Display on Demand Method Increases Time Spent Looking Outside the Cockpit

Modern on-board instrumentation can lead to distraction, particularly by absorbing attention inside the cockpit, which reduces air safety. The display on demand (DoD) method tested here aims to impede that problem for glider and visual flight rules (VFR) pilots. In total, 21 students were assigned to either an experimental or a control group in a pre- and post-test design. In the experimental group, the cockpit instruments were displayed on the participants’ demand to allow for the orientation of visual attention out of the cockpit. Three types of basic exercises were tested. Skills acquisition was measured while evaluating the ability to follow flight indications given by the instructor such as airspeed, and visual attention was measured by an eye tracker. All participants improved their performance after training. Compared with classic training, the DoD method allows participants to spend more time looking outside the cockpit without any impact on the subjective workload. This is a promising method for ab initio flight training.

Improving Weather Display Interpretation: A Training Solution

Visual flight rules (VFR) operations into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), is one of the deadliest causes of weather-related accidents in the General Aviation (GA) community. Current weather training for GA pilots is inadequate. This paper describes the design and development of three weather training modules and provides research-based recommendations for the development of future training modules for aviation weather. Recommendations include incorporating simulation-based training, utilizing available materials, prioritizing accessibility, accounting for changing technology, maintaining high cognitive fidelity, and using a multidisciplinary team approach.

Time-Series Prediction for Amount of Airworthiness Based on Time-Delay Neural Networks

Troposphere and the first stratum of the stratosphere are intensely utilized atmosphere layers for the aviation activities. Due to the different performances, capabilities, designs, and equipment of the aerial vehicles, meteorological weather events that occur in the troposphere affect these vehicles at different levels during their aeronautical activities. Although simple aircrafts are more sensitive to the effects of meteorological events, they are especially preferred by flight training organizations (FTOs) in pilotage training when they are considered in terms of maintenance and equipment costs. In cases where inexperienced pilot candidates and simple aircrafts that are more vulnerable to weather events come together, analysis and prediction of meteorological parameters becomes more important in terms of preventing accidents and reducing risks, as well as proper planning for flight and maintenance. The purposes of this study are, first, to derive flight availability time-series for two different types of aircraft according to visual flight rules by using Meteorological Terminal Air Report (METAR), and then to establish and evaluate a prediction model by using Time-Delay Neural Networks (TDNNs).

Visual Flight into Instrument Meteorological Condition: A Post Accident Analysis

The phenomenon of encountering instrument meteorological conditions (IMCs) while operating an aircraft under visual flight rules (VFRs) remains a primary area of concern. Studies have established that pilots operating under VFRs that continue to operate under IMCs remains a significant cause of accidents in general aviation (GA), resulting in hundreds of fatalities. This research used the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) database, which contained a total of 196 VFR to IMC occurrences, from 2003 to 2019, with 26 having formal reports. An explanatory design was adopted, commencing with a qualitative study of the 26 occurrences with reports followed by a quantitative study of all 196 occurrences. Factors investigated included the locations and date of the occurrences, involved aircraft (manufacturer, model, type), pilot details (licenses, ratings, h, and medical), number of fatalities, and causal factors. Fisher’s exact tests were used to highlight significant relationships. Results showed occurrences were more likely to end fatally if (1) they involved private operations, (2) pilots only had a night VFR rating, (3) the pilot chose to push on into IMCs, (4) the pilot did not undertake proper preflight planning consulting aviation weather services, and (5) the pilot had more than 500 h of flight experience. Further results showed occurrences were less likely to end fatally if the meteorological condition was clouds without precipitation, if the pilot held a full instrument rating, or the pilot was assisted via radio. Analysis of the data using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) framework revealed that errors and violations occur with slightly greater frequency for fatal occurrences than non-fatal occurrences. Quantitative analyses demonstrated that the number of VFR to IMC occurrences have not decreased even though initiatives have been implemented in an attempt to address the issue.

Visual Flight Rules-Based Collision Avoidance Systems for UAV Flying in Civil Aerospace

The operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in civil airspace is restricted by the aviation authorities, which require full compliance with regulations that apply for manned aircraft. This paper proposes control algorithms for a collision avoidance system that can be used as an advisory system or a guidance system for UAVs that are flying in civil airspace under visual flight rules. A decision-making system for collision avoidance is developed based on the rules of the air. The proposed architecture of the decision-making system is engineered to be implementable in both manned aircraft and UAVs to perform different tasks ranging from collision detection to a safe avoidance manoeuvre initiation. Avoidance manoeuvres that are compliant with the rules of the air are proposed based on pilot suggestions for a subset of possible collision scenarios. The proposed avoidance manoeuvres are parameterized using a geometric approach. An optimal collision avoidance algorithm is developed for real-time local trajectory planning. Essentially, a finite-horizon optimal control problem is periodically solved in real-time hence updating the aircraft trajectory to avoid obstacles and track a predefined trajectory. The optimal control problem is formulated in output space, and parameterized by using B-splines. Then the optimal designed outputs are mapped into control inputs of the system by using the inverse dynamics of a fixed wing aircraft.

