Pilot Perceptions of Wire Strikes in Agricultural Aviation Operations

INTRODUCTION: Agricultural aircraft operations are associated with unique challenges. In particular, these include maintaining awareness of obstacles associated with flight at very low altitudes. Wire strikes are a common cause of accidents in these operations.METHODS: Focus groups were completed during the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo hosted by the National Agricultural Aviation Association with pilots who had experienced wire-strike events (N = 22). The researchers coded the transcripts using a human factors framework.RESULTS: Notably, unplanned "trim passes" were a key stage of flight during wire-strike events. Cognitive risk factors that may have affected their performance included situation awareness, decision-making choices, and pressure to perform. Over half of subjects reported being aware of the wire before collision. Possible prevention strategies include not spraying the field due to safety risks, paying better attention to where they were in the field, and avoiding deviation from the planned route.DISCUSSION: Wire-strike events often occur due to momentary lapses in attention, even when the pilot is already aware of the wire. This study shows that targeted approaches to prevent wire strikes in agricultural aviation operations require addressing a number of cognitive risks and human factors, rather than implementing increased preflight surveillance. These results have implications for preventing future wire-strike accidents based directly on pilot perceptions, both within agricultural operations and general aviation more broadly.Baumgartner HM, DiDomenica R, Hu PT, Thomas S. Pilot perceptions of wire strikes in agricultural aviation operations. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(6):305-312.

Flight safety assessment based on a modified human error risk quantification approach

In risk and safety assessments of aviation systems, engineers generally pay more attention to the risks of hardware or software failure and focus less on the risks caused by human errors. In this paper, a (FRAHE) method is proposed for identifying this critical error type and determining the risk severity of human errors. This method accounts for the human error probability as well as the impacts of human errors on the system. The fuzzy inference approach is employed in this paper to address the uncertainty and issues of imprecision that arise from insufficient information and scarce error data and a risk assessment model of human error is developed. The model can be used to precisely describe the relationship between the output risk severity and the input risk indicators, including the human error probability, the error impact probability, and the human error consequence. A case study of the approach task is presented to demonstrate the availability and reasonability of the model. The risk-based modeling method can not only provide valuable information for reducing the occurrence of critical errors but also be used to conduct prospective analyses to prevent unsafe incidents or aviation accidents.

The Untapped Potential of Narrative as a Tool in Aviation Mental Health and Certification

INTRODUCTION: Work-related stress is common in pilots, with broad implications, including the potential development of mental health symptoms and sometimes even psychiatric disease. This commentary argues for the use of narrative as a tool to promote preventive health behaviors in pilots and combat misinformation about aeromedical certification related to mental health.Hoffman WR, McNeil M, Tvaryanas A. The untapped potential of narrative as a tool in aviation mental health and certification. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(3):165-166.

Effects of distance flown on pilot decision making in continued flight into deteriorating weather conditions

INTRODUCTION

Continuing flight into adverse weather remains a significant problem in general aviation (GA) safety. A variety of experiential, cognitive, and motivational factors have been suggested as explanations. Previous research has shown that adverse weather accidents occur further into planned flights than other types of accident, suggesting that previous investment of time and effort might be a contributing factor. The aim of this study was to experimentally determine the effect of prior commitment on general aviation pilots' decision-making and risk-taking in simulated VFR flights.

METHOD

Thirty-six licensed pilots 'flew' two simulated flights designed to simulate an encounter with deteriorating coastal weather and a developing extensive cloud base underneath the aircraft as it crossed a mountain range. After making a decision to continue or discontinue the flight, pilots completed a range of risk perception, risk taking, and situational awareness measures.

RESULTS

Visual flight rules were violated in 42% of the flights. Prior commitment, in terms of distance already flown, led to an increased tendency to continue the flight into adverse weather in the coastal 'scud running' scenario. Continuing pilots perceived the risks differently and showed greater risk tolerance than others. These 'bolder' pilots also tended to be more active and better qualified than the others.

CONCLUSIONS

There are undoubtedly multiple factors underlying any individual decision to continue or discontinue a flight. The willingness to tolerate a higher level of risk seems to be one such factor. This willingness can increase with time invested in the flight and also seems to be related to individual flight qualifications and experience.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

All pilots might benefit from carefully structured simulator sessions designed to safely teach practical risk management strategies with clear and immediate feedback.

