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This paper aims to make the case for continued opportunity for high levels of human well-being under descent conditions characterised by declining economic throughput and socio-political complexity.

Relationships between assumptions about human well-being formed within a modern industrial context, the guiding narratives attending these, and the broader cultural influence of ideas from the evolutionary sciences are examined. Alternative ways of making sense of these relationships are explored. The experiences of societies guided by cultural narratives based on different premises to those most influential in industrial societies are reviewed for their implications for human well-being under descent conditions.

Human experiences of well-being are principally a function of the sources of meaning and associated narratives by which members of a culture make sense of their situation, as these determine the nature of the material and energetic conditions required to live well. Under descent conditions, the narrative of progress that has supported viable societies during the 300-year period of industrial expansion is unlikely to continue serving humanity well. Collective participation in the renewal of guiding cultural narratives is a primary target for efforts to provide continued opportunities for high quality of life to all members of humanity.

The findings point towards specific characteristics of cultural sense-making narratives that may support viable human societies under descent conditions.

By moving beyond the default assumption that descent automatically implies decline in human well-being, a barrier may be lowered to more open and mature society-wide engagement in conversations about the present human predicament and effective ways of responding to it.

New connections are identified between perspectives based on biological evolutionary theory and the continued influence of the idea of progress in establishing default assumptions about prospects for human well-being under descent conditions. Experiences of non-industrial societies are taken as the basis for identifying opportunities for human well-being under far more modest material and energetic conditions than those available to the portion of humanity that presently enjoys benefits of industrial development that outweigh the attendant costs.

The purpose of this paper is to create a new fuel flow rate model for the descent phase of the flight using particle swarm optimization (PSO).

A new fuel flow rate model was developed for the descent phase of the B737-800 aircraft, which is frequently used in commercial air transport using PSO method. For the analysis, the actual flight data records (FDRs) data containing the fuel flow rate, speed, altitude, engine speed, time and many more data were used. In this regard, an empirical formula has been created that gives real fuel flow rate values as a function of altitude and true airspeed. In addition, in the fuel flow rate predictions made for the descent phase of the specified aircraft, a different model has been created that can be used without any optimization process when FDR data are not available for a specific aircraft take-off weight condition.

The error analysis applied to the models showed that both models predict real fuel flow rate values with high precision.

Because of the high accuracy of the PSO model, it is thought to be useful in air traffic management, decision support systems, models used for trajectory prediction, aircraft performance models, strategies used to reduce fuel consumption and emissions because of fuel consumption.

This study is the first fuel flow rate model for descent flight using PSO algorithm. The use of real FDR data in the analysis shows the originality of this study.

DURING acceptance tests of aircraft, one of the basic data required is the rate of descent. The required information is a vertical component of the rate of descent just prior to touch‐down on a landing surface. These data are used as an aid in determining the impact imparted to the landing gear, as well as to other structures of the plane. Rate of descent information is also used during training of both military and commercial pilots. A pilot is interested in knowing immediately after touch‐down the rate of descent of his aircraft, so that he can associate his control settings and his psychological attitude with the data given him. The touch‐down rate of descent information is also important when hard landings aboard an aircraft carrier are considered. The deck of the carrier presents a second moving object with which to contend; therefore the rates of descent will be even more unpredictable and, in most cases, of higher values.

This study aims to identify the specific challenges that North American female professionals of Asian descent face in building executive presence and make recommendations for mitigating those challenges.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 female executives of Asian descent in diverse U.S. and Canadian organizations. The goal was to explore their perceptions of Asian organizational stereotypes and identify how these perceptions, shaped by their cultural and gender identities, have created unique challenges relating to executive presence. Interviewees provided in-depth examples of their challenges and detailed recommendations for neutralizing them. Interview data were coded and analyzed using the Gioia methodology.

Results revealed that deferential, reserved and hardworking are the top three perceptions attributed to female professionals of Asian descent working in North America. These perceptions are not commendatory or derogatory by themself. They can be associated with either positive or negative leadership qualities, depending on the specific behaviors exhibited and how those behaviors are interpreted. The authors’ analysis maps the relationship between these perceptions and behaviors associated with the executive presence literature. The respondents’ three key recommendations for neutralizing the negative connotations of these perceptions are discussed.

