Ethics in the Aviation Profession

       The wind has a great impact on aircraft performance. A headwind increases lift and drag and a tailwind does the opposite. A microburst occurs from convective precipitation falling into dry air causing a starburst shape of wind directions centered around a downdraft point illustrated in the picture above. This drastic change in wind velocity and direction is referred to as wind shear (FAA, n.d.). Wind shear can occur at any altitude but wind shear at low altitude is especially hazardous due to the proximity of the aircraft to the ground. When an aircraft flies through a microburst after departure, the aircraft will experience increased lift from the headwind causing the pilot to nose down or decrease throttle to maintain their departure path. In the center of the microburst, the downdraft changes the wind direction from a headwind to a vertical downwind. This decreases the lift generated by the wings and increases the "weight". The aircraft will lose altit...

  The aviation industry is a busy and highly task-saturated environment. Pilots are constantly running multiple checklists, monitoring aircraft performance, and maneuvering around hazards such as weather while operating the aircraft. Air traffic control entities help relieve some stress by controlling and directing the movement of aircraft on the ground as well as in the sky. This ensures that airports are operating as efficiently as possible while reducing the probability of an aircraft collision (FAA, n.d.) Ground control is the person that is tasked with all aircraft and vehicle movement on the apron and taxiways. Clearance works with the control centers and will ensure that your flight plan is valid and current. Tower's responsibility is to control all movement on runways and local airspace surrounding the airport, approximately 5nm (FAA, n.d.). Once you are airborne and outside of the local airspace, the tower will hand you over to an Air Route Traffic Control Center that cont...

       The everyday operations of airports create a large amount of noise. The main source of noise comes from aircraft entering the traffic pattern as well as arrivals and departures from the airfield. The typical airline jet generates between 120 and 140 decibels during operation and any sound level above 85 decibels has the potential to cause hearing damage (Mayer, 2019). The noise produced from aircraft causes annoyances to the local population, impedes sleep, stresses barn animals, and interferes and distracts students in class (Visser et al., 2009). Because of this, many airports have noise abatement procedures in place to mitigate the impact of excessive noise that aircraft produce on the local area (Visser et al., 2009). The FAA established the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 to standardize and assist airport operators establish noise abatement procedures which can be found in the 14 CFR part 150 (FAA, n.d.). Noise abatement procedures include...

  In May of 1926, Congress passed the Air Commerce Act that granted the newly founded Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce the responsibility to establish airways, improve and install navigational aids, and most importantly establish and enforce safety protocol for all air traffic. The act also established the requirement for aircraft to be inspected for airworthiness, identification numbers painted on the outside of the aircraft, and Airmen to be tested in aeronautical knowledge and be physically fit to perform aeronautical duties(FAA, n.d.). This is the infant stage of what will eventually become the Federal Aviation Administration. In the 1920s, most air traffic was contracted air mail carriers flying visually with little guidance or navigational aids, and all navigational aids were maintained by the state or company that owned the airfields and did not follow any standards. The common navigational aid at the time was large concrete arrows on the ground pointing them...

  What are Human Factors in Aviation? It is estimated that 80% of all aviation accidents are been caused by pilot error and not mechanical failure. due to the human factors of the pilot in command affecting his or her aeronautical decision-making (PHAK, 2016) Human factors in aviation are the physical, behavioral, cognitive, and social characteristics sourced from the working conditions, training, and management of an aviation professional. (FAA, 2014) In other words, the conditions that affect a human's ability to work smartly and safely such as stress, experience, fatigue, mindset, etc. Identifying these factors and acknowledging them is key to mitigating risk. You can use the IMSAFE checklist to determine if your personal issues are a safety concern. Illness - am I sick? Medication - will my meds affect my mental state? Stress - am I busy thinking about other problems? Alcohol - have I been drinking or hungover? Fatigue - am I too tired? Emotion - am I upset? (PHAK, 2016) If an...