Pilot performance and workload whilst using an angle of attack system

Loss of control in flight is the primary category of fatal accidents within all sectors of aviation and failure to maintain adequate airspeed - leading to a stall - is often cited as a causal factor. Stalls occur when the critical angle of the aircraft is exceeded for a given airspeed. Using airspeed as an indicator of the potential to stall is an unreliable proxy. Systems that measure the angle of attack have been routinely used by military aircraft for over 50 years however rigorous academic research with respect to their effectiveness has been limited. Using a fixed-base flight simulator fitted with a simulated, commercially available angle of attack system, 20 pilots performed normal and emergency procedures during the circuit/pattern in a light aircraft. Experimental results have shown that pilot performance was improved when angle of attack was displayed in the cockpit for normal and emergency procedures during the approach phase of flight in the pattern/circuit. In relation to pilot workload, results indicated that during the approach phase of flight, there was a moderate but tolerable increase in pilot workload. The use of such a display may assist pilots to maintain the aircraft within the optimum range and hence reduce occurrences of unstable approaches. Overall, fewer stall events were observed when angle of attack was displayed and appropriate pilot decisions made during emergencies. These results provide a new perspective on pilot workload and aviation safety.

Analysis on coupling dynamic effect of human errors in aviation safety

Human factors have increasingly been the leading cause of aircraft accidents. In most cases, human factors are not working alone, instead they are coupled with complex environment, mechanical factors, physiological and psychological factors of pilots, and organizational management, all of which form a complex aviation safety system. It is vital to investigate the coupling impact of human errors to avoid the occurrence of aviation accidents. In view that the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) provides a hierarchical classification principle of human errors in aviation accidents, and the System Dynamics (SD) approach is helpful to describe the risk evolution process, this paper establishes a hybrid HFACS-SD model by employing the HFACS and the SD approach to reveal the aviation human factors risk evolution mechanism, in which the HFACS is first used to capture the causal factors of human errors risk, and a coupling SD model is then built to describe the evolution of aviation human factors risk supported by historical data. The eigenvalue elasticity analysis is taken to identify critical loops and parameters that have a substantial impact on the system structural behavior, and the influence of parameters and loops is assessed. Simulation results show that the evolution trend of the accident rate can be replicated by the proposed HFACS-SD model, and the structural dominance analysis can efficiently identify critical loops and parameters. Simulation results further show that, with the recommended safety enhancement measures, the stability of the aviation system is increased, and thus lowering the overall accident rate.

Research on Aviation Safety Prediction Based on Variable Selection and LSTM

Accurate prediction of aviation safety levels is significant for the efficient early warning and prevention of incidents. However, the causal mechanism and temporal character of aviation accidents are complex and not fully understood, which increases the operation cost of accurate aviation safety prediction. This paper adopts an innovative statistical method involving a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and long short-term memory (LSTM). We compiled and calculated 138 monthly aviation insecure events collected from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) and took minor accidents as the predictor. Firstly, this paper introduced the group variables and the weight matrix into LASSO to realize the adaptive variable selection. Furthermore, it took the selected variable into multistep stacked LSTM (MSSLSTM) to predict the monthly accidents in 2020. Finally, the proposed method was compared with multiple existing variable selection and prediction methods. The results demonstrate that the RMSE (root mean square error) of the MSSLSTM is reduced by 41.98%, compared with the original model; on the other hand, the key variable selected by the adaptive spare group lasso (ADSGL) can reduce the elapsed time by 42.67% (13 s). This shows that aviation safety prediction based on ADSGL and MSSLSTM can improve the prediction efficiency of the model while keeping excellent generalization ability and robustness.

Predicting and mitigating failures on the flight deck: an aircraft engine bird strike scenario

Engine damage as a consequence of foreign object debris (FOD) during flight is frequently caused by birds. One approach to minimising disruption caused by this damage is to provide flight crew with accurate information relating to the continuing operational status of the aircraft's engines. Before designing such avionic systems however, understanding of current procedures is needed. Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) and Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach (SHERPA) were used to identify potential failures that flight crew may make when managing an engine bird strike. Workshops with commercial pilots generated insights into current practice and a commercial pilot SME reviewed outputs for accuracy. Over 200 potential failures were identified, most commonly related to communication. Remedial measures, considering future avionic systems, are proposed to mitigate identified failures. This analysis provides a starting point for future design concepts for assisting flight crew in dealing with engine malfunction due to FOD strikes. Practitioner summary: Hierarchical Task Analysis was conducted to show all tasks involved in dealing with an in-flight aircraft engine bird strike. Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach analysis was performed and over 200 possible failures were identified when managing this event. Remedial measures are proposed to help mitigate possible failures.

