reduced operating cost (increased miles per gallon), and to reduce cylinder head temperatures (CHTs) leading to improved engine longevity and reduced maintenance cost. A recent study by Chrisman (2011) using a limited number of data sets from aircraft in the Purdue University fleet of Cirrus SR20 training aircraft demonstrated statistically significant reduced fuel consumption and reduced CHT but no statistically definite speed reduction. This study confirms the earlier results for fuel consumption and CHTs using expanded data sets. It suggests that the failure to derive a statistically significant reduction in speed is a consequence of inherent experimental limitations rather than the lack of any reduction.

]]> Ronald F. Brender et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/3 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/3 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:00:54 PDT The cost of providing air transportation for passengers and cargo to, from, and within the European Union was scheduled to increase in 2012 due to the EU Emission Trading Scheme. The European Union (EU) has legislated that aircraft landing or taking off from EU airports are subjected to the Emission Trading System (ETS) and are levied a charge for the estimated amount of carbon dioxide (CO_²) generated during the entire flight. Since direct measurement of CO₂ emitted during flight is not practical, the EU carbon emissions are estimated using the amount of fuel consumed. CO₂ is a greenhouse gas associated with detrimental environmental impacts. Transportation in the US contributed 31% of CO₂ emissions and 26% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), aviation is responsible for 2% of global CO₂ emissions, and currently represents a growing percentage. Reducing fuel consumption is the most effective way to reduce CO₂ emissions, but operational changes, design changes, and use of alternative fuels are also effective. While ETS charges are controversial, the purpose of this paper is to discuss ETS and illustrate its inclusion in aviation financial considerations. This paper introduces aviation carbon ETS, discusses the impact of ETS on airlines, and presents a methodology to quantify the cost differences in fuel and EU ETS charges incurred by introducing a stop for flights into and out of the EU.

]]> Mary E. Johnson et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/2 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/2 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:31:05 PDT The 2012 Pilot Source Study (Phase III) was a continuation of the 2010 Pilot Source Study (Smith, Bjerke, NewMyer, Niemczyk & Hamilton, 2010), using the same research design with a new data set containing no duplicate records. University faculty and students assisted seven regional airlines to enter data on 4,024 pilots hired between 2005 and 2011. New-hire pilots’ college and piloting backgrounds defined their input (Source) variables. Training and first year operations data defined the output (Success) variables. Identifying information for pilots and participating airlines was removed fromthe data sets, and records were combined into a single data set for independent analysis by five researchers. Results were verified by two independent researchers from the University of Central Florida (a non-affiliated university). Results showed considerable consistency between the 2010 Pilot Source Study and the 2012 Pilot Source Study regarding initial pilot training at a regional air carrier. The study found that pilots entering the industry with an aviation-specific college degree, particularly a degree froman AABI-accredited flight program, performed better in initial training than those with no degree or a non-aviation degree. The results also indicated that a pilot’s background, such as having a CFI certificate and obtaining advanced training from a collegiate aviation program, is an indicator of success in training. One important result was that commercial pilots had more completions than pilots with an ATP certificate. On the other hand, total flight hours produced inconclusive results.

]]> Guy M. Smith et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/1 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss2/1 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:30:58 PDT Modern airline pilots are tasked every flight with the safe and efficient operation of highly automated airliners in today’s complicated global and economic environments. Airlines have developed standard operating procedures (SOP) for normal, abnormal, and emergency operations. These procedures serve as a script for crews to follow. These procedures are designed by airlines to ensure that aircraft are operated in the (1) most safe, (2) most efficient, and (3) most on-time manner. For the most part pilots will comply with SOP, but when they (1) don9t agree with SOP, (2) don9t understand SOP or the risks associated with not complying with SOP, or (3) don9t feel adequately trained to know what SOP is, it is difficult to motivate them to comply. Airlines have the means to measure compliance through Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA). The purpose of this research is to determine if increased understanding, knowledge and awareness of the risk of noncompliance with SOP increase airline pilots’ compliance with SOP. This research explores data from line checks at a major US airline that was gathered in pursuit of understanding what drives SOP compliance. Baseline data was gathered and analyzed to determine the top 12 noncompliant items. The airline provided training during the Human Factors module in each pilots recurrent training on Pilot Intentional Non Compliance (PINC). The training including developing pilots’ understanding that while most Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports grant pilots immunity from legal action, if a violation is labeled PINC, ASAP protections do not apply. Further line checks were conducted after the pilots received the PINC training. The top 12 noncompliant items from the pre-PINC training group were compared to the same 12 items in the post-PINC training group. Significant improvement in SOP compliance was found in six of the 12 items tested. The results established that training pilots on the risk of PINC did significantly increase SOP compliance.

]]> Carrie N. Giles http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/9 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/9 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:48 PDT http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/8 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/8 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:47 PDT http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/7 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/7 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:46 PDT Lead is currently banned from most gasoline because it is harmful to humans. While aviation gasoline still contains lead, this may change in the near future due to increased regulation in the interest of public safety. This has created a research opportunity to verify that new unleaded aviation fuels are compatible with equipment currently in use. The Cooperative Fuels Research (CFR) engine is designed for the controlled experimental testing of fuels involving spark-ignition, piston engines. The CFR engine enables scientists and engineers to ascertain engine performance as it relates to fuel, including heat content, detonation characteristics, and ultimately the fuel octane number. An initiative is underway in the Aviation Technology Department at Purdue University to update and make operational a CFR engine. With this test engine fully functional, scientists, engineers and students will have another cutting-edge tool for both education and research in the arena of new aviation fuels.

]]> Christopher Brock et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/6 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/6 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:44 PDT This paper describes a two-part study on the Dunning-Kruger effect in SIUC University’s aviation students. The Dunning-Kruger effect indicates that individuals with lower skill or knowledge levels have unrealistic positive images of their capabilities compared to their peers. Results indicate that the Dunning-Kruger effect is present in SIUC aviation students. Students scoring lower on both a grammar test and a pilot knowledge test grossly overestimated their ability, while higher scoring students underestimated their ability. Additional research using other pilot training programs and other aviation industry safety personnel should be undertaken before any generalizations can be made. However, this study indicates that the Dunning-Kruger effect might be a problem within the aviation industry and could play a role in the safety of the National Airspace System.

]]> Samuel R. Pavel et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/5 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/5 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:43 PDT Researchers in the Aeronautical Engineering Technology program at Purdue University are exploring innovative ways to introduce and integrate aircraft maintenance data from their advanced training fleet of networked aircraft into an undergraduate Aviation curriculum. This report describes a work in progress toward that goal. This initiative will better prepare students for an industry where synthetic process visualization, drag and drop planning screens and ‘‘smart’’ personal computing device applications play a significant role in problem solving and daily aircraft operations. The goal is to equip students at all levels of the curriculum with awareness and modern methods of process visualization, troubleshooting and research using modern, networked air vehicles.

]]> Timothy D. Ropp et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/4 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/4 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:40 PDT Aircraft accident forensics include analyzing cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) information. Each recorder is independent of the other and often share no common time frame. Analysts must align the two time scales using common events on each recorder, such as microphone keying events. Using test drive development and linear programming, we have created a two-step model to align the CVR and FDR recordings. The first linear model matches microphone keying events, while the second linear model optimizes alignment of the time scales. When the constrained optimization problem produces a feasible solution, a standardized computer-generated sentence is created that is useful for forensic reporting purposes.

]]> William A. Tuccio et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/3 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/3 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:39 PDT Loading strategies for commercial passenger aircraft have been a subject of recent study among air transportation research analysts. A fundamental assumption in the majority of these studies is the fixed configuration of passenger seats. Previous studies have focused on analyzing different strategies in an effort to reduce passenger loading time. This study takes a more proactive approach to the passenger loading process by starting with the design of the aircraft seating layout itself. Simulation analysis results indicate that alternative designs can result in loading time reductions between approximately 9–44%.

]]> Christopher A. Chung http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/2 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/2 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:38 PDT Brent D. Bowen et al. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/1 http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jate/vol2/iss1/1 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:00:36 PDT