The Problem with Postsecondary Aviation Safety Training, as Voiced by Aviation Industry Professionals

This research study explored the observations of aviation industry safety professionals, as they relate to the availability of a hiring pool of trained and prepared safety professionals from which to choose. When considering the issues in preparing graduates as career ready, and coupled with the ever changing nature of the aviation industry, this study was designed to examine postsecondary academic program graduates’ readiness in meeting the needs and requirements of safety program management within the aviation industry. Fifty-five participants were purposefully selected for interviews from safety professionals currently working in the aviation industry, to help examine the needs and requirements of the aviation industry safety programs, and voice their opinions on the readiness of graduates from postsecondary safety programs to help meet those requirements. The teaching of primarily theoretical high level information, instead of a student-centered constructivist approach, by postsecondary academic safety programs may result in a lack of preparedness of postsecondary graduates to be ready to serve in the aviation industry. Today’s top aviation universities teach curricula associated with flight training as well as academic courses in the area of aviation safety. The overarching intent of these programs need to meet the industry’s needs and requirements as they pertain to the safe movement of aircraft, ground equipment, and people

Post-Secondary Academic Safety Programs, and the Need for a Practicum in Training.

A lack of consistency among academic safety programs has prevented aviation organizations from having a dependable pool of reliably trained and prepared safety professionals to select from. Given the challenges in preparing graduates as career ready, along with the dynamic nature of the aviation and aerospace industry, a practicum for training in postsecondary academic programs is very much needed to help meet the needs and requirements of safety program management within the aviation and aerospace industry. Interviews with safety professionals currently working within the industry were utilized to help examine the needs and requirements of the aviation and aerospace industry safety programs. This qualitative research utilized predetermined typologies and reviewed possible relationships with academic programs, career readiness, and industry requirements. Additionally, as patterns through individual observations emerged, considerations through inductive analysis were used to find any possible connections of the relevant information being reviewed

Building a Collaborating Culture; A Need for Partnerships among K-12 and Postsecondary Institutions

This presentation focused on the need for better communication and collaboration between K-12 and post-secondary institutions. As the Affiliate Director for Project Lead the Way, the author noticed a need for higher level ownership and empowerment at all levels so that students would be better served, and prepared for the next level of education. This translates to trade schools, colleges, and universities

Propellant Mass Fraction Calculation Methodology for Launch Vehicles and Application to Ares Vehicles

Propellant Mass Fraction (pmf) calculation methods vary throughout the aerospace industry. While typically used as a means of comparison between candidate launch vehicle designs, the actual pmf calculation method varies slightly from one entity to another. It is the purpose of this paper to present various methods used to calculate the pmf of launch vehicles. This includes fundamental methods of pmf calculation that consider only the total propellant mass and the dry mass of the vehicle; more involved methods that consider the residuals, reserves and any other unusable propellant remaining in the vehicle; and calculations excluding large mass quantities such as the installed engine mass. Finally, a historical comparison is made between launch vehicles on the basis of the differing calculation methodologies, while the unique mission and design requirements of the Ares V Earth Departure Stage (EDS) are examined in terms of impact to pmf

General Aviation Hypoxia and Reporting Statistics

“All too often, pilots tell me they don\u27t need physiological training because they don\u27t fly that high. The statement points out the general feelings of a large majority of the aviation population. I suppose then the burning question is ‘why do we still have aircraft accidents?’” (Boshers, 2015). To this day there are no statistics on how often general aviation pilots experience hypoxia during everyday operations. General aviation pilots (i.e. non-commercial operations) were chosen for this study because: Little regulation regarding flight physiology training General attitude of invulnerability towards hypoxia No requirement to report hypoxia or similar event

Modelling Fatigue for Management Decision Making: A Case Study

Fatigue is one major contributing factor that reduces the human ability and leads to accidents, and threatens the safety of aircraft and human lives. Though fatigue is seen in all the disciplines associated with the aviation industry, this paper will discuss only pilot fatigue. Based on the literature examined, this study first examines the significance of the problem. Investigation of the inflight, pre/post flight countermeasures (both pharmacological and non - pharmacological methods) practiced at present, discusses the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) – in this first, it defines the FRMS, briefly discusses its history, describes the organizational structure of FRMS

The Utilization of Peer Mentorship and its Positive Impact on Student Retention

In recognition of increasing rates of repeated ground schools and flight lessons, in combination with decreasing retention rates in the flight programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Department of Aeronautical Science in the College of Aviation took initiative to create a program that identified struggle students before they reached excessive failure or financial distress. The students identified in the Student Success Initiative (SSI) after being assessed would be required to attend a mediation session with their academic and flight training staff in order to create a specialized training program. Student Success Initiative (SSI) Identifies at risk students Implemented training plan tailored to student One-on-one instructio

The Vulnerabilities of Hypoxic Events Within General Aviation

The problem this study addresses is the uncertainty of the common circumstances that general aviation pilots find themselves in that create a hypoxic state, their symptoms of hypoxia, as well as whether or not that pilot deemed the event to put them in an unsafe flight condition. The results of this study showed not only those that were impacted the greatest by hypoxia, but also a caring concern for reporting these events to better flight physiology training. The key elements for this research were: Level of pilot experience who have experienced hypoxia Reporting statistics Symptoms experienced Suggestions for bettering flight physiology trainin

Undergraduate Research on General Aviation Hypoxia: A Student\u27s Perspective

The problem this study addresses is the uncertainty of the common circumstances that general aviation pilots find themselves in that create a hypoxic state, as well as whether or not that pilot reported the occurrence to the proper establishments. The results of this study showed not only those that were impacted the greatest by hypoxia, but also a caring concern for reporting these events. The key elements for this research were: • Level of flying experience that encountered hypoxia • Reporting statistics • Reasons for not reporting the event • Suggestions for bettering flight physiology trainin

Building Student Success and Retention through an Enhanced Peer Counseling Program

In recognition of increasing rates of repeated ground schools and flight lessons, in combination with decreasing retention rates in the flight programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Department of Aeronautical Science in the College of Aviation took initiative to create a program that identified struggling students before they reached excessive failure or financial distress. The students identified in the Student Success Initiative (SSI) after being assessed would be required to attend a mediation session with their academic and flight training staff in order to create a specialized training program