Cardiovascular Concerns from COVID-19 in Pilots

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease, now complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, remains a leading cause of death and risk for sudden incapacitation for pilots during flight. The capacity for aeromedically significant cardiovascular sequelae with potentially imperceptible clinical symptoms elicits concern both during and following resolution of acute COVID-19 in pilots.OBJECTIVE: We summarize the current state of knowledge regarding COVID-19 cardiovascular implications as applied to the aviation environment to better understand their significance toward flight safety and application toward a focused cardiovascular screening protocol following recovery from infection.METHODS: A narrative review of the cardiovascular implications of COVID-19 infection was performed using the PubMed literature search engine and existing organizational guidelines. In addition, to established medical aviation benchmarks, surrogate populations examined included high performance athletes (as a correlate for high G-forces), and scuba divers (as an environmental work analog). Conditions of primary concern included myocardial injury, proarrhythmic substrates, risk of sudden death, myopericarditis, pulse orthostatic lability in response to vigorous activity, cardiovagal dysfunction, and thromboembolic disease.LITERATURE REVIEW: Cardiovascular screening guideline recommendations post-infection recovery are suggested based on profile stratification: airperson flight class, tactical military, and aerobatic pilots. This provides an approach to inform aeromedical decision making.CONCLUSION: Aviation medical examiners should remain cognizant of the clinically apparent and occult manifestations of cardiovascular dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection when applying return-to-work screening guidelines. This will ensure high flight safety standards are maintained and sudden incapacitation risk mitigated during and following the ongoing pandemic.Elkhatib W, Herrigel D, Harrison M, Flipse T, Speicher L. Cardiovascular concerns from COVID-19 in pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(12):855-865.

The development of a scenario-based human-machine-environment-procedure (HMEP) classification scheme for the root cause analysis of helicopter accidents

The current study analyzed the root causes of 22 helicopter accidents/incidents that took place between 1998 and 2019. Each root cause was coded using three commonly used classification models in aviation HFACS, ATSB, and IATA to identify recurring factors for better targeting of future prevention strategies. The frequency analysis revealed that not following procedure (22 observations), training inadequate or unavailable (17), inadequate regulatory oversight (17), inadequate procedure guidance (16), company management absent or deficient (10) and incorrect manuals/charts/checklists (9) were the most frequent contributing factors. Since none of the existing models could summarize the root causes of 22 occurrences effectively, a scenario-based human-machine-environment-procedure (HMEP) classification scheme was proposed to use organizational influences, people management, technical failure, procedure and document, and environment as the first-layer subcategories. The HMEP scheme was additionally applied to the analysis and coding of 4 helicopter accidents in the USA published by the NTSB. The HMEP scheme revealed that NTSB had identified a significantly greater number of root causes in the manufacturer design, manufacturing & documentation. Overall, HMEP can be used to guide the data collection during accident investigation and subsequently to aggregate aviation accidents to derive recurring factors and compare accident patterns in an efficient manner.

When Outcomes are not Enough: An Examination of Abductive and Deductive Logical Approaches to Risk Analysis in Aviation

While airlines generate massive amounts of operational data every year, the ability to use the collected material to improve safety has begun to plateau. With the increasing demand for air travel, the aviation industry is continually growing while simultaneously being required to ensure the level of safety within the system remains constant. The purpose of this article is to explore whether the traditional analysis methods that have historically made aviation ultra-safe have reached their theoretical limits or merely practical ones. This analysis argues that the underlying logic governing the traditional (and current) approaches to assess safety and risk within aviation (and other safety critical systems) is abductive and therefore focused on creating explanations rather than predictions. While the current "fly-fix-fly" approach has, and will continue to be, instrumental in improving what (clearly) fails, alternative methods are needed to determine if a specific operation is more or less risky than others. As the system grows, so too does the number of ways it can fail, creating the possibility that more novel accidents may occur. The article concludes by proposing an alternative approach that explicitly adds temporality to the concepts of safety and risk. With this addition, a deductive analysis approach can be adopted which, while low in explanatory power, can be used to create predictions that are not bound to analyzing only outcomes that have occurred in the past but instead focuses on determining the deviation magnitude between the operation under analysis and historically commensurate operations.

