US Navy: Need for Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Data - Essay Example

US Navy: Need for Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Data Table of Contents ment of the Problem…………………………………………………….2 Purpose of the Study…………………………………………………………2 Research Methodology……………………………………………………….3 Literature Review…………………………………………………………….8 What is the Flight Operations Quality Assurance data? ……………..9 Need to Plan for Future……………………………………………….11 Future Plans…………………………………………………………...12 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….16 References……………………………………………………………………..17 Statement of the Research Problem: Today we are living in a security environment which demands precision and accuracy in determining the elements necessary to safeguard the interests of consumers and societies. In this study, an effort will be made to see if the U.S Navy should be required to standardize the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) data on all the aircraft that are in their current inventories. Purpose of Study One of the often asked questions involving the ever-increasing air traffic and the expansion of aviation is the inevitable uncertainty regarding aviation safety and flight operations and quality assurance. The concern regarding the aforementioned probelm arise not only due to the fact that increased number of flights causes greater opportunities for pilot errors, but also because the efforts to minimize the worries regarding air traveling rely more on mechanization for accurate scheduling and specific aircraft flight routs. The possibility of Future aviation safety is, thus, related to the understanding of the routes and quality maintenance of the aircraft. This factor points to the increased role of data regarding operations and quality of the flights. It requires methods for detecting errors in flight and capturing error contexts, as well as methods for reducing these errors and mitigating their effects. This study therefore tries to look into the following: i. The overall air traffic scenario in the country ii. How some human errors have resulted in tragic incidents in the past iii. The possible reasons behind such accidents and the suggested remedial measures to avoid such happenings. This study will also review how the Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) can provide reliable data regarding the human errors in flight operations together with the reasons behind these accidents. Research Methodology Determining the best methodology to gather data when conducting research is of paramount importance. Inevitably, any discussion of methodology involves a debate over the pros and cons of quantitative analysis versus qualitative analysis. Both types of analysis require data and facts and figures, which can be gathered either through primary sources or secondary sources. Since the nature of this study involves a broader analysis of qualitative data, the researcher has to take the help of secondary sources in good measure, for gathering most of the information with constant consul. Some of the primary sources will be the interviews and opinions that will be solicited from the people involved in naval aviation, some users, designers and safety analysts. It is important that both systematic observation and testing be recognized and such can be accomplished by means of various methods. Majority of the people perceived that scientific inquiry can only be done through experiments done in laboratories. All studies begin with the design of selecting a subject matter and a methodology of research. Such fundamental decisions represent assumptions on how science should be conducted, what makes up solutions, criteria of proofs and legitimate problems. Various approaches for research include both theory and method. Among the approaches, two are widely recognized: the methods of quantitative and qualitative research. (Mason, 1996) In a study which is quantitative in nature, the researcher intends to gather data so that a valid conclusion may be arrived at regarding the outcomes of broadly comparable experiences. An objective or positivist approach is adopted by those who utilize this design which is applicable in this paper. The main principle underlying this approach is that knowledge and facts are measurable and that complicated problems may be comprehended more effectively if they are broken down into less complicated pats. Moreover, this approach becomes more potent in the quest for universal laws which explain reality – and which lend themselves to observation. The decision on selecting which approach in research is adequate in conducting a particular study should be grounded on the problem, skills and training, availability of resources, trainings and audience of the researcher (Mason, 1996). Even though research exists which integrates both methods quantitative and qualitative approaches in their purest forms, there are underlying essential disparities involved in the assumptions and in the analysis procedures and data collection methods employed. The assumptions underlying the method of qualitative research includes the reality being objective, meaning reality is there to be objectively studied. The researcher is in distant and fundamentally independent with the subject of the research, the research is considered value-free, wherein values of the research do not interfere nor become part of the research (Crasswell, 1994). Basically, research using quantitative method is based on forms of deductive logic, which allows the researcher to explain, predict and have an understanding of various assumptions. In quantitative methods, there are three identified general types, which are