An Analysis of Wildlife Strike Reporting at 40 Part 139 Airports at four Federal Aviation Administration Regions (2016-2020)

Purpose: The purpose of this current study is threefold: To identify wildlife strike reporting trends at 40 busiest Part 139 Class I airports in the following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regions – East (AEA), Southwest (ASO), Western Pacific (AWP), and Central (ACE) from 2016 through 2020, To investigate the existence of a difference in wildlife strike reporting per 100,000 aircraft operations (wildlife strike index) between the four FAA regions during the same period; and To develop information based upon the data analyzed that can be used by aviation stakeholders for the safety management of wildlife hazards to aviation. The following research questions will be addressed in the current study: What are the descriptive statistics for type of operator, time of day, level of damage to aircraft, altitude of strike, and phase of flight when examining wildlife-strike report data from the 40 busiest Part 139 Class 1 in the AEA, ASO, AWP and ACE FAA regions? What is the number of wildlife strike reports per 100,000 movements (wildlife strike index) for each of the 40 analyzed airports during 2016 – 2020? Is there a difference in the wildlife strike index between the four FAA regions from 2016 – 2020? Design/Methodology: The research questions will be answered utilizing wildlife strike data from the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Wildlife Strike Database (NWSD) as well as aircraft operations data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) database. It is important to note that the BTS will also be utilized for the identification of the airports to be analyzed in this study (2016-2020). Both databases (NWSD/BTS) are publicly available and can be accessed electronically. Originality/value: This study will add updated data and information to the existing wealth of knowledge regarding damaging strikes and strikes by FAA region across the United States. It will provide valuable information that can be utilized by Part 139 airport operators to update their Safety Management Systems (SMS) and to incorporate additional strategies to mitigate the risk of aircraft accidents resulting from wildlife strikes. The obtained information can also be utilized by aviation stakeholders to create additional training for pilots so that they have the competence to mitigate wildlife strikes as appropriate. Keywords: wildlife strikes, damaging strikes, aviation safet

Effectiveness of a Flight Simulation Training Visual Aid for Normal and Crosswind Approach and Landing

Flight simulators have a significant contribution to effective and efficient flight training across the globe. Significant literature has suggested the effectiveness of simulation tools in training pilots in different scenarios and is an area for continued development and research. To continue those efforts, this study assessed the effectiveness of visual aid to be used as an instructional aid for flight instruction for crosswind landings. The need for further training in crosswind landing is substantiated due to the significantly high number of accidents for General Aviation aircraft in the approach and landing phase of flights. The study utilized an experimental research design and consisted of pre-survey, post-survey, and performance assessments. Along with the descriptive data collected from the surveys, the 5-point competency-based performance assessment was used to grade the landing performance in seven aspects of crosswind landings which was used for the hypothesis testing. The post-results survey highlighted that most participants found that the visual aid assisted with identifying visual cues and perceptions that aided the participants during the crosswind landings in the FTD. Additionally, almost all participants found the visual aid relatively simple to understand and utilize, with all the corresponding lines and marks being easily understood. The statistical analysis of the null hypotheses identified that the visual aid allowed the participants to successfully maintain the required airspeed, vertical speed, and height above the runway threshold on the traffic pattern\u27s final leg. The conclusion of the study highlights the need for such visual aids, further potential improvements in such a visual aid, and scope of utilizing visual aids for improving flight education. While the post-survey and performance assessment highlighted the deficiency in the visual aid in fulfilling some of the objectives of the development of the aid, the results should be used as a foundation for further development of visual aids for flight education

Usability Analysis of a Landing Visual Aid as an Instructional Aid for General Aviation Pilots

Un-stabilized approaches pose a major risk for the safety of flight. As of October 2020, there were over 220,000 active general aviation aircraft in the United States, and there were 3,257 general aviation accidents in the landing phase of flight from 2009 to 2019. Enhanced pilot training and the use of simulation techniques have been recognized as effective risk mitigation techniques by accident investigation agencies globally. This study will be targeted towards the further development and testing of a training aid (Crosswinds Training Aid) for General Aviation pilots with special emphasis on collegiate aviation flight students. •A crosswind landing visual aid was conceptualized and developed by the researchers and technicians at the Advanced Flight Simulation Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach campus. •The researchers aim to test the usability and validity of the training aid through simulations with up to 70 flight students of the university. •The data collected will include quantitative data. •The findings of the study will be used to further enhance the training aid that will benefit the Embry-Riddle student community