A Systematic Review of Multilevel Influenced Risk-Taking in Helicopter and Small Airplane Normal Operations

The violation of aviation rules, particularly meteorological flight rules, can have fatal outcomes. Violation can sometimes be explained by intentional risk-taking, alternatively it can be the manifestation of a strategy to enhance performance and influence outcomes, such as saving time or fulfilling customer expectations. The aim of this study was to determine the types of risk-taking behavior within extant empirical research and identify multilevel antecedents related to risk-taking in the context of aviation operations, via a systematic literature review. 4,742 records were identified, which after screening resulted in the detailed consideration of 10 studies, three qualitative and seven quantitative studies, which met the eligibility criteria. Only published works were included in the review, thus the results may have been subject to publication bias, however, the types of risk taking within the research were consistent with that observed in Australian and New Zealand accident reports. The predominate risk-taking behavior was that of continuing Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight into deteriorating conditions / Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Multilevel influences could be categorized under two overarching themes, being “continuation influence” and “acceptance of risk / normalization of deviance.” One or both themes was consistently observed across the finding in all studies, although precaution should be given to the relative frequency of the reported associations. This review indicates the value of considering the social and organizational influences on risk-taking, and suggests avenues for future research, in particular exploring the influences through a Self-Determination Theory (SDT) lens.

An Orientation to Aviation Psychiatry: With 30 Case Examples and a 10-Year Follow-up

ABSTRACT

This report orients general psychiatrists to assessment and care for "safety sensitive" aviation workers. Our case study of 30 sequential aviation patients consists of demographic, clinical, and aviation characteristics plus a 10-year follow-up. Relatively few pilots and other aviation workers self-identified their psychiatric condition. Aviation outcomes associated with psychiatric disorder included personnel injury and/or aircraft damage (three cases), imminent risk without injury or damage (nine cases), impaired aviation functioning without imminent risk (15 cases), and neither risk nor psychiatric disorder or impairment (three cases). Mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders comprised the most common diagnoses. Ten years later, 23 patients were employed (21 in aviation); seven were disabled or deceased. General psychiatrists will find aviation cases clinically familiar but requiring added evaluation for aviation safety and potential interaction with the Federal Aviation Agency and airline supervisors.

Fuel Planning Errors in General Aviation from 2015 to 2020

BACKGROUND: Planning, whether preflight or in-flight, is a cause of accident that is presumably almost entirely preventable. Planning skills on the part of the pilot should assist in avoiding dangerous situations with regards to light conditions, weather, fuel shortage, and/or improper weight and balance. Fuel planning is noted as especially unnecessary, as fuel planning is not considered a complex skill but part of proper flight preparation and in-flight planning.METHODS: A total of 196 accident reports from 2015 until 2020 were extracted from the NTSB online database in which the probable cause included either preflight or in-flight planning as a cause attributed to the pilot. Of those accidents, the majority (N = 131, 67%) were attributed to fuel planning and were further analyzed.RESULTS: Fuel-planning related accidents were significantly less often fatal compared to all planning-related accidents and all fuel-related accidents. The majority of fuel planning accidents resulted in fuel exhaustion. Additionally, the cause attributed to the accidents was frequently the skill-based error of "fuel planning (pilot)" and the crew resource management issue of "fuel-fluid level". Specific information regarding the pilot's fuel plan was only available in 52 (40%) of the accident reports.CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of fuel-related planning accidents suggests that this aspect of pilotage is underestimated and requires more attention both in training and in standard operating procedures. In particular, more detailed information regarding the pilot's fuel plan is necessary in order to determine which step in the process most frequently results in an accident.Kalagher H. Fuel planning errors in general aviation from 2015 to 2020. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(12):970-974.

