Safety Risk Management and Safety Culture Why Accidents Happen.

Safety Risk Management and Safety Culture Why Accidents Happen.

Welcome back to all my fellow folks who read my safety blog, so, today I’m writing this interesting issue regarding why accidents happen?

All people who fly and airplane ask what is important about human factors and the role of the pilot flying a plane.

Accidents statistics seem to indicate that pilots do not have the appropriate tools to deal with their own roles in the cockpit. So, all pilots are trained to handle emergencies, such as engine failure or any electrical system failures, but they are sometimes no trained to handle the internal and external factors that act them.

But, how does safety culture of any organization affect the policy and implementation of its safety management system to avoid and stay away of incidents and accidents?

Measuring a safety culture inside any group is very important, but how do you measure a safety culture in an organization?

There are subcultures in any huge organization based on geography, other leadership styles and even which shift a person works.

In my personal view and experience, to effectively measure a safety culture, the cultural norms of the organization must first to be identified, and them there must be and extensive examination of how the management team respond to errors.

Safety Risk Management is another important issue, in an effort to assist all aviation companies all around the world, to understand why accidents happen in any organization.

To recall and refresh all pilots who read my safety blog, the most common, and specific causes of accidents, in order of incidence and regularity, are:

·         Loss of directional control.

·         Poor Judgment.

·         Airspeed not maintained.

·         Poor preflight planning and poor decision making.

·         Clearance not maintained.

·         Inadvertent stalls, very important.

·         Poor crosswind handling.

·         Poor inflight planning and decision making.

As every pilot see here, almost all of these are a result of poor pilot performance, but not necessarily of a result of any equipment malfunction, So, this is why Safety Risk Management and Safety Culture is very important to understand the role and importance of effective safety risk management and incident investigation in a functioning safety management system works.

Always keep in mind that flying is about people, much more so than about machines. To avoid any incident or accident increasing your awareness of human strengths will make you a safety pilot at all time you flying your airplane.

Always fly safe! 

Aircraft Accident Investigation

Aircraft Accident Investigation

 

Air Asia plane exploded after hitting water? This is a good question so far. Part of the plane's tail was broken into pieces and a flight data recorder was thrown more than a kilometer (.62 miles as the news show on the media)

All aircraft accidents are different; there are certain elements that are common to aircraft impacts and wreckage distribution. By organizing those elements, we can predict and explain most impact situations.

 

Some, for various reasons, will defy any rational explanation.

 

The two questions that usually need to be answered are:

 

1.What was the attitude of the aircraft at impact?

 

 

2.Was this impact survivable?

 

 

Influence of Aircraft Velocity and Impact Angle

 

Crash dynamics and wreckage distribution is influenced primarily by aircraft velocity and impact angle.

 

The velocity of the aircraft generally determines the degree of breakup and destruction of the wreckage.

 

The impact angle determines how the wreckage will be distributed. We will deal with each of these separately.

 

Water Impacts

 

These deserve a brief mention. What happens when a plane hits the water?

 

Actually, it is primarily a function of velocity. If the plane is going fast enough, the water is a solid object as far as the plane is concerned. It comes apart in about as many pieces as it would if it had crashed on land. At the other extreme, a plane that was deliberately ditched will probably sink to the bottom in one piece.

 

In a water impact, there is an impact angle, but it is related to the wave action on the surface of the water. If the water was absolutely calm, then the impact angle may be determined by examination of the wreckage. If there was heavy wave action, impact angle becomes meaningless as you don’t know whether the plane impacted on the front or backside of wave.

 

What is the significance of the distribution of wreckage on the bottom of the lake, ocean, or river?

 

In general, the wreckage distribution doesn’t mean much unless it resulted from an inflight breakup.

 

 

The actual distribution is influenced by depth, currents and the tendency of various parts to float (or be slightly buoyant) or to sink in different fashions. Some parts of the plane will sink like a rock. Others will sink like a dinner plate. Try it and you’ll see the difference.

 

One rule that does hold up fairly well is the dispersed part rule. A portion of the airplane or its contents found at a significant distance from the main wreckage probably came off inflight.    

