Safety notebook

Citation

(2003), "Safety notebook", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 75 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2003.12775dab.012

Safety notebook

Safety notebook

Keywords: Aircraft industry, Safety

Airside safety and driving code training materials

With increasing concern being expressed about airside safety it is interesting to note that Roger Cato, Airport Operators Association Chairman and MD of Gatwick Airport, recently launched brand new training materials aimed at all those involved in airside driving. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which have separate, but complementary safety responsibilities in the airside environment at airports, also attended the launch to show their support for the initiative.

Launching the materials at Gatwick Airport, Roger said, "Safety in everything we do has to be the number one priority for airport operators. These new training materials will assist all airports to deliver high quality, professional safety training for those who drive vehicles airside to ensure that they stay safe and that they do not endanger others".

The training materials, developed for AOA by ASIG Limited, are designed to help establish a national framework of good practice in this important area of airport operations.

Phil Griffith, Head of Aerodrome, Air Traffic and Licensing Standards at the Safety Regulation Group of the CAA said, "CAA's role is about safety of the aircraft and its operation and to ensure that high standards are achieved. At the interface between aircraft and the ground support activities effective delivery is only possible with the co-operation of all those involved. This good practice initiative by the AOA will make a valuable contribution to airside safety and better protect people, aircraft and equipment".

Tim Galloway, Head of the HSE Air Transport Unit, added, "As we all know, what happens on the ground is crucial to maintaining a safety regime that protects everyone. Both workers and aircraft can be placed at risk by vehicles moving around them. Driver competence is a vital element in reducing these risks and we support the proactive stance by operators on this issue."

Fuel contamination

Micro-organisms in fuel, can, if left unchecked, could cause corrosion and blockage in fuel systems, thus affecting flight safety and operational maintenance. Currently, the solution to the problem is to treat the plane with biocide on a regular basis, which is a costly process.

British biotech company, Conidia Bioscience Ltd, has recently returned from running what it believes to be the first ever aviation fuel management symposium in Malaysia, where its new fuel contamination diagnostic test kit was showcased to regional leaders in the aviation and petrochemical industries. The kit is a preventative measure and monitoring tool, which could save time and money at all stages of the fuel supply and usage process.

Conidia was given full support to organise the event in Malaysia from Trade Partners UK and the South East of England Development Agency, as a means to demonstrate the cost efficiency of its new product. Speakers from Shell Aviation, Boeing Airplanes and Malaysian petrochemical giant Petronas were amongst the 85 other delegates at the symposium.

Mr James Leslie, Managing Director of Conidia said, "We had been looking to organise an event like this and our involvement with Trade Partners UK allowed us to achieve our aims. Having the opportunity to showcase our product and inviting key players to attend, has really boosted our export possibilities and allowed us to strike up a rapport with decision makers in the region. The event was a great example of how Conidia, Guildhay and CABI can work closely together in the biotech and aviation sectors to develop a world beating product".

The kit is currently being tested by a number of airlines internationally, including key players in South East Asia and Australasia. Boeing in particular lists the kit as one of the preferred treatment products for their airplanes. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) published the first formal guidelines for the detection and treatment of microbial contamination in aviation fuel in November 2002. The opportunity was therefore taken to present their content to the assembled delegates. Conidia's product is now one of only three test kits recommended in the document as it provides test results in minutes rather than days.

"It is a tremendous coup for us to be listed in the IATA guidelines and the publication was particularly timely for us considering we were "hosting" some of the key players in the aviation and petrochemical industries at the time, mainly thanks to Trade Partners UK," said james.

AEAT has also received details of another kit devised to detect damaging microbes in jet aircraft fuel tanks. Welsh company ECHA Microbiology Ltd, won a prestigious Petroleum Industry "Oscar" when it was awarded the Institute of Petroleum's annual Innovation Award for the kit, which was developed with assistance from the Welsh Development Agency (WDA).

ECHA believes that the prestigious Institute award, is likely to mean a huge boost to worldwide sales for its kit, the company currently employs nine scientists and technicians in a cutting-edge facility in Cardiff Bay. ECHA has already concluded a deal with BP to market its fuel test kit internationally under the BP brand name "MicrobMonitor2", while ExxonMobil has recently specified that, together with other ECHA kits, the device should be used at all its European jet fuel depots.

