The U.S. commercial space launch industry has changed considerably since the enactment of the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004. FAA is required to license or permit commercial space launches, but to allow the space tourism industry to develop, the act prohibited FAA from regulating crew and spaceflight participant safety before 2012—a moratorium that was later extended but will now expire on September 30, 2015. Since October 2014, there have been three mishaps involving FAA licensed or permitted launches.

美聯邦航空廳(Federal Aviation Administration)의 航空機 製作檢査 制度의 現況

Human and organisational factors in maritime accidents: analysis of collisions at sea using the HFACS.

Objective: The aim of this study was to extend previous examinations of aviation accidents to include specific aircrew, environmental, supervisory, and organizational factors associated with two ty...

http://01f7812.netsolhost.com/pubs/Human%20Error%20and%20Commercial%20Aviation%20Accidents.pdf

Human Error and Commercial Aviation Accidents: An Analysis Using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System

Analytical HFACS for investigating human errors in shipping accidents.

Operator error and system deficiencies: analysis of 508 mining incidents and accidents from Queensland, Australia using HFACS.

: Historically, general aviation (GA) accidents have been overlooked and their impact under-appreciated when compared with those in the commercial or military sector. Recently however, the Federal Aviation Administration and other governmental and civilian organizations have focused their attention on one piece of this proverbial "iceberg," that being GA accidents occurring in Alaska. This study examines more than 17,000 GA accidents using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. Comparisons of Alaska to the rest of the U.S. (RoUS) included traditional demographic and environmental variables, as well as the human errors committed by aircrews. Overall, categorical differences among unsafe acts (decision errors, skill-based errors, perceptual errors, and violations) committed by pilots involved in accidents in Alaska and those in the RoUS were minimal. However, a closer inspection of the data revealed notable variations in the specific forms these unsafe acts took within the accident record. Specifically, skill-based errors associated with loss of directional control were more likely to occur in Alaska than the rest of the U.S. Likewise, the decision to utilize unsuitable terrain was more likely to occur in Alaska. Additionally, accidents in Alaska were associated with violations concerning Visual Flight Rules into Instrument Meteorological Conditions. These data provide valuable information for those government and civilian programs tasked with improving GA safety in Alaska and the RoUS.

/pdf/beneath-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-a-human-factors-analysis-of-1yg1n2d8wf.pdf

Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg: A Human Factors Analysis of General Aviation Accidents in Alaska Versus the Rest of the United States

: This study presents a compilation of 24 cases involving general aviation (GA) pilots' weather encounters over the continental U.S. The project team interviewed pilots who had experienced a weather encounter, and we examined their backgrounds, flight experience, and weather encounter details. Results from meteorological data analysis for each weather encounter were consistent with findings of larger GA weather accident studies in terms of the types of hazards encountered and flight phase during which the encounters occurred. Investigation of pilot weather products and the sources from which they were obtained revealed a lack of uniformity of pre-flight data sources and underutilization of available en route flight information services. The team used these results to develop a set of pilot weather education and training recommendations intended to reduce the number and severity of weather encounters.

/pdf/general-aviation-weather-encounter-case-studies-4whenokl59.pdf

General Aviation Weather Encounter Case Studies

There are many international approaches to the regulation of human factors programs for aviation maintenance organizations. Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Agency have established specific regulations regarding maintenance human factors. The Federal Aviation Administration has not yet established regulations but, instead, has created guidance documents and developed voluntary reporting programs for maintenance organizations. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of human factors programs in airline maintenance organizations and independent maintenance and repair organizations. Questions focused on training, error management, fatigue management, and other human factors issues. An online link was sent via E-mail to 630 addresses. Of these, 414 respondents returned a valid questionnaire (i.e., defined as responding to at least one content item), which resulted in a response rate of 66%. A highly-experienced group (i.e., over 65% had 20 years in aviation maintenance) from more than 50 countries responded to the questionnaire. Results highlight the maintenance human factors strategies, methods, and programs that companies use to reduce human error.

/pdf/an-international-survey-of-maintenance-human-factors-3kskepg3ao.pdf

An International Survey of Maintenance Human Factors Programs

Introduction: Over the last 20 years, nearly 40,000 general aviation (GA) aircraft were involved in accidents, roughly 20% of which were fatal. To address this safety concern, scientists have often relied on accident data. Because of the rare nature of accidents, commercial aviation incident and near miss data may prove to be useful sources of safety information. In one such study, the National Transportation Safety Board interviewed GA pilots that were flying near a weather-related accident in pursuit of a different perspective than that of the accident pilot. Interviewing GA pilots about their own weather-related event may provide similar benefits. Method: To understand factors leading GA pilots to encounter adverse weather conditions, pilots involved in an adverse weather encounter were interviewed using a one-hour structured interview. The interview was developed using surveys utilized by National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In total, 27 pilots who experienced an adverse weather encounter were interviewed, of which 25 were included in the final analysis. Results: Previous studies conducted by the FAA and others found many GA accidents involving flight into adverse weather were categorized as a willful disregard for the rules and regulations of safety; violations as defined by the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. Contrary to what the accident record seems to suggest, flight into adverse weather may also be influenced by the lack of appreciation/understanding of the hazards associated with adverse weather. Perhaps some encounters with adverse weather were motivated by outside influences or exacerbated by some manner of mechanical failure that may have led to the willful acceptance of unnecessary hazards. Conclusions: These data suggest that current beliefs surrounding flight into adverse weather by GA pilots may be incomplete. The data presented here suggest that additional effort should be placed in training, both ab initio and recurrent. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring a full understanding of the adverse impact of weather, including the recognition of instrument meteorological conditions, icing, convective events, etc. Likewise, with the proliferation of commercial weather products and on-board weather equipment, it may be time to move toward some form of standard weather package that all pilots would review before flying.

/pdf/developing-proactive-methods-for-general-aviation-data-24t5w0z56k.pdf

Carla Hackworth

Papers

Human Error and Commercial Aviation Accidents: An Analysis Using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System

Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg: A Human Factors Analysis of General Aviation Accidents in Alaska Versus the Rest of the United States

General Aviation Weather Encounter Case Studies

An International Survey of Maintenance Human Factors Programs

Developing Proactive Methods for General Aviation Data Collection