The results of this study reinforce the need to develop influence, communication and relational skills (e.g. executive presence) in women of Asian ethnicity. The study respondents’ recommendations provide a foundational curriculum guide for doing so. The results also support the need to train hiring managers to become ever more aware of their cultural biases, focusing on how these biases impact their hiring, performance evaluation and promotion practices.

There is a dearth of research regarding the career experiences of Asian women working in North American corporations. This qualitative study provides insight into relationships between cultural identity, executive presence and career success and lays the groundwork for future quantitative studies that deepen a theoretical understanding of the relationship of executive presence to impression management and cross-cultural theories.

Metroplex is a system of two or more airports, in physical proximity, with highly interdependent arrival and departure operations. The purpose of this study is the construction of an efficient and effective air route model based on the point merge system (PMS) to reduce aircraft fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for three metroplex airports in Istanbul terminal control area (TMA).

A PMS arrival route model is constructed for metroplex airports. In the proposed model, two situations are taken into consideration: for delay which can be defined as flying on sequencing legs (PMS_del) and for no delay (PMS_{no del}). An empirical model is developed using a data set including the flight data records of ten actual B737-800 domestic flights. With this empirical model, both the baseline and the PMS models (PMS_del and PMS_{no del}) are compared in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and flight distance and time as a theoretical computation.

In the proposed PMS_{no del} arrival route model, according to different entry points for Istanbul Ataturk International Airport (LTBA), the analyses show an average reduction of 26 per cent in flight time, 24.5 per cent in flight distance, 17 per cent in fuel burned and CO₂ emissions; in addition, for Sabiha Gökcen International Airport (LTFJ) there are 34, 23 and 32 per cent average savings for flight time, flight distance and fuel burned together with CO₂ emissions obtained, respectively. Even if the PMS_del model, for LTFJ except only one entry point, for LTBA except two entry points, better results are obtained than baseline.

The point merge model for metroplex airports in this paper can be applied by airspace designers and Air Navigation Service Providers to perform efficient and effective arrival routes.

In this study, a point merge model is constructed for metroplex airports. Quantitative results, using an empirical model, are achieved in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and flight distance and time at metroplex airports.

Continuous descent approach (CDA) is a method, which allows the aircraft flying its individual optimal vertical profile down to runway threshold with engines operating at low‐thrust power. The main objective of this paper is to provide less‐fuel consumption, less noise and less emission with using CDA procedures instead of conventional procedures.

Conventional and CDA procedures were modelled in the Istanbul terminal area (TMA), which has five entry points. The real speed and the real altitude limitations were maintained on these entry points. System for Assessing Aviation's Global Emissions research results were also used to determine the emission savings.

With CDA procedures, more than 40 kg fuel and 2 min time savings per flight are obtained; furthermore, regarding CO₂ and H₂O, significant emission savings are also noted.

Some of the benefits of CDA procedures are reported for Istanbul TMA by using true flight data.

The purpose of this paper is to create a new fuel flow rate model using cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) for the descending stage of the flight.

Using the actual flight data record data of the B737-800 aircraft, a new fuel flow rate model has been developed for this aircraft type. The created model is to predict the fuel flow rate with high accuracy depending on the altitude and true airspeed. In addition, the CSA fuel flow rate model was used to calculate the fuel consumption for the point merge system, which is used for combining the initial approach to the final approach at Istanbul Airport, the largest airport of Turkey.

As a result of the analysis, the correlation coefficient value is found as 0.996858 for Flight 1, 0.998548 for Flight 2, 0.995363 and 0.997351 for Flight 3 and Flight 4, respectively. The values that are so close to 1 indicate that the model predicts the real fuel flow rate data with high accuracy.

This model is considered to be useful in air traffic management decision support systems, aircraft performance models, models used for trajectory prediction and strategies used by the aviation community to reduce fuel consumption and related emissions.