Aviation Maxillofacial Shields and Blunt Impact Protection in U.S. Army Helicopter Mishaps

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial shields (MFSs) are an available piece of aviation protective equipment designed to integrate into aircrew helmets and protect the face from wind and flying debris. Aviators have anecdotally reported that MFSs have provided blunt impact protection during impact events (i.e., a crash); however, no such cases have been formally documented in the literature.CASE REPORTS: Two cases were identified where aircrew wearing MFSs were involved in mishaps resulting in maxillofacial blunt impacts. In the first case, an OH-58 pilot struck the cyclic with his head/face during a crash. In the second case, a CH-47 crew chief was struck in the face by a maintenance panel dislodged from the aircraft. In both cases the MFS was damaged, but neither service member experienced injuries as a result of impact to the face.DISCUSSION: The cases illustrate the effectiveness of the MFS against blunt impact during aviation mishaps. While MFS use is currently optional for aircrew, it is believed that increased MFS use would result in fewer or less severe facial injuries as well as decrease the associated time and monetary losses due to injury.Weisenbach CA, McGhee JS. Aviation maxillofacial shields and blunt impact protection in U.S. Army helicopter mishaps. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(1):5053.

Inventive nesting behaviour in the keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia, and the risk to aviation safety

The keyhole wasp (Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille 1812), a mud-nesting wasp native to South and Central America and the Caribbean, is a relatively recent (2010) arrival in Australia. In its native range it is known to use man-made cavities to construct nests. A series of serious safety incidents Brisbane Airport related to the obstruction of vital airspeed measuring pitot probes on aircraft possibly caused by mud-nesting wasps, prompted an assessment of risk. An experiment was designed to determine the species responsible, the types of aircraft most affected, the seasonal pattern of potential risk and the spatial distribution of risk on the airport. A series of replica pitot probes were constructed using 3D-printing technology, representing aircraft with high numbers of movements (landings and take-offs), and mounted at four locations at the airport. Probes were monitored for 39 months. Probes blocked by mud nesting wasps were retrieved and incubated in mesh bags. Emerging wasps were identified to species. Results show that all nests in probes were made by P. nasidens, and peak nesting occurs in the summer months. Nesting success (as proportion of nests with live adult emergents) was optimal between 24 and 31°C and that probes with apertures of more than 3 mm diameter are preferred. Not all areas on the airport are affected equally, with the majority of nests constructed in one area. The proportion of grassed areas within 1000 m of probes was a significant predictor of nesting, and probe volume may determine the sex of emerging wasps.

Spatial Disorientation Impact on the Precise Approach in Simulated Flight

BACKGROUND: The risks posed by flight illusions impacting pilot spatial orientation have been determined as a safety concern from numerous past aviation accident investigations. Early demonstration of the adverse effects of flight illusions on spatial orientation would be desirable for all pilots, especially at the early training stages to deeply embed good practices for onset detection, flight correction, and response mitigation.METHOD: Simulated flights on a disorientation demonstrator were performed by 19 pilots for 3 conditions: no illusion, somatogyral illusion, and Coriolis illusion. An objective approach for assessing pilot performance degradation due to flight illusions can be done by using a defined flight profile: instrument landing system (ILS) flight trajectory during final instrument approach. Deviations to the standard ILS profile were recorded to measure and evaluate the influence of the demonstrated flight illusion on pilot performance.RESULTS: The results show the expectation that the smallest deviations from the ideal trajectory are caused by pilot tracking error (no illusion), and the greatest deviations are caused by the Coriolis illusion. Results demonstrated a statistically significant effect of illusions on performance. According to statements from pilots, training for flight illusion response is essential to complement training in aircraft regulations and aerodynamics.DISCUSSION: Measuring the influence of vestibular illusions on flight profile with a simulator allows assessment of individual differences and improvement of pilot performance under the conditions of no illusion, the somatogyral illusion, and the Coriolis illusion.Boril J, Smrz V, Blasch E, Lone M. Spatial disorientation impact on the precise approach in simulated flight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):767775.

Blending Human and Machine: Feasibility of Measuring Fatigue Through the Aviation Headset

OBJECTIVE

To determine viability of drowsiness detection, researchers study the feasibility of photoplethysmogram (PPG) data collection from the geography of the aviation headset, correlating to electrocardiogram (ECG) reference.

BACKGROUND

Fatigue has been a probable cause, contributing factor, or a finding in 20% of transportation incidents and accidents studied between January 2001 and December 2012. This operational hazard is particularly troublesome within aviation and airline operations.