The IATA recommends that each fuel tank on every aircraft should be tested for potentially hazardous microbial contamination at least once a year, with those who operate in high-risk warm and humid climates, and on short-haul routes, carrying out the tests monthly.

The ECHA product can reportedly detect a range of yeast, mould and bacterial contaminants and quantify the degree of contamination.

Company Founder and Managing Director, Ted Hill said, "We think that our kit is the best in the world – and the Institute of Petroleum Award is a huge endorsement. We are now looking at the reorganisation we are going to need to gear ourselves for a new level of operations".

Airline crew member security training

Boeing commercial airplanes informs us that its training arm FlightSafety Boeing Training International and Advanced Interactive Systems have teamed to provide safety and security training programmes to meet the need of commercial airline pilots and flight attendants.

Advanced Interactive Systems is a global company providing security training and technology. The two companies are working together in preparation for the requirements of the Homeland Security Act which was recently signed into law by President bush.

FSB explains that it has married its aviation training expertise with AIS's law enforcement training experience and interactive simulation technology, to offer courses that will match the high standards met by the safety and security training programme for airline crew members developed earlier this year by the team. In these courses, pilots would be trained in handling firearms in an aircraft environment and all crew members would be trained in identifying, handling and defending against threatening passengers.

Bid for en-route modernisation programme

Boeing Air Traffic Management reports that it has joined the Lockheed Martin team in competing for the En-Route automation modernisation (ERAM) programme recently announced by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Boeing informs us that it will apply internally developed, advanced airspace modelling tools to help ensure that ERAM achieves its envisaged operational capabilities. According to Boeing these tools will bring a new level of systems engineering and analytical capability to the critical environment of air traffic management.

John Hayhurst, President of ATM tells us that, "the hardware and software upgrades provided through the ERAM contract will give the FAA an integrated en-route solution". John added that, " the critical need for more capacity to meet long-term demand is the fundamental reason for establishing our business unit."

Improving operational safety

Boeing also informs us that it is offering airlines a comprehensive human-risk management toolset that can help an airline identify and reduce safety risks in a variety of operations. The company explains that its Boeing Safety Management System (BSMS) helps airlines identify, assess and implement changes that will improve operational safety and efficiency.

according to boeing, BSMS comprises two modules that instruct airlines on four tools. the first is a three- to four-day implementation support and training programme that includes boeing's procedural Event Analysis Tool and Cabin Procedural Tool, which are oriented towards flight and cabin crew activities. The second is a two- to three-day implementation support and training progamme on boeing's Maintenance Error Decision Aid and Ramp Error Decision Aid, which covers maintenance/ramp crew activities.

The Cabin Procedural Investigation Tool is a structured analytical tool developed to help operators understand the reasons underlying incidents caused by cabin crew procedural deviations, while the Procedural Event Analysis Tool examines such deviations that lead to serious incidents.

The Maintenance Error Decision Aid is a structured investigation process used to determine the factors that contribute to errors committed by maintenance technicians and inspectors. According to boeing it can help develop corrective actions to avoid or reduce the likelihood of future, similar errors. the ram error decision aid is described as a structured investigation process used to determine the factors that contribute to errors committed by ramp and other operations personnel such as baggage handlers and individuals involved in aircraft servicing.

Cockpit display can improve safety and reduce delays

UPS one of the world's largest transportation company, has begun installing a highly sophisticated air traffic display system in its entire fleet of B-757 and B-767 jet aircraft.

Known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B), the new system eventually will allow UPS pilots to participate with air traffic controllers in new collaborative procedures that will improve safety while reducing delays.

By October, UPS will completely install ADS-B in 103 Boeing 757 and 767 cargo jets, and is already working with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop Air Traffic Management procedures that will facilitate more efficient airport arrivals and departures at UPS's Louisville, Ky., air hub.

The ADS-B systems will be active in the first aircraft later this month and are being installed at a rate of about ten aircraft a month.

"UPS is the first major airline to equip an entire fleet with an ADS-B traffic display system", said Capt. Rick Barr, Vice President of airline operations. "Working in concert with the FAA and air traffic controllers in Louisville, this technology will give UPS pilots unparalleled visibility of traffic around them in the air as well as on airport taxiways and runways".