 

Source: Aircraft Accident Investigation (Richard H. Wood / Robert W. Sweginnis)

 

 

 

 

 

Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms

I want to talk today and post again this  interesting information  I was posted years ago here on my safety blog, that can either make a good review to all Pilots flying all around the world to avoid thunderstorms and turbulence. Many times you as a good and Safety Pilot you have to make decisions involving thunderstorms and turbulence flying.

In some tropical regions, thunderstorms occur year-around, for example in United States thunderstorms develop most frequently in Spring, Summer, and Fall. In the Arctic Region occasionally experience thunderstorm during Summer time.

In general, thunderstorms occur varies widely from Season to Season. Well to explain and to be more specific, thunderstorms in general are most frequently during July and August and least frequent in December and January, in to the United States.

In fact, the planet earth is unique in that its atmosphere, as Pilots when we encounter bad weather during our itinerary, sometime are affected by weather, but we need to understand what you should know about weather how can shake your flight, weather is complex and sometimes difficult to understand, our restless atmosphere is almost continuously in motion as it strives to reach stability.

You remember when we are a student pilot we receive training regarding some meteorological conceptions, and the atmosphere are classify into layers based on temperature.

So, preparation for your weather briefing before your flying is very essential to any Pilot, meteorological and aeronautical information is provided by continuous sources.

Everyone who flies no matter in what Country you are flying encounters turbulence, at some time or other. Turbulence varieties from bumpiness which can bother Crew and Passengers and also can structurally damage the aircraft or injure its passengers.

So , Aircraft reaction to turbulence varies with the difference in Wind speed in adjacent currents, size of the aircraft , wing loading , and also aircraft attitude.

All Pilots know the first rule in flying turbulence is to reduce airspeed; you need to know very clear your limitations and follow up the recommended airspeed for penetrating turbulence when you knowing where to expect a thunderstorm or turbulence.

To a respectable review and always remember Pilots: the main causes of turbulence are: Convective Currents, Obstruction to wind flow, and also Wind Shear. Turbulence also occurs in the wake of moving aircraft whenever the airfoils exert lift – Wake Turbulence.

Be alert all the time Pilots, any combination of causes may occur at one time. I'm interested in writing today on my safety blog about this important concern, regarding thunderstorms and turbulence to require and maintain a safe flight and land safely without any difficult.

I became interested in writing about this subject because when I read some information regarding incidents and accidents involved commercial aircraft, who have had problems with some of its flights.

I found it very important that we review these incidents and share and learn more about what’s going on and could be more dangerous if don’t emphasis the fatal magnitudes that could be happen .

So, I want to share this excellent information , go to the links and read the information , you will learn more about what I’m talking about it about turbulence .

Always reporting Turbulence at any time you could realize be dangerous for other crews. Pilots should report all the time locations, time (UTC or Z), intensity, weather in or near clouds, altitude, type of aircraft and when applicable, duration of turbulence.

So, duration may be based on time between two locations or over a single location, all locations should be readily identifiable, also keep in mind there are different types of turbulence, I want to refresh your memory, Light, Moderate, Severe, and Extreme.

Always remember the good and Safety Pilot is one that is a conservative Aviator and learns every day from the unexpected things that can happen in your Cockpit.

               

                                                Safe Pilots, Safe Skies. Always Fly Safely.

Runway Incursions.

   Issue 418                                                                                                                              November 2014

Runway incursions, a top FAA safety concern, are formally defined as “any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and takeoff of aircraft.”1 Runway incursions can be caused by Pilot Deviations, Air Traffic Controller Operational Incidents, and Ground Vehicle Deviations. Examples of these errors include:

Pilot Deviations

Crossing a runway hold marking without ATC clearance

Taking off without clearance

Landing without clearance

Controller Operational Incidents

Clearing an aircraft onto a runway while another aircraft is landing on the same runway

Issuing a takeoff clearance while the runway is occupied by another aircraft or vehicle

Vehicle (Driver) Deviations

Crossing a runway hold marking without ATC clearance

Regardless of whose actions caused it, the inappropriate or unauthorized presence of an aircraft or vehicle on an active runway can lead to serious consequences. The following ASRS reports offer insight into some of the human factors and other issues involved in runway incursions.