METHOD

PPG and ECG data were collected synchronously from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercially rated pilots during flight simulation in the window of circadian low (WOCL). Valid PPG and ECG data from 14 participants were analyzed, which yielded approximately 2 hr of data per participant for fatigue-related analysis.

RESULTS

The results of the study demonstrate clear trends toward decreased heart rate for both ECG and PPG and suggest progression of drowsiness between four separate periods (T1, T2, T3, and T4) selected during the study; however, the mean heart rate change from T1 to T4 was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that ECG and PPG data can be an important tool to observe conditions where drowsiness or fatigue may add risk to the operation. In addition, the data show high correlation between ECG and PPG data, further suggesting that a simpler PPG sensor, mounted within the geography of the aviation headset, may streamline the operationalization of important physiological data.

APPLICATION

Incorporation of PPG sensors and associated signal processing methods into facilitating equipment, such as the aviation headset, may add a layer to operational safety.

Human Factors Contributions to the Development of Standards for Displays of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Support of Detect-and-Avoid

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to provide a high-level synthesis of human factors research that contributed to the development of detect-and-avoid display requirements for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

BACKGROUND

The integration of UAS into the U.S. National Airspace System is a priority under the Federal Aviation Administration's Modernization and Reform Act. For UAS to have routine access to the National Airspace System, UAS must have detect-and-avoid capabilities. One human factors challenge is to determine how to display information effectively to remote pilots for performing detect-and-avoid tasks.

METHOD

A high-level review of research informing the display requirements for UAS detect-and-avoid is provided. In addition, description of the contributions of human factors researchers in the writing of the requirements is highlighted.

RESULTS

Findings from human-in-the-loop simulations are used to illustrate how evidence-based guidelines and requirements were established for the display of information to assist pilots in performing detect-and-avoid. Implications for human factors are discussed.

CONCLUSION

Human factors researchers and engineers made many contributions to generate the data used to justify the detect-and-avoid display requirements. Human factors researchers must continue to be involved in the development of standards to ensure that requirements are evidence-based and take into account human operator performance and human factors principles and guidelines.

APPLICATION

The research presented in this paper is relevant to the design of UAS, the writing of standards and requirements, and the work in human-systems integration.

Aerodynamic imaging by mosquitoes inspires a surface detector for autonomous flying vehicles

Some flying animals use active sensing to perceive and avoid obstacles. Nocturnal mosquitoes exhibit a behavioral response to divert away from surfaces when vision is unavailable, indicating a short-range, mechanosensory collision-avoidance mechanism. We suggest that this behavior is mediated by perceiving modulations of their self-induced airflow patterns as they enter a ground or wall effect. We used computational fluid dynamics simulations of low-altitude and near-wall flights based on in vivo high-speed kinematic measurements to quantify changes in the self-generated pressure and velocity cues at the sensitive mechanosensory antennae. We validated the principle that encoding aerodynamic information can enable collision avoidance by developing a quadcopter with a sensory system inspired by the mosquito. Such low-power sensing systems have major potential for future use in safer rotorcraft control systems.

Fatigue-Related Aviation Mishaps

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue is a critical safety issue to U.S. Air Force (USAF) flight and ground crew. Nearly 15 yr of mishap reports were analyzed to determine how fatigue affects USAF operations with the goal of improving fatigue risk management policies and tools.METHODS: Summary data for 19,920 aviation mishap reports dating back to 2003 were collected from the Air Force Safety Automated System (AFSAS). Fatigue-related mishaps were identified based on designations provided within AFSAS. Other metrics examined were characteristics such as timing, cost, and aircraft metrics, among others. Contingency tables built from these metrics were used to assess fatigue-related trends across the aviation community.RESULTS: While only 3.88% of all mishaps were identified as fatigue-related, they are associated with 2.1 billion of medical expenses and property damage, or 18% of the 11.7 billion total cost of all mishaps included in the study. Nearly a quarter of the fatigue-related mishaps fall into the most severe mishap category and more than half occurred between 0100 and 0700, local time. Fatigue-related mishaps tended to be more common for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and ground operations.DISCUSSION: Fatigue is very costly to the USAF despite the relatively low incidence rate of fatigue-related mishaps. This is because larger proportions of severe mishaps were found to be fatigue-related. RPA and ground maintenance operators might be especially susceptible to fatigue and potentially lack adequate fatigue mitigation support and training tailored to their unique operational environment, suggesting a need to improve upon fatigue mitigation tools and strategies.Gaines AR, Morris MB, Gunzelmann G. Fatigue-related aviation mishaps. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(5):440447.

