Human Factors
 As automation has gained in sophistication and systems integration, the role of the pilot has shifted toward becoming a monitor or supervisor of the automation. Instead of actively controlling many of the processes, pilots are increasingly tasked with evaluating the computed solution and either stopping automated control or allowing it to continue.
[Download PDF 5 pages. 302K]
Cover Story
 When the extraordinary frequency of lightning is considered in concert with the frequency of flight — estimated at 77 million aircraft movements worldwide in 2008 — it can be no surprise that aircraft lightning strikes occur relatively often. Aircraft designs incorporate systems to protect against direct and indirect damage.
[Download PDF 6 pages. 234K]
Safety Culture
Expanded Version of this article
 The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board delves into theories of why airline pilots and air traffic controllers strayed from professional behavior. Soft skills of discipline, responsibility, judgment, emotional stability, effectiveness under pressure and leadership are what assures us that once that cabin door is closed, that cockpit crew is acting professionally and doing what we want them to do in a safe manner.
[Download PDF 4 pages. 332K]
Flight Ops
 Aviation accidents in which fog plays a major role often prove fatal. Fog can form quickly when the air temperature reaches the dew point. At other times, the wind may blow a fog bank over an airport, quickly reducing visibility.
[Download PDF 4 pages. 281K]
Causal Factors
 A 737 stalled when a radio altimeter malfunction caused the autothrottle and autopilot to diverge during an approach to Schiphol. Their reactions to the stall warning were uncoordinated and incorrect, and maximum thrust was applied too late to prevent the aircraft from stalling at an altitude from which recovery was not possible.
[Download PDF 5 pages. 387K]
Seminar CASS
 Speakers at the recent 55th annual Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar suggested that many current safety challenges demand a renewed emphasis on airmanship, SOPs and lessons learned.
[Download PDF 3 pages. 194K]
Human Factors
 In commercial aviation, crew schedules are regulated by duty time limits, flight time limits, minimum rest rules and other constraints. These rules and limits, collectively referred to as flight time limitations, originally were conceived as a simple scheme for limiting fatigue among flight crewmembers.
[Download PDF 6 pages. 421K]
Strategic Issues
 In November 2008, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established the Regional Aviation Safety Group–Pan America, taking its next big step toward coordination of safety initiatives in Central America, the Caribbean, North America and South America.
[Download PDF 5 pages. 596K]
President’s Message
But the poorly concealed truth is that vital regulatory initiatives are hitting an economic wall. Regulations have costs that, in many countries, must be offset by verifiable benefits.
[Download PDF 1 page. 88K]
Editorial Page
Walk through a number of emergency scenarios in your mind, with a variety of situations and alternatives, and get your head to accept the fact that, sometimes, bending the airplane is the better choice if everyone walks away.
[Download PDF 1 page. 69K]
Safety Calendar
A listing of aviation safety-related conferences, seminars and meetings.
[Download PDF 1 page. 71K]
In Brief
Citing four recent uncontained engine failures,
the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is
calling for immediate blade borescope inspections of low-pressure turbine stage 3 disks on General Electric (GE) CF6-45/50 turbofan engines.
[Download PDF 3 pages. 198K]
Data Link
The safety record of Australian-registered charter aircraft improved in 2009 after two years in which the numbers of aircraft involved and accidents had risen, according to a report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau comparing accident data in the 1999–2009 period.
[Download PDF 4 pages. 281K]
Info Scan
To protect public health, the application of high standards of hygiene should form an integral part of airport and aircraft operations. Occasional reports of incidents involving food-borne illness associated with international travel are reminders of the importance of ensuring the quality of food and drinking water aboard aircraft.
[Download PDF 3 pages. 137K]
On Record
The following information provides an awareness of problems in the hope that they can be avoided in the future. The information is based on final reports by official investigative authorities on aircraft accidents and incidents.
[Download PDF 8 pages. 286K]
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