Challenges in Investigating UAV Accidents
This paper deals with the challenges faced when investigating accidents related to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The first aim is to generate statistical data on UAV accidents and to use that data to gain insights into the types and reasons for the accidents. From those insights, this paper identifies the…
The role of the media when covering a major aviation accident
The role of the media when covering a major aviation accident is often criticised. While the media may argue they are simply doing their job and satisfying the public’s desire for information – investigators though, do comment (and provide criticism) on HOW the media conduct themselves when reporting accidents. Christopher…
How old is too old to be a pilot?
The notion of age and well-being is a subjective issue and one that has many variables – that is, the age, health and performance of one individual may not be reflective to another person that is of similar age and similar characteristics. It is generally theorised though that the human…
Aviation White Paper (2009) and Australian Government policy
The Australian Federal government has identified Aviation as an industry of national strategic importance, and while Australia already has an outstanding aviation safety record, the Government consulted with industry and released a National Aviation Policy Green Paper in December 2008. This paper which was based on the consultative process was…
Remembering a pilot from a bygone era
How do you remember a bush pilot? Simple really, you hire an old plane and spread the ashes over the countryside he adored in a manner that he would’ve wanted. Ralph Green was a pilot from another era. He learnt to fly in a Tiger Moth at a time when…
An analysis of the accident report for the very first aviation accident using current investigation methodologies
The US Naval Safety Center describes an accident as “a failure of an organization’s overall safety program” . The underlying premise of this definition is the hazards that caused an accident were not discovered in time – and therefore, there was a failure in the organisation for not trapping or…
The MRO costs impacting airline operations
The airline industry is highly capital intensive and this intensity is spread across all aspects of this vast sector. This includes the financial demands in having access to a reliable fleet of aircraft; the necessity to have experienced personnel operating and managing that fleet; the requirement in having access to…
The difficulties faced by accident investigators
The downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 as it flew over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 was a tragic event that raised the public’s awareness of the many difficulties faced by aircraft accident investigators. This particular incident drew the focus on the political sensitivities, conflicting governmental responses and also the media’s…
The 5 categories of witnesses to an accident
Witnesses are one of the primary sources of evidence investigators can utilise when covering an accident. Information obtained from witnesses may provide key aspects such as: whether there was any damage to the aircraft prior to impact; any unusual noises or sounds; was there any sign of smoke or gas…
What is Scenario Based Learning?
Scenario-based learning (SBL) is an immersive training environment where learners are presented with simulated work challenges – and then based on their choices and decisions, they receive realistic feedback as they progress (and traverse) through the course. Unlike many e-courses, where learners passively absorb information by reading a text and…
What evidence can be obtained away from an accident site?
The scene of an accident involving a large passenger aircraft contains a body of evidence that can take a team of investigators to sift through. Such evidence may consist of damage to the aircraft, injuries to flight crew and passengers and data obtained from the aircraft’s flight recorders. However, there…
Should we abandon the Group System when investigating aviation accidents?
It has been suggested that the Group System of aviation accident investigation is inflexible, costly and outdated. Critics claim that the system should be abandoned and instead, introduce a more streamlined approach that consists of a small group of multiskilled investigators who would investigate every accident. While this argument may…
The difficulties posed by the Australian Transport Safety Investigation definition of an accident site
The Australian Transport Safety Investigation (TSI) Act (2003) defines an accident site as: a site containing the transport vehicle or any of its wreckage; a site where there is an impact point associated with the accident; if the accident involved destruction or serious damage to property (other than the transport…
The impact of thunderstorms on ATC operations
Thunderstorms can cause major issues to aircraft movements and as a result, are a major concern for ATC operators. While ATC operators have access to weather-based radar technologies as well as current meteorological reports, the unstable nature of thunderstorms provide a challenging environment that presents a heavy impact on operations….
Human Factors in the aviation industry
Human Factors is the study of how people interact with specific mechanics, technology or systems and has the goal in reducing human error, increase productivity, and enhance safety and comfort (Wikipedia, 2018). Koonce extends on this definition by stating that human factors is designing for human use or fitting the…
What is free flight?
The developing concept of free flight basically uses no centralized management or control system and instead, allows aircraft to use onboard radar and navigation equipment to fly and navigate their own way through the airspace – without being restricted to specific flight paths as defined or chosen by Air Traffic…
“Automation bias” – A concern for designers of cockpits and ATC systems alike
It is a natural tendency for humans to favour or prefer information that has been provided by automated or computer-based systems. This tendency is referred to as automation bias and is based on social psychology research that has found positivity bias occurs in environments where human-automation interaction occurs and that…
The main elements of a typical Safety Management System (SMS) for an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP)
A documented SMS allows an organization to ensure that all safety risks have been identified, assessed and satisfactorily mitigated (Eurocontrol, 2000). Essentially, an organizational SMS is a managed dynamic document that includes a site-specific safety plan; a listing of safety policies, procedures and processes; detailed information relating to training and…
The concept of remote (or virtual) ATC services
The concept of remote (or virtual) ATC services being performed at a location that is separate and away from the respective airport is a fascinating one that warrants further research and industry discussion. The basic principle of this concept is that a remote airport is provisioned and serviced by advanced…
Automated Technology in Aviation
Automation is commonly defined as “the use or introduction of automatic equipment in a manufacturing or other process or facility” (Oxford English Dictionary, 2011). The International Society of Automation (ISA) further defines this term as “the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery of…
From the cockpit to a multi-industry standard – The development of CRM and NTS Training
The formal concept of Crew Resource Management (CRM) training can be traced back to a workshop conducted in 1979 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Cooper, White, & Lauber, 1979). This workshop was based on research that identified the leading causal factors for the majority of air accidents…
Appealing a CASA decision
A commercial pilot who has had their licence suspended for allegedly low flying does have the facility to appeal the decision. This appeal process is through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) which was established under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) with the purpose of reviewing decisions that have…