experiments, quasi-experiments and surveys. Experiments are characterized to be true by assignments in random subjects to experimental cases and employing controls of experiment. Quasi-experiments on the on the other hand are studies which share the same features of the design in experiments except for the involvement of assignment of subjects to experimental conditions are non-randomized. The third is surveys, which includes both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies utilizing interviews or questionnaires in the collection of data with the goal of estimating the characteristics of a given population of interest base on a smaller sample coming from the subject population (Crasswell, 1994) This study will utilize the use of quantitative method and will use surveys in data collection, furthermore we will study the use of surveys in conducting research in general. Surveys correspond to one of the most universal types of social science, quantitative research. In a research using survey, the researcher chooses respondents which will be the group or sample from a population and runs a consistent questionnaire to them. The survey or questionnaire can be a document in written form that is accomplished by the person being surveyed, a questionnaire conducted on line, a personal interview, or an over the telephone interview. In utilizing surveys, it is probable to gather data from populations of large or small sizes. Various survey types are essentially composed of numerous techniques in research, developed by disciplines of several assortments. For example, the interview started as an instrument principally for anthropologists and psychologists whereas sampling traces its beginnings in the agricultural economics field (Hyman, 1955). The strengths of surveys as a type of quantitative method includes the inexpensiveness of this type, since most surveys are self-administered, surveys are also useful in describing a large populations and their characteristics, there are no proven method in observation which can offer such general capability. Surveys can be administered locally using mail, electronic mail or telephone conversations. Accordingly, large samples of surveys are feasible; therefore the results are statistically important even in the analysis of multiple variables. Surveys also offers flexibility in analysis since many questions can be asked about on a given topic. In the creation phase, there is also flexibility from the point of deciding how the administration of questions will go about. The standardized questions offer precision by means of uniform enforcement of definition with the participants. Lastly, through surveys, high reliability is easy to obtain by means of presenting the topics with a stimulus standard and elimination of observer subjectivity (Fowler, 1993). The setbacks of survey method or its weaknesses includes the dependence of methodology on standardized forces the researcher to create questions which are general enough which is minimally apposite for all the participants. In may also show inflexibility, wherein it require the basic design of the study to remain as is even the in the course of collecting data. It is also a factor to consider that coming from the selected sample, the researcher must ensure that a large number will give their responses. Another setback is that it may be difficult for the participants to have the information recalled or to have the truth told regarding a question of controversy (Babbie, 1995). Moreover, in contrast with direct observation, the research conducted through survey infrequently deal with perspective. Along with the utilization of surveys, ANOVA will be performed in order to lend more meaning to the collected information. ANOVA represents an analysis of the variation present in an experiment. It is where the hypothesis is tested wherein the variation involved in the experiment is not greater than what is due to characteristics of individuals and errors in their measurement in the normal variation (Washington State University, 2001). Analysis of Variance or ANOVA is a technique for experimental design. It is employed to help in determining whether the variables in a study have a significant impact on the dependent variable identified. In terms of measurement systems, through ANOVA, researchers can explore how the appraiser and test experiment affect the output of the measurement system. ANOVA allows researchers to study four components of measurement systems, which includes variation among samples or parts, reproducibility among appraisers or operators and repeatability of equipment in measurement and the interaction among appraisers and samples (Washington State University, 2001). The use of ANOVA offers the following advantages; it offers interaction information among appraisers and samples. Through ANOVA, researchers can vary the sample number as well as the numbers of trials, appraisers and the number of devices for measurement in order to obtain a more accurate picture of the measurement system and its variation. Techniques in ANOVA are also preferred for measurement analysis of destructive testing. On the other hand, the disadvantage of ANOVA is that the calculations are more complex compared with other techniques, this is why the use of computer with DOE software for calculations is ideal to use with ANOVA (Washington State University, 2001). This statistical treatment shall be used in order to either accept or reject one of the following hypotheses: HO: The Navy should standardize their MFOQA process. Ha: The Navy should not standardize their MFOQA process. An invitation to answer the survey will be emailed to all Aircraft Class desks