The importance of this study lies in the fact that to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first fuel flow rate model developed using CSA for the descent stage in the existing literature; the data set used is real values.

The purpose of this paper is to outline an instructional design approach for further development of an African ancestry learning center in order to enhance its educational utility. This is being done in an effort to use technology in transformative ways that extends the practices and opportunities for African Americans.

Assessing the needs of learners, performing a content analysis, and designing online resources and systems that meet learner's needs accomplished this goal.

This paper identifies a design process whereby technology can be used to connect people of African descent to a lost history.

This paper provides a method to leverage technology for people of African descent to engage in genealogy research, while acknowledging their unique historical journey.

The purpose of this special issue is first to highlight the need for wider understanding of the “civilisational challenge” facing humanity, as it encounters and then exceeds significant limits to growth. The second is to present material that provides grounds for developing effective responses.

The issue draws on evidence from previous research, economic modelling and a range of other sources to investigate the hypothesis that humanity is heading towards an “overshoot and collapse” future. It further suggests that a useful way of responding is to explore the possibility that the prospect of collapse can be moderated or avoided through a process of “conscious descent.”

The main findings are that a very wide spectrum of policies, actions, strategies and options is available that can and should be used to help us avoid the most disastrous manifestations of “overshoot and collapse.” Yet there are also many barriers and impediments that continue to inhibit effective responses. This means that the process of coming to grips with the “civilisational challenge” will take longer and become increasingly costly. Denialism and short term thinking remain embedded in dominant institutions and mainstream practice. Currently, vastly more is miss-spent on various perverse incentives (e.g. advertising, the funding of denial, fossil fuel subsidies) than on securing the future of civilisation. This can be seen as a consequence of outdated values and inadequate worldviews.

The contributions here represent a sample from within a rapidly expanding field of enquiry and action. They should therefore be seen as indicating the need for further high quality investigation, work and action. The main implication is that this process needs to be taken seriously, properly resourced and eventually transformed into a mainstream social project.

The papers are contributions to an in-depth understanding of a complex and evolving situation. Their value lies in the fact that greater understanding and a commitment to early action are among the most productive investments available to societies vulnerable to the systemic threats outlined here. As such, the special issue evokes a fundamental tenet of foresight work in general. Or to put this in the words of Bertrand de Jouvenel, “the proof of improvidence lies in falling under the empire of necessity.”

This paper aims to present the novel methodology of computational simulation of a helicopter flight, developed especially to investigate the vortex ring state (VRS) – a dangerous phenomenon that may occur in helicopter vertical or steep descent. Therefore, the methodology has to enable modelling of fast manoeuvres of a helicopter such as the entrance in and safe escape from the VRS. The additional purpose of the paper is to discuss the results of conducted simulations of such manoeuvres.

The developed methodology joins several methods of computational fluid dynamics and flight dynamic. The approach consists of calculation of aerodynamic forces acting on rotorcraft, by solution of the unsteady Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations using the finite volume method. In parallel, the equations of motion of the helicopter and the fluid–structure-interaction equations are solved. To reduce computational costs, the flow effects caused by rotating blades are modelled using a simplified approach based on the virtual blade model.

The developed methodology of computational simulation of fast manoeuvres of a helicopter may be a valuable and reliable tool, useful when investigating the VRS. The presented results of conducted simulations of helicopter manoeuvres qualitatively comply with both the results of known experimental studies and flight tests.

The continuation of the presented research will primarily include quantitative validation of the developed methodology, with respect to well-documented flight tests of real helicopters.

The VRS is a very dangerous phenomenon that usually causes a sudden decrease of rotor thrust, an increase of the descent rate, deterioration of manoeuvrability and deficit of power. Because of this, it is difficult and risky to test the VRS during the real flight tests. Therefore, the reliable computer simulations performed using the developed methodology can significantly contribute to increase helicopter flight safety.

The paper presents the innovative and original methodology for simulating fast helicopter manoeuvres, distinguished by the original approach to flight control as well as the fact that the aerodynamic forces acting on the rotorcraft are calculated during the simulation based on the solution of URANS equations.