Source: ASRS

http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/docs/cb/cb_418.pdf

The Vision for Safety to Avoid Accidents

The Vision for Safety to Avoid Accidents

 

Commercial Air Transportation consists of the activities of the all commercial air carriers, the routes they fly to assist the public. So, today the Airline Industry is well positioned and growth every day, and the most important is to significantly improve Aviation Safety.

Improve Safety is the Key, there are three fundamental pillars of Civil Aviation of this decade, Safety, Security and environmental protection, so, also these important pillars are very significant to reduce incidents and accidents. There will be fewer accidents, if all together in the aviation business we share safety ideas all around the world to sharing and help pilots to understand well the concept of Air Safety.

Risks can be managed before they become accidents; this is why it is very important that all states and service providers have well established (SMS) Safety Management System programs inside any organization.

The information they develop form these systems helps in the further analyzing situations and developing ideas and solutions for the prevention of incidents and accidents in all General Aviation.

Improving Aviation Safety is the key to continue sharing ideas and used a good method in aviation industry to examine aviation accident/incident, and focusing and analyzing areas that errors mostly occurred in any organization, why accidents happen, when an aircraft accident occurs many questions are asked. So, the question WHY, rises a lot during investigation of the operator at the time of investigation.

Safety is a top priority at all time; the goal of the Aviation Safety is to improve aviation safety through the prevention of accidents and incidents programs .

 

Safe Pilots/ Safe Skies.

 

Mid Air Collisions Why?

Mid Air Collisions Why?

 

Why accidents happen it's a good question to answer and also difficult to respond, why, and what happen. So, sometimes we already know what happened, but the only question is why it happened again. There was a midair collision between two aircraft yesterday Thursday October 23, 2014 at the Frederick Municipal Airport, according to the federal agencies a Cirrus SR22 aircraft and a R44 helicopter collided in Mid Air, near the Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland.  

 

So, commonly Aviation Accidents categorize mid airs as one of the two types, associated and non-associated.

 

Associated Mid Air Collisions are when two aircraft were flying in each other’s vicinity and knew it.

 

Non Associated Mid Air Collisions are and occur when an airplane who is not intentionally flying in each other’s vicinity and neither knows the other is there. Where was each aircraft hypothetical to be?  Who had the right of way? And who could have seen who?

 

This type of investigation to resolve, and also to investigate, has a first priority to analyses, usually aircraft accident investigators focus on Air Traffic Control records and the radar data, also probably the Flight Data Recorders and Cockpit Voice Recorders if either aircraft was so equipped, regularly witnesses is a good key too, but the only difficult witnesses see the aftermath of the collision.

 

That is why I want to share again something I wrote on my Safety Blog few months ago, something regarding Mid Air Collisions, think about it this for a moment and read again my all post to avoid this type of accidents.

 

Midair Collision Avoidance

 

Recent studies of midair collisions involving aircraft by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that:

Most of the aircraft involved in collisions are engaged in recreational flying, not on any type of flight plan.

Most midair collisions occur in VFR weather conditions during weekend daylight hours.

The vast majority of accidents occurred at or near uncontrolled airports and at altitudes below 1000 feet.

Pilots of all experience levels were involved in midair collisions, from pilots on their first solo ride, to   20,000-hour veterans.

Flight instructors were on board the aircraft 37 percent of the accidents in the study.

Most collisions occur in daylight with visibility greater than 3 miles.

1.  Practice the "see and avoid" concept at all times regardless of whether the operation is conducted under Instrument (IFR) or Visual (VFR) Flight Rules.

 

2.  Under IFR control, don't always count on ATC to keep you away from other aircraft.  They're human, and can make mistakes.

 

3.  Understand the limitations of your eyes and use proper visual scanning techniques.  Remember, if another aircraft appears to have no relative motion, but is increasing in size, it is likely to be on a collision course with you.

 

4.  Execute appropriate clearing procedures before all climbs, descents, turns, training maneuvers, or aerobatics.

 

5.  Be aware of the type airspace in which you intend to operate in and comply with the applicable rules.

 

6.  Adhere to the necessary communications requirements.

 

7. