The supplemental inspection programs of the FAA ensure that commercial airlines fulfill the structural safety requirements. Any structural defects that are observed during the normal operation of an airplane or those that are revealed after an accident are issued as Airworthiness Directives (AD). The FAA periodically conducts certification reviews and aircrafts that report recurrent problems due to design issues will require compulsory design modifications. [FAA]
6. What is the purpose of flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders? How are they be used for accident-prevention purposes?
Flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders are very useful tools that can be used to understand the events that lead to the accident. Familiarly known as the 'black boxes' these units are helpful for aircraft investigators in reconstructing the disaster. Today most black boxes record data digitally in micro chips. To preserve the vital information that is stored in them both the flight data recorder as well as the cockpit data recorder are located in the safest zone in the airplane, which is the tail region. Even when the crash happens over the ocean the black box can be easily located because a device called 'Pinger' gets activated when the black box gets in contact with water thereby making it easy to locate it under water. Even from depths of 14,000 feet the 'underwater locator beacon' of the black boxes emit signals that can be detected from the surface.
Immediately following an accident the black box is located and taken to the NTSB head office for analysis using sophisticated computer systems that help the analysts understand the vital flight parameters at the time of the crash and the last minute conversations between the pilots and the traffic controller. The "cockpit area microphone" located in the cockpit is very useful for investigators to listen to the engine noise, stall voices and other important system events. Air safety regulations make it mandatory to record at least 88 different flight parameters in the FDR. However, the FDR's in most modern aircrafts can record much more. Together the CVR and the FDR provide vital information pertaining to the final status of the plane and its crew. The FDR and CVR are immensely helpful in identifying any mechanical defects or operational errors or any other probable reasons that caused the accident and this information is very useful to avert future mishaps. [NTSB]
7. Both management and employees have roles and responsibilities in improving human performance. Discuss/explain some of these roles and responsibilities.
Human errors more than anything result in more accidents in the aviation industry. In fact it is estimated that more than 70% of all commercial aircraft accidents are caused due to human errors. Therefore improving human performance is critical for improving aircraft safety. Crew resource management and maintenance resource management are two important human resource management factors in the aviation industry. Airline management has a crucial role to play in improving human performance. Failures in inter-personal communication and decision-making may increase the chances of errors and Crew resource management is aimed at removing these hurdles. Boeing is a case in point. Boeing management was concerned about reducing the human errors in its fleet and employed 'Human Factor specialists' who examined everything from improving human machine interfaces to designing process guidelines for on flight and maintenance crew.
Boeing developed the Procedural Event Analysis Tool (PEAT) to identify causes of human errors and the reasons for departure from established procedures. Management is also responsible to ensure that the crew is not overworked or stressed out as it can directly affect performance. From the employee...
Michael Bishop is that most passengers do not prefer to fly backwards; they are actually more frightened of flying backwards than of flying forwards, even though it has been explained to them that it is infinitely safer to fly backwards rather than the opposite. (UK Kegworth, ten years on) It was in the year 1991 that the Transport Committee produced a Report on the Aircraft Cabin Safety, in which it
Safety Culture in Aviation Sector Aviation Safety Safety is fundamental in the aviation sector and coupled with the increasing public expectation, aviation safety has become an important aspect. The aviation industry is composed of airports, airlines, air traffic organizations and other aviation service providers and it order for them to realize their aims of delivering services, achieving production output and generating return on investments, safety is central International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
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46). To date, though, these reforms have not materialized and the air traffic control system remains mired in the FAA bureaucracy (McDougall & Roberts, 2008). In this regard, Poole (2008) emphasizes that, "[the air traffic control system] is managed by an unwieldy government bureaucracy, micromanaged by Congress, and subjected to the ups and downs of the federal budget process. And as air travel continues to grow, the air traffic
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