Automation

The Flight Safety Foundation Approach-and-landing Accident Reduction (ALAR) Task Force found that inadequate flight crew interaction with automatic flight systems was a causal factor 1 in 20 percent of 76 approach-and-landing accidents and serious incidents worldwide…. Continue Reading →

Approach Hazards Overview

Few air transport accidents occur on calm sunny days; risk increases during flight over hilly terrain, with reduced visibility, adverse winds, contaminated runways and limited approach aids. Visual illusions also can contribute to approach and landing accidents…. Continue Reading →

Altitude Deviations

Altitude deviations may result in substantial loss of aircraft vertical separation or horizontal separation, which could cause a midair collision. Maneuvers to avoid other aircraft often result in injuries to passengers, flight crewmembers and, particularly, to cabin crewmembers…. Continue Reading →

Aircraft Energy Management During Approach

Inability to assess or manage the aircraft energy level during the approach often is cited as a causal factor in unstabilized approaches. Either a deficit of energy (being low and/or slow) or an excess of energy (being high and/or fast) may result in approach-and-landing accidents, such as: loss of control, landing short, hard landing, tail…… Continue Reading →

Autoland on Contaminated Runways

Autoland systems were developped for landing in fog but since its introduction, use of autoland has been extended into other areas that were not considered at the outset. Operations on contaminated runways are not considered during certification but the case is practically studied. This article has been published for the 10th Performance and Operations Conference…… Continue Reading →

Avoiding Altitude Deviations

This document has been published by the respected and well-known Flight Safety Foundation. Safety can be jeopardized when aircraft deviate from their assigned altitudes. Carefully implemented altitude awareness programs have been adopted by some airlines. These proven programs focus on improving communications, altitude alerter setting procedure, crew prioritization and task allocation, and ensuring correct altimeter…… Continue Reading →