The FAA currently is upgrading the air traffic automation systems at Louisville International Airport to allow controllers to collaborate with pilots of the ADS-B equipped aircraft.

Initially, the system will be used to improve approach capability in visual weather conditions. As pilots and controllers gain experience with the system, their goal will be to develop procedures that can improve approach capability in instrument meteorological conditions.

The new display equipment, manufactured by UPS Aviation Technologies, combines ADS-B traffic information and TCAS collision avoidance technology in a new instrument called a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI).

The ADS-B system on an aircraft transmits the aircraft identification and type, its current position, direction, velocity and trajectory. The CDTI provides the pilot with precise identification, trajectories and positions of other ADS-B equipped aircraft. Over the next 18 months, the FAA will deploy a system in Louisville that allows the CDTI to display similar information about aircraft without ADS-B.

The CDTI allows pilots to highlight a specific aircraft on the screen and maintain a fixed following distance. The CDTI also combines ADS-B surveillance information with targets from existing TCAS collision avoidance systems. In doing so, the CDTI provides pilots an enhanced view of the traffic around them and allows them to more easily identify conflicting flight paths.

Future enhancements will enable pilots to view a highly accurate moving map of the airport surface and to display other traffic movement on the surface or on approach. Experts believe that combining ADS-B traffic information with a moving map of the airport surface can virtually eliminate runway incursions.

At the pilot's discretion, the CDTI also is capable of showing terrain and navigation information in addition to weather radar information. "The intent is to give pilots the best information possible, so that they can make decisions safely, quickly and accurately", said Capt. Barr.

UPS Aviation Technologies has developed a version of ADS-B for smaller aircraft that has been installed in more than 190 commercial aircraft in Alaska as part of the FAA's Alaska Capstone Technology Demonstration program. The FAA credits Capstone with improving safety in Alaskan airspace and is now expanding the program to additional aircraft, airspace and airports.

Success of surface surveillance leads to trial for precision runway monitoring

Sensis Corporation informs us that Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services world wide (Fraport), owner and operator of Frankfurt Airport in Germany, will be deploying Sensis' airport surveillance system, Multistatic Dependent Surveillance (MDS) for precision runway monitoring. Fraport is currently deploying MDS at Frankfurt Airport for surface area surveillance, and based on the success of initial testing, Fraport will now be expanding the implementation to include evaluation of MDS for enhanced terminal surveillance and Precision Runway Monitoring (PRM). DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the corporation responsible for Germany's air navigation services, will also participate in the field trail.

"The selection of MDS for precision runway monitoring at Frankfurt is a testament to the flexibility of the product", said Marc Viggiano, President of Sensis' Air Traffic Systems Division. "It demonstrates how easily the MDS system can be scaled from surface surveillance to terminal area surveillance, providing higher quality surveillance performance than the older electronically scanned PRM currently used at some airports."

MDS, a transponder multilateration system, interacts with an aircraft or airport vehicle's transponder to determine position and identity. The system uses low-cost, non-rotating sensors to detect and track the movement of aircraft or vehicles based on their transponder signals. With precision comparable to global positioning systems, a higher update rate than traditional airport surveillance radar, and consistent surveillance performance regardless of weather conditions, the MDS system provides significant benefits. MDS can enable the use of capacity increasing separation standards not currently available to the air traffic controllers. Further, through its compatibility with developing concepts such as ADS-B, multilateration provides a bridge to future technologies.

At Frankfurt Airport, Sensis is currently working with Thales ATM, the prime contractor, to deploy MDS for surface area surveillance. As a result of the success of this initial system deployment, Fraport has contracted Thales ATM and Sensis to install MDS on the East edge of the Frankfurt parallel runways for evaluation of MDS in precision runway monitoring for enhanced wide area surveillance.

"The higher update rate and accuracy will provide a much better situational awareness for the air traffic controller", said Fraport project Manager, Michael Huhnold. "Based on the success of the trials, all necessary steps towards an operational system will be taken".

For precision runway monitoring, the distributed sensor architecture of MDS – leveraging sensors located throughout the surface and terminal areas – will enable highly available and reliable approach and departure surveillance for increased throughput. Additionally, the simultaneous 360° coverage and the fusion of information from the multiple sensors will ensure accuracy even during the rainy weather frequently experienced during Frankfurt's winter season.