Need for Flight Operations Quality Assurance Data - Research Proposal Example

US Navy: Need for Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Data ment of the Research Problem: Today we are living in a security environment which demands precision and accuracy in determining the elements to safeguard the interests of the consumers and societies. In this study an effort is being made to see if the U.S Navy 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 question regarding aviation safety and flight operations and quality assurance. The concerns regarding these 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, much related with the understanding of the operational context and quality maintenance. This factor points to the increased role of data regarding operations and quality of the flights. It requires methods for detecting errors and capturing error contexts, as well as methods for reducing errors and mitigating their effects. This study therefore tries to look into; i. The overall air traffic scenario in the country ii. How some of the human errors have resulted into tragic incidents in the past iii. The possible reasons behind such accidents and the suggested remedial measures to avoid such happenings. The Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) is one such mechanism which provides reliable data for taking care of the security aspect. Research Methodology As with any research project, 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, therefore we'll have to take the help of secondary sources in good measure, for gathering most of the information. Some of the primary sources will be the interviews and opinions that we seek to solicit from the people involved in aviation sectors, some users and service providers. Literature Review 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 causing much risk to the safety of the flights. Based on these, 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. Let us also be aware that 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. US military is one of the institutions that have idealized this use very effectively. 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 in the safety data of the military. The success of the FOQA for the military purposes has made 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. One of the pleas of those who argue for the better safety measures of flights is the standardization of FOQA data. Before considering this claim, it is important that a thorough understanding of FOQA and its effectiveness in the flight safety is formulated. 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 its commercial as well as military lines. 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, R Consulting LLC, gives us the most updated information regarding the working of commercial military FOQA. In a head titled 'Aviation Safety Improvement starts & ends with DATA, NAVY MFOQA, Searching for Excellence!' we are given information regarding 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 also listed next. 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 the 'United Airlines Flight Operational Quality Assurance' by Theresa Behrens proves, 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. Are the people of the Navy and aircrafts 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 aircrafts 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, let us 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 guarantee to the passengers of the air traveling. It is this recognition of the importance of FOQA and the possibility of such a standardization 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 we're 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. There is a view that we consider the negatives of standardizing the FOQA data incorporating the flights information of all the aircrafts in the Navy's current inventories. There are serious threats posited by the modern global environment. The terrorist threats and their ability to misuse the FOQA data in their benefit can be well considered. So to counter the terrorist threats on US aircrafts, a complete standardization of the FOQA data cannot be desired. A judicial inclusion of those aircrafts that would be useful for the passenger safety and those do not cause terrorist threats would be suggested. Conclusion In conclusion, it may be established that FOQA program plays an inevitable role in the maintenance of safety of flights. In the discussion we understand the great part of the program in commercial and military flights safety. 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. The judicious standardization of the FOQA data is all but inevitable. References 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 Wellington, Sam. (2004). Example application of analysis ground station (AGS). SAGEM Avionics. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://flightsafety.org/gain/AGS_application.pdf FOQA. (2000). Joint Flight Standards Handbook Bulletin for Air Transportation (HBAT) and Airworthiness (HBAW). Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://72.14.235.104/searchq=cache:jtBXy1UIl14J:www.faa.gov/library/manuals/examiners_inspectors/8300/hbaw/media/HBAW0010.DOC+FOQA&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=in MILITARY Flight Operations Quality Assurance - MFOQA. (2007). Aviation Safety Improvement starts & ends with DATA, NAVY MFOQA. Searching for Excellence. ERAU - FDM Workshop Daytona Beach FL. P.14. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://72.14.235.104/searchq=cache:om4h79Iedy8J:www.capacg.com/reference/pres_PDFs/9_Healing_Military_FDM.pdf+US+Navy+and+FOQA&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10 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 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 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 Flight Operational Quality Assurance. (2004). Advisory Circular. U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/1ab39b4ed563b08985256a35006d56af/40c02fc39c1577b686256e8a005afb0a/$FILE/AC120-82.pdf Read More