Flight safety assessment based on an integrated human reliability quantification approach

Human error is an important risk factor for flight safety. Although the human error assessment and reduction technique (HEART) is an available tool for human reliability derivation, it has not been applied in flight safety assessment. The traditional HEART suffers from imprecise calculation of the assessed proportion of affect (APOA) because it heavily depends on a single expert’s judgment. It also fails to provide remedial measures for flight safety problems. To overcome these defects of the HEART, this study proposes an integrated human error quantification approach that uses the improved analytic hierarchy process method to determine the APOA values. Then, these values are fused to the HEART method to derive the human error probability. A certain flight task is completed to assess human reliability. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is a reasonable and feasible tool for quantifying human error probability and assessing flight safety in the aircraft manipulation process. In addition, the critical error-producing conditions influencing flight safety are identified, and improvement measures for high-error-rate operations are provided. The proposed method is useful for reducing the possibility of human error and enhancing flight safety levels in aircraft operation processes.

Social Acceptance of Increased Usage of the Ballistic Parachute System in a General Aviation Aircraft

BACKGROUND: An airframe parachute ("Chute") available in certain aircraft is designed to lower the airplane safely to the ground for emergency situations that occur 500 ft (152 m) above ground level (AGL): the "Chute altitude envelope." This study will explore the change in Chute use before and after 2012 to better understand factors that increased usage and improved accident outcomes.METHODS: Using the public National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident database from January 1, 2001, through August 31, 2018, a regression model was developed to identify factors that may predict Chute use.RESULTS: In accidents occurring after January 1, 2013, pilots were 5 times more likely to use the Chute, while 2.9 times less likely to use the Chute when the accident involved pilot-related causes. The presence of passengers did not predict Chute use. Injuries were likely to be more severe when the Chute was used outside the Chute altitude envelope.DISCUSSION: In contrast to General Aviation (GA) overall, accidents outcomes in aircraft equipped with a Chute have seen great improvements between 2013 and 2018, with increased use of the Chute and improved injury outcomes. Results suggest that changes to pilot training in 2012 have increased the social acceptance of Chute use. Results highlight increased risk of injury outcomes for Chute use in accidents that occur outside the Chute altitude envelope.Kirby J. Social acceptance of increased usage of the ballistic parachute system in a general aviation aircraft. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(2):86-90.

Modelling and supporting flight crew decision-making during aircraft engine malfunctions: developing design recommendations from cognitive work analysis

In this article, we analyse flight crew response to an in-flight powerplant system malfunction (PSM) using control task analysis. We demonstrate the application of the decision ladder template and the skills, rules, and knowledge (SRK) framework to this new area of inquiry. Despite the high reliability of turbofan engines, accidents and incidents involving PSM still occur. During these unusual events, flight crew have not always responded appropriately, leading to a reduction in safety margins or disruption of operations. This article proposes recommendations for technological and information system that can support flight crew in responding safely and appropriately to a PSM. These recommendations focus on new ways in which information from engine health monitoring system and other sources of data can be utilised and displayed. Firstly, we conducted knowledge elicitation using Critical Decision Method (CDM) interviews with airline pilots who have experienced real or simulated PSM events. We then developed generic decision ladders using the interview data, operations manual, training manual, and other guideline documents. The generic decision ladders characterise the different stages of responding to PSM identified as part of the research. These stages include: regaining and maintaining control of aircraft, identifying PSM and selecting appropriate checklists to secure the engine, and modifying the flight plan. Using the decision ladders and insights from the CDM interviews, we were able to identify cognitive processes and states that are more prone to errors and therefore more likely to generate an inappropriate response. Using the SRK framework, we propose design recommendations for technological and information systems to minimise the likelihood of such inappropriate response. We conclude that this combination of methods provides a structured and reliable approach to identifying system improvements in complex and dynamic work situations. Our specific contributions are the application of these techniques in the unrepresented area of flight operations, and the development of evidence-based design recommendations to improve flight crew response to in-flight powerplant system malfunctions.