Aviation Memory and Cognition - Research Proposal Example

Similarly, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that on June 19, 2011 two aircrafts came “within 300 feet of each other” (Áir’, 2012). Cessna 172 and ExpressJet that was carrying 53 people failed to identify a conflict regardless of the fact that they were both connected with the radio traffic control. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) found that the controller who was on duty on the tower had a negative history of “professional deficiencies” with countless events where he disobeyed the standard procedures checklist that has to be followed at all times (‘Air’, 2012).

This research paper aims to propose an investigative study to identify the factors that give rise to near-miss events by the ATCOs and how memory losses increases the number of near-miss incidents. The primary purpose of conducting this research is to bring to light the issue of near-miss by the ATCOs and the various factors that give rise to near-miss situations. This research proposal will provide a brief literature review on the topic, methodology, research design, expected outcome of the proposed research.

Nashef (2003) highlighted that the concept of near-miss in air traffic control services refers to the loss of separation between two aircrafts in the air which if not prevent would lead to mid-air collision. Therefore, a near-miss is the situation in which the two aircrafts came very close to each other but did not collide. Nashef (2003) has categorized near-miss situations in three types, namely: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Type 1 near miss is one where the incident has occurred and the installed system in the aircrafts successfully detected and corrected the situation.

It worked as it was planned to work and therefore, no harm was actually done. Type 2 near miss is one where the incident occurred but one or more of the installed system in the aircraft actually failed to detect the loss of