Critical Care Transport Time Differences Between Ground, Helicopter VFR, and Helicopter IFR Transports

BACKGROUND: In helicopter critical care and emergency medical services (HEMS) transportation, organizations aim for efficiency of the dispatch process. Most HEMS organizations do not provide transport under instrument flight rules (IFR), due to equipment and training cost. Boston MedFlight (BMF) provides IFR HEMS transport. We set out to determine if response time of IFR transport was superior to ground transport.METHODS: A retrospective analysis of quality improvement data was performed. Data was collected by two observers sitting in the BMF control room in varying shifts. A process map of the dispatch process, from the dispatch call to the vehicle en route was developed. Critical points in the dispatch process were determined and a variety of time differences to determine the length of processes in the dispatch calculated. We compared median time differences between visual flight rules (VFR) flight and IFR flight, between IFR flight and ground transport, and between VFR and Ground for these points using a Mann-Whitney U-test.RESULTS: During the study collection period, 443 transports occurred, of which 109 transports happened while the observers were present: 37 ground, 57 VFR, and 15 IFR. Due to weather, six IFR transports were declined. The overall time from dispatch call to vehicle en route was significantly increased for IFR flights [median: 30 min:8 s (interquartile range 19:06–49:04)] over both VFR flights [11:36 (9:24–17:06); P vs. IFR: 0.001] and ground transports [9:39 (6:59–14.51); P vs. IFR: 0.001]. Most of this increase was accounted for by increases in the time from dispatch to crew acceptance, and from rotor start to vehicle en route.DISCUSSION: IFR conditions resulted in significantly increased dispatch times over both VFR flight and ground transport. The increase is likely a result of weather check, filing an IFR flight plan, and IFR release. Dispatch algorithms should be adjusted for this time delay of IFR transports.Kamine TH, Thomas L, Davis C, Cohen J. Critical care transport time differences between ground, helicopter VFR, and helicopter IFR transports. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(2):98–101.

Risk Assessment for Flight in Uncontrolled Airspace Under Visual Flight Rules

The paper attempts to assess the risk in the area of analysis which is the flight of general aviation (GA) aircraft carried out under Visual Flights Rules in the uncontrolled airspace. The flight, selected for further analysis, is a typical air operation performed in GA. The risk assessment was carried out in accordance with the risk management algorithm. The identification of hazard sources was made using a checklist of 123 questions about their occurrence. On this base a list of 37 threats identified in the presented area of analysis was obtained. The risk assessment was carried out by the MICE-RISK method. Among the defined threats, 16 threats fall into the accepted category, 15 threats are characterized by the tolerated category, and for 6 threats the category is defined as unaccepted. A dealing with risk methods were proposed. The re-evaluation indicated that the number of threats in particular categories are: 27, 6 and 6.

Efficacy of the Localized Aviation MOS Program in Ceiling Flight Category Forecasts

(1) Background: Flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) carries an elevated risk of fatal outcome for general aviation (GA) pilots. For the typical GA flight, aerodrome-specific forecasts (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF), Localized Aviation Model Output Statistics Program (LAMP)) assist the airman in pre-determining whether a flight can be safely undertaken. While LAMP forecasts are more prevalent at GA-frequented aerodromes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that this tool be used as supplementary to the TAF only. Herein, the predictive accuracy of LAMP for ceiling flight categories of visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) was determined. (2) Methods: LAMP accuracy was evaluated for the period of July–December 2018 using aviation-specific probability of detection (PODA), false alarm ratio (FARA) and critical success scores (CSSA). Statistical differences were determined using Chi-Square tests. (3) Results: LAMP forecasts (n = 823) across 39 states were accrued. LAMP PODA for VFR (0.67) and IFR (0.78) exceeded (p < 0.031) the corresponding TAF scores (0.57 and 0.56). For VFR, the LAMP showed a non-significant (p = 0.243) higher FARA (0.25) than the TAF (0.19). For IFR forecasts, the LAMP FARA was lower (p < 0.001) (0.48 and 0.81, respectively). LAMP CSSA scores exceeded the TAF for VFR (p = 0.012) and IFR forecasts (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: These findings support the greater integration of LAMP into pre-flight weather briefings.

A Review of Navigation Involving General Aviation Pilots Flying under Visual Flight Rules

General Aviation (GA) pilots need, more than ever, to be constantly aware of their aircraft's position especially when they navigate in areas surrounded by controlled airspace. With pilots being taught to navigate using visual landmarks and radio, the increasing use of space-based navigation aids might degrade the pilot's performance. Given limited literature resources on navigation by GA pilots, the following three navigation methods are outlined: visual, radio-based and space-based navigation. 27 GA pilots were interviewed in three European nations to determine the navigation methods currently used and their impact on the pilots’ performance. The selection of the participants based on aircraft type (fixed-wing, ultralight and glider), in three European nations highlights profound differences in navigation between the three most popular aircraft designs. Furthermore, space-based navigation aids, in particular portable computers, have changed both planning and navigation implying that changes in the training of pilots are urgently needed to enhance the pilot's performance, and subsequently, to promote aviation safety.