Watch out above

Automatic Takeoff and Landing A YouTube video posted by user wwwAirplaneTvcom shows an Airbus A320 descending, breaking out of the clouds at 200’ and automatically landing on a runway on a Winter’s night.   Watching the video gives the viewer the sense of enhanced operational safety and the reduction of human intervention during the landing process.   Automated assistance, especially during periods of high stress levels, can reduce human error.   Reducing stress levels on pilots is important because a more relaxed (but attentive) environment enhances their abilities to divert attention to other tasks.    The A320 is also capable of automatically taking off, but rarely accomplished during actual flight operations.   The auto-throttles need to be set for a specific altitude and problems arise when the airplane may initiate an early rotation from the runway.   Because of these concerns, the A320 normally lifts from the runway manually and then t...

Shift Work Schedule The assignment in Module 5.4 is developing a monthly work schedule permitting efficiency and proper rest for crews.   In this brief paper, we will discuss the existing schedule, creating recommendations for improvements and merging the new schedule into this file. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recognized that fatigue creates opportunities for stress and complicates critical decision making (FAA, n.d). Operating aircraft safely requires that flight crews obtain proper rest. Recuperating daily is vital for maintaining minimum fatigue levels while operating manned or unmanned aircraft.   Work schedules that permit at least eight hours of sleep actively mitigate against fatigue. An analysis of the current schedule reveals characteristics unsupportive of proper rest periods.   The areas for improvement are the numbers of days on and off and rolling shift assignments. Given that the U.S. Air Force is currently working flight c...

UAS Beyond Line of Sight Operations Many people in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) community are envisioning beyond line of sight (BLOS) operations as the key to wide-spread UAS commercial use (Kestaloo, 2018).   Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approving BLOS will catapult UAS operations into effective commercial service.   UAS BLOS operations have advantages over visual line of sight (VLOS) flying.   Some of these advantages include pre-flight mission routing, emergency planning, operating outside the limited confines of human sight and economic benefits (Shelley & Andrews, 2015).     An outstanding example of BVLOS UAS is the Global Hawk manufactured by Northrop Grumman.   The Global Hawk’s 130-foot wingspan, 400 miles per hour top speed and more than thirty hours of endurance are proving irreplaceable characteristics for many large-government operators (Northrop Grumman, 2018).   BLOS mission deployment includes real-time...

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University UAS Integration in the NAS Wilson Gilliam ASCI 638     Abstract Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) incorporation into the National Airspace System (NAS) is commencing through the introduction of additional regulations and equipment designed to prioritize safety and efficiency.   It is important that UAS and manned aircraft operators maintain situational awareness of other air traffic. Modern equipment can assist with this goal, but operators must understand human factors limitations related to NextGen and ADS-B equipment operations.                                                                  UAS Integration in the NAS The national airspace system (NAS) is becoming a more efficient mode of transportation via the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FA...

Although some unmanned aerial systems (UAS) ground control stations (GCS) are custom-made, large organizations may be provided GCS units that are built to specification.   The U.S military usually standardizes most of their GCS so that standardization can occur across operators (McHale, 2010).               In researching available data for this paper, it was evident that modern specific details of the most recent military-type GCS are not entirely available on the internet.   However, good design principles can still be discussed.   The “type” of GCS selected for this research is the container or office-based type and not the remote battlefield-based, man-type portable unit. These large, technologically advanced GCSs are the type utilized to control the Predator, Reaper and Global Hawk UAS systems.             There are specific, human factors adva...

A paper on economic aerospace forecasting could be as thick as your computer screen is tall. Even the  FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2015 – 2035  is nearly 140 pages long. I’m glad this post is long on brevity and to the point about how you can fit into the increasingly influential world of aviation and aerospace. The word “aviation” may not capture the complete role that aeronautics will have on our world during the foreseeable future. Having  been a pilot  for almost three decades, I’ve tended to consider the flying universe in terms of my own perspective. Within the last few years, I’ve realized that the aviation / aeronautics business will have an immeasurable influence on the world and will open up a myriad of economic opportunities. There is, or will be something for everyone. Technology is driving innovation within many aerospace subsets. Innovations in imaging are permitting the use of lighter airborne equipment. Smaller, lighter aircraft can now p...

When a pilot opens his or her certificate wallet, the  Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate  is usually the one on top. It is a diamond on a black cloth. ATP certification is a significant accomplishment, as the requirements for both the written and practical tests are demanding. I could have used all of that ATP weight shift knowledge when Target Stores hired us to fly tours around the parking lot of a grand opening in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Passengers of all sizes stepped up to be next on board and I (the pilot) just kept waving them on. I do remember politely gesturing for one excited, portly gentleman to move to the back of the group until I had burned off a little more fuel. Every take-off was a running, bumpy, pavement scratching event and the two-seat helicopter strained to clear the rooftop shingles of a nearby apartment complex. That’s the takeoff over 100 foot obstacle problem on the ATP test. Some professional pilots never venture into ATP training. Thi...