Ethics in the Aviation Profession

  The Transportation Security Administration is the key organization responsible for the safety of the passengers flying on commercial airlines. They use many layers of security to keep known and suspected threats from hijacking or threatening commercial flights. The first layer of security starts with intelligence. The TSA in combination with other federal agencies pre-screens passengers against a log of personnel with a history of terrorist activity or terrorist association. (TSA) If a potential hijacker makes it into the airport, the TSA has the pre-screening by Transportation Security Officers, VIPR teams, and Canine units screening all passengers for explosives or other substances that may threaten the safety of the flight. (TSA) I had the opportunity to assist in the training of these teams and canines when I was stationed in Little Rock. After some training, we acted like normal passengers but we had simulated explosive devices implanted in our luggage as a test for the TSA ...

What is a fuel system?     The fuel system is a combination of systems that stores, cleans and distributes fuel to an aircrafts engine. This can includes fuel tanks, lines, pumps, primers, strainers, sumps, drains, and the carburetor or injectors. (PHAK, 2016) The fuel tanks, usually in the aircraft wings, store the fuel. The lines are the piping or hose that the fuel travels. The pumps provide pressure to the fuel system. The primer is used during cold weather to draw fuel to the engine cylinders for engine start. The strainer removes sediment and moisture from the fuel and stores it in the sump. The drains are connected to the fuel tanks to allow samples to be pulled as well as the sump to remove the accumulated sediment and moisture. And the carburetor or fuel injectors vaporize the fuel to be combusted in the engine. (PHAK, 2016) Potential issues in the fuel system     Fuel systems are prone to issues from contaminated fuel, icing, and component failure. Fue...

  Wind velocity and direction can have a positive or negative effect on aircraft performance. For example, if you were taking off with a headwind at 20kts, your takeoff performance would be increased reducing your required runway length by approximately 40 percent. The opposite is true where if you have 20kts at your tail, you would have decreased performance and have to extend your required runway length by approximately 40 percent. This is because the relative wind flowing over the wing is greater with a headwind, and that increases your indicated airspeed without increasing your ground speed allowing you to reach your calculated takeoff speed in less time and distance. The same is true for landing. The increased airflow over the wings provides more lift at lower ground speed decreasing the landing distance required to come to a safe stop. So whenever possible, a pilot should take off and land into the wind. So, to mitigate the decreasing performance of a tailwind takeoff or land...

Merriam-Webster defines "Ethics" in many ways but if applied to the aviation career field I feel that the third definition "The discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation" applies the best. However, my personal definition of ethics is a combination of "Do what is the right thing every time not just the easy way or the popular way" and " Don't make good decisions for bad people"  In order to have a common vision of what is good vs bad, you have defined principles and values. Most companies will have a set of principles that they based on what the company values. These principles are what guide good vs bad decision-making which brings us back to ethics. Outside of business ethics are individual ethics and as an aviator, you are making decisions rapidly and frequently, and it's up to you to make the "good" decision every time.  Your passengers have put full faith that you will act on your moral ...