High Consequence Safety Research and Policy: The US Airline Application

The implementation of safety programs in Flight Operations has been successful since the Federal Aviation Administration formally introduced Safety Management Systems (SMS) procedures in 2000. The addition of safety programs like SMS into aviation organizations has been confirmed to improve safety culture, communication, and overall hazard mitigation. This research explores the changes and improvements that are made in maintenance programs where an SMS is formally implemented. In the United States it is legal for children under the age of twenty-four months to fly in commercial aircraft on the lap of a parent or guardian, while being unsecured or unrestrained. Throughout the history of aviation safety there have been no improvements, regulations, or laws put in place to ensure the safety of our Nation’s youngest fliers. The Policy Research Construct (PRC) will be used as a proposal for the development of advocacy for regulatory change. Through Policy Research, recommendations can be made to improve safety and create formal regulatory changes to make SMS mandatory in all aviation maintenance programs operating within the United States. The student authors are affiliated with the Department of Safety in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. Tori Kobayashi is a graduate student in the MS Safety Science program. Calissa Spooner is an undergraduate student in the Industrial Psychology and Safety program

Aviation Safety, Quality, and Economic Impact: A Policy Research System

The United States airline industry is experiencing an underlying mix of challenges in areas of Quality, Safety, and Economics. This research focuses on three major components and the economic impact of each. The first aspect, Airline Quality and Safety Analysis, lays down a focus on imperative safety factors that affect major airlines in overall performance. Quality and Safety findings relate to potential safety shortcomings in the second aspect, aviation maintenance Safety Management Systems (SMS). The third aspect involves implementing the Policy Research Construct (PRC) methodology, which relates the underlying challenges in Airline Quality, Safety, and Economic areas by conducting research and analysis, in order to provide policymakers with action-oriented recommendations for correcting problems. The student authors for this work are affiliated with the Department of Safety in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. Tori Kobayashi is a graduate student in the MS Safety Science program. Calissa Spooner is an undergraduate student in the Industrial Psychology and Safety program

Quality, Performance, and Consumer Perceptions: A National Study of US Airlines

Prior inquiry into consumer perceptions, attitudes, and overall satisfaction regarding commercial mainline passenger carriers in the United States has provided little more than a snapshot of the average air traveler. Building on 28 continuous years of research with the National Airline Quality Rating (AQR), this study attempts to move beyond descriptive information in order to identify relationships and trends in the airline industry’s performance and relate those observations to consumer perceptions. This study will utilize a comparative trend analysis methodology to analyze major United States Airlines\u27 performance and quality over the last 28 years. This methodology provides a means of tracking airline\u27s progressions and regressions in operational performance and allows for the development of theories in data shifts and trends. This study will attempt to exemplify the objective formula-driven weighted averages that constitute the Airline Quality Rating. The development of this qualitative model provides industry leaders with the ability to improve their understanding of airline performance and make adjustments to their operations for continued growth development. The student authors are affiliated with the Department of Safety in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. Tori Kobayashi and Kaetlyn Blocker are graduate students in the College of Aviation, MS Safety Science program. Calissa Spooner is an undergraduate student in the Industrial Psychology and Safety program

Flight Problems: The Dangers of Lap Children in Commercial Aviation

The U.S. Department of Transportation maintains an ongoing database with the sub-category titled ‘Flight Problems.’ This factor among others comprise a component of the Airline Quality Rating. Specifically addressed in this paper is the reported dangers regarding our youngest air travelers. In the United States it is legal for children under the age of twenty-four months to fly in commercial aircraft on the lap of a parent or guardian, while being unsecured or unrestrained. This rule is dangerous to children and has been proven time and time again that it results in the unnecessary death and injury of children. Throughout the history of aviation safety many efforts have been made to improve the safety of passengers, to ensure their survival in the unlikely event of an incident or accident. However, there have been no improvements, regulations, or laws put in place to ensure the safety of our Nation’s youngest fliers. Although many leaders in the aviation safety industry have tried to change this, nobody has been successful. The dangers of lap children in commercial aviation will be analyzed, through historical research, reviewing key accidents, and investigating NTSB reports and a policy research construct will be used as a proposal for the development of advocacy for regulatory change. POSTER PRESENTATIO