Type/Model/Series (NAVAIR engineering) and all Safety Class desks Type/Model/Series (Naval Safety Center) for their responses. As would be expected with a sample pool of this size, the information presented in this document should be deemed conclusive. Strict adherence to respondent anonymity will be both promised and kept. The questionnaire will be pretested among several representatives at NAVAIR and where necessary, questions will be clarified based on pre-testing feedback prior to distributing the finalized questionnaire. Literature Review One of the frequently discussed questions regarding the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) data is whether or not to standardize it, incorporating the details of all the aircraft in the current inventories of the US Navy. We need to consider various aspects of the FOQA data as well as the current issues related to the flights safety and the situations like terrorist threats, manipulation of the data, in order to reach a levelheaded conclusion. Flight safety is one of the major concerns in the present scenario and there would be not many disputes regarding this. The role of Flights Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) in ensuring flights safety is unquestionable. “The objective of a FOQA program is to use flight data to detect technical flaws, unsafe practices, or conditions outside of desired operating procedures early enough to allow timely intervention to avert accidents or incidents.” (Appendix VI: Case Study on Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Programs). The unique characteristics of this comprehensive safety system have made it very popular in commercial air services as well as military programs. “FOQA data is unique because it can provide objective information that is not available through other methods. The information and insights provided by FOQA can improve safety by significantly enhancing training effectiveness, operational procedures, maintenance and engineering procedures, and air traffic control procedures. This widely accepted technique to improve safety risk management has brought incredible safety assurance to the flight passengers which resulted in the plea for a standardization of the data by including all the aircrafts in the US Navy inventory. In the maintenance of flight safety data, Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) programs are of special mention. FOQA programs use flight data collected during a carrier’s normal line operations to reduce costs and enhance safety by identifying a variety of ‘exceedances’- deviations of important flight parameters from normal operating ranges. FOQA programs typically use commercial Ground Data Replay and Analysis Systems (GDRASs) to detect specified deviations, generate plots, and create visualizations (Callantine, 2000). This output is used by safety managers to assess deviations that otherwise would go unnoticed and cause increased risk to the flight safety. Based on this output, the strategies that ensure safety measures are formulated. Thus, we can conclude that data on Flight Operations and Quality Assurance has a major role in the safety concerns of the flights. In this modern scenario, where flight journey or aviation transport has acquired great popularity, FOQA data can play the significant role in the safety measures. What is the Flight Operations Quality Assurance data? Coined in 1993 by the Flight Safety Foundation, the term means “a program for obtaining and analyzing data recorded in flight to improve flight crew performance, air carrier training program and operating procedures, air traffic control procedures, airport maintenance & design, and aircraft operations & design (Wellington, 2004)”. “FOQA programs provide more information about, and greater insight into, the total flight operations environment (FOQA, 2000)”. The relevance of the data in securing flight safety is tremendous and that is the reason why the role of FOQA is very often recognized by the commercial as well as the military groups. The success of its use in the commercial flight sector is carried over to the military wing of the US. There has been an extensive list of the flights that are covered by  the safety data of the military. The success of the FOQA for military purposes has lead the US Navy to adopt similar strategies in ensuring flights’ safety. It has been well formulated and implemented in the naval field and the recognition of the safety measures direct towards better measures.  Before considering this claim, it is important that a thorough understanding of FOQA and its effectiveness in the flight safety is formulated. What is the actual scope of FOQA? Airlines, military units, corporate operators, and others have begun the process of analyzing aircraft flight data to identify contributing factors and corrective actions for situations in which aircraft performance parameters exceed normal limits for a phase of flight. These programs are referred to as Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA, or MOQA in the military). (Aviation Performance Measuring System (APMS), 2000). The concept of readiness has been one of the primary concerns of the military, especially the Navy, and implementation of MOQA was the chief contributor to its efforts. Seeing believes. Thats the essence of the approach to military flight operations quality assurance (MFOQA) taken by the U.S. Department of the Navy. The technology enables an aircrew to visualize difficult moments in a recent flight by replaying recorded data on a desktop computer. (Adams, 2006). To understand the concept more clearly, the following illustration of the MFOQA is valuable: MFOQA is a knowledge management (KM) process, or program, designed to provide the aircraft operator with timely and quantitative information regarding aircrew and aircraft systems performance for improving operational efficiency of, and reducing risks associated with, flight operations… This proactive approach to effective flight data management serves as an enabling tool for aircraft operators to take ‘self-corrective’ actions based on quantitative data, and provides information to other organizations that can directly benefit from the analytical results of data collected and processed via access to a central data repository containing aggregate Fleet wide data. (Military Flight Operations Quality Assurance (MFOQA). Thus, the efficiency of the MFOQA is unquestionable. It is one of the reasons why there is greater need for extensive data collection for the program and a better employment of the data collected. A comparison with the traditional flight data usage, as directed by the Naval force, would make it clear that the MFOQA is proactive whereas the traditional method is reactive. Also, whereas the traditional data usage is post-mishap directed and meant for “short duration” the MFOQA is available in every flight and for the entire flight and is user friendly. These characteristics of the MFOQA make it important for the military. The role of FOQA is increasing in military as well as commercial airline services. The military applications of the program had many beneficial results. MFOQA prepares the military to be ready to face any situation together with the programs adopted by the American Navy. Need to plan for Future ‘MILITARY Flight Operations Quality Assurance – MFOQA, ERAU - FDM Workshop Daytona Beach FL’ gives us valuable data regarding the Flight Operations Quality Assurance in commercial as well as military usage. This has been crucial guideline in sharing information on commercial military and the data covered include CVFDR, CRM, TCAS, EGPWS, and FOQA. The report published on 8 January 2007, by Healing, Sr. Partner, R³ Consulting LLC, gives the most updated information regarding the working of commercial military FOQA. In Aviation Safety Improvement starts & ends with DATA, NAVY MFOQA, Searching for Excellence! we are given information regarding the US Navy MFQA program where we get the past actions of it as well as the future programs. The MFQA program can be summarized as follows: • No FDRs in 1985; paperwork started • DFIRS since 1993; OCF event in 1994 • 1999 JSSC Brief; 2001 JSSC Memo • Based at Pax River (PMA-209) • Based on S/W using existing H/W • 2002 – F/A-18 Demo at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station • 2003 – MFOQA Demo at Test Pilot School (F/A-18) and NAS North Island SH-60 • 2005 – SH-60 Demo using HUMS/IMDS • Learned: Savings from Maintenance Data (MILITARY Flight Operations Quality Assurance – MFOQA, 2007). The future plans of the US Navy MFOQA Program are as follows: Future Plans: • 2007-08 F/A-18 C/D Fleet • 2007-10 T-45C Training Jets • 2007-08 MH-60R/S Helicopter Fleet • 2008-10 CH-53E (w/HUMS-IMDS) • 2010-13 MV-22 Osprey (MILITARY Flight Operations Quality Assurance – MFOQA, 2007). Does this mean that FOQA can be effective in air safety assurance? This is a question for open debate, but one who has a complete awareness of the program would recognize this. “FOQA data provides measurements so that Flight Safety can be managed. Statistics show how your operation is performing compared with other similar organizations, and whether safety is improving or getting worse.” (What is flight operation quality assurance? 2007). As Behrens stated in United Airlines Flight Operational Quality Assurance, p. 54 the purpose of FOQA “is to discover unknown Safety Issues” through data distribution analysis, information trending, and risk evaluation. (Behrens, Slide 6). Accordingly, the objective of the data is to “promote and facilitate the free flow of safety information” and to enhance safety in flight operations, engineering, and ATC. (Behrens, Slide 7). To clarify the doubts regarding the application of FOQA programs in the US Navy and its impact, let us understand the fact that the implementation of the program has already brought about considerable effect in safety promotion. Is the Navy and the aircraft ready to accept the benefits of the program? Although pilots generally dislike the idea of being monitored, Navy and Marine Corps leaders are convinced that aviators will accept MFOQA once they see the benefits and come to view it as a safety tool rather than a snooping device. Much is expected of four squadron-level MFOQA demonstrations employing Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, as aircrews familiarize themselves with the process and help define how the technology will be developed and used(Adams, 2006). The effect of the FOQA in the US Navy is unquestionable. The safety measures would be much expanded by the standardization of the data in FOQA, incorporating the information on all the aircraft in their current inventories. In fact, this has been the requirement of many people who are concerned with the safety measures in air traveling.  