Projects

Highway 69 Fatal Accident Analysis

Encumbrance and Performance http://highway69/

When we carry out physical work such as running, climbing, carrying etc we normally chose an appropriate environment and clothing. However, sometimes the constraints of the task or environment may require the use of protective clothing or the carriage of equipment or materials which interfere with out performance capabilities, including strength, stamina and dexterity. For example, soldiers or marines will be required to wear boots, protective clothing and carry weapons and communications equipment. Similarly, firefighters must wear very heavy and restrictive clothing and carry respiration equipment. Astronauts working outside the International Space Station or walking on Mars will have to wear multilayered protective clothing and carry life support equipment as well as the tools and materials necessary for their mission. The purpose of this research theme is to quantify the effects of encumbrance and to develop predictive models for task and mission planners. A project was carried out by Chris Kelsey with subjects performing a variety of lifting, carrying and dexterity tasks while wearing firefighter’s turnouts. Chris is now working with Pacific Science Corporation looking at the “Marines Weight Problem”.

ADS-B

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) a GPS based technology that can be applied to the communication of traffic terrain and weather information to pilots. The FAA has indicated that all aircraft should be equipped with this technology by 2020. Research has been conducted in the ERAU Safety Science Department to study various applications and shortcomings of this technology. Jeff Avitabile found that visual identification of other traffic after a warning from ATC was improved by on average 8 seconds in airplanes equipped with ADS-B. Aaron Smith carried out focus groups of flight instructors and found that they were overwhelmingly in favor of ADS-B to reduce their stress levels while instructing in the pattern, in the practice areas and during approaches. James Howery analyzed the relationships between GPS records of separation and pilot reports of Near Mid Air Collisions (NMAC) he found that pilots are not very accurate in their subjective reports of separation distance and closing speeds. Steve Miller performed a simulation study of the use of ADS-B for instrument approaches to un-towered airports. He found that ADS-B greatly reduced the pilot’s work load stress during final approach. Micah Walala carried out a system safety analysis of the use of ADS-B for ground operations. He found that with Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) ADS-B could be a reliable contribution to ground operations safety.

Stress and Flying

The Garmin Forerunner 305 runner’s watch is equipped with GPS and heart rate sensing equipment. When worn by pilots and / or instructors it records accurate details of latitude, longitude, altitude, speed and heart rate. For cross country flights the instrument shows the relationship between planned and actual routes. The records clearly demonstrate the accuracy of such maneuvers as steep turns, turns round a point and approaches. It also shows how speed is affected by wind direction and how well the pilot controls speed during climbs, descents, straight and level flight, maneuvers and approaches. The synchronized heart rate monitor shows when the pilot or instructor is either physically or mentally stressed during flight maneuvers, search for other traffic and during landings. It can be an invaluable “flight recorder” for accident and incident analysis.

Embry Riddle Virtual Airspace (ERVA)

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a very accurate and useful recreational and flight training tool, albeit with some shortcoming common among simulators – such as the actual physical motion and absence of real danger. This vide game has been applied to create Embry Riddle Virtual Airspace in which student pilots and air traffic controllers can fly missions both in the local airspace or anywhere in the world. Mission performance measurement software has been developed by students in the computer science department. ERVA is being developed slowly and integrated with academic and flight classes.

Pilot Ethics

The pilot’s responsibility for the safety of his or her passengers puts this profession beyond most others in the need for ethical behavior as it affects safety. Student and instructor pilots are under considerable pressure to acquire ratings and flight experience along with substantial financial limitations. A survey was conducted by Erica Diels using the University of Minnesota scenario based assessment of maturity and ethical behavior. She found that instructor pilots were marginally beyond student pilots in their maturity levels and that these levels were commensurate with the age and tertiary education national statistics.