Thus it is necessary that we turn our attention to the need of standardization of the FOQA. Understand that A FOQA program is neither static nor finite. It is meant to undergo controlled expansion and evolution… The program should be able to accommodate new uses for FOQA data… Once successes are achieved, the process of expanding usage of FOQA information will likely accelerate. (Flight Operational Quality Assurance, 2004). The standardization of the data would mean more safety for the passengers of the air traveling. It is this recognition of the importance of FOQA that make a number of people advocate for the improvement of FOQA data. The purpose behind the implementation of the FOQA in the US Navy was to get the complete benefit of the data in flight safety. The following reference proves this point: “Readiness is the big thing were after,” asserts Connie DeWitte, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for safety. “We like to say, we want to get the most out of FOQA,” she stresses, where “most means maintenance, operations, safety and training benefits (Adams, 2006).” If this is considered true. the standardization of the FOQA data would be more effective in the safety steps of the Navy. Consequently, the plea in favor of such standardization can be well understood as in the best interest of the flight passengers. When we make a comparative analysis in the use of Flight operations quality assurance (FOQA) programs, as the Similar Safety Issues Spur Differing Responses In Commercial And Military Aviation Sectors attempts, we come to know how effectively the FAA and the airline industry make use of it compared to the US military. It is clear from evidence that the FAA and the airline industry are well ahead of the U.S. military and, according to GAO, efforts by the military services to initiate FOQA programs are in the very early stages. On the other hand, the Air Force takes the lead through a demonstration project using C-17 aircraft. “The situation by service is revealing: * Air Force: Has a one-year demonstration FOQA project; will use a maximum of 30 C-17 jet transport aircraft. * Navy: Still debating whether FOQA should be used as a training tool to improve aviation safety or as an enforcement tool to protect taxpayer investments in naval aircraft. According to a senior Navy Safety Center official, implementing FOQA in the Navy would be a "tough sell" given competing needs, such as funding to repair engines” (Similar Safety Issues Spur Differing Responses In Commercial And Military Aviation Sectors).  The Army drafts policy that reflects the FAA’s protection data and some of the aircraft are equipped with FOQA programs. However, the Coast Guard is yet to take the move forward in this line. The situation is slowly changing but a rapid improvement in this regard is essential. At the end of the discussions on the use of FOQA data as per the present usage, we find that the efforts of the US military to make use of the available technology must be improved. It is commendable to note that US military understands and acknowledges the potential benefits of the program though there are many mission requirements in the implementation of the program that may result in slow progress. However, “the military services have taken various levels of action--from high-level discussions about how to precede with FOQA to initiating demonstration projects for specific aircraft types” (The U.S. Military Services Are Still in the Early Stages of Developing FOQA Programs). Conclusion In conclusion, it may be established that the FOQA program plays an inevitable role in the maintenance of safety of flight. The standardization of the data to incorporate the aircraft data on all the flights in the current inventories of the US Navy will ensure better safety. However, the related issues such as the possibility of its misuse for terrorist purposes and others cannot be neglected. We may state that whereas the standardization of the FOQA data is of paramount consideration, we need to be vigilant about the implications of a possible misuse of the military data regarding the aircraft, especially by the terrorist groups. References Adams, Charlotte. (2006). Military FOQA Next Step in Safety. The U.S. Department of the Navy has launched a dedicated flight operations quality assurance program. Retrieved December 4, 2007, fromhttp://www.aviationtoday.com/av/categories/military/748.html Babbie, E.R. (1995). The practice of social research (7th). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Behrens, Theresa. Slide 6, FOQA Data Privacy. United Airlines Flight Operational Quality Assurance. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://www.ntsb.gov/events/symp_vr_toptec/Presentations/Panel_4/aviation_behrens.ppt#305,6 Behrens Theresa. Slide 7. FOQA Data Privacy. United Airlines Flight Operational Quality Assurance. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://www.ntsb.gov/events/symp_vr_toptec/Presentations/Panel_4/aviation_behrens.ppt#305,6 Callantine, Todd J. (2000). Analysis of Flight Operational Quality Assurance Data Using Model-Based Activity Tracking. Abstract. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://humanfactors.arc.nasa.gov/ihi/hcsl/HPM_pubs/Analysis_ActTrack.pdf Creswell, J.W. (1994). Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA. Flight Operational Quality Assurance. (2004). Advisory Circular. U.S. Department of Transportation. 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Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:om4h79Iedy8J:www.capacg.com/reference/pres_PDFs/9_Healing_Military_FDM.pdf+US+Navy+and+FOQA&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10 Washington State University. (2001) A Field Guide to Experimental Designs: What is an ANOVA?, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center Wellington, Sam. (2004). Example application of analysis ground station (AGS). SAGEM Avionics. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://flightsafety.org/gain/AGS_application.pdf What is Flight Operations Quality Assurance? (2007). Frequently Asked Questions. FOQA. Flight data service. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://www.flightdataservices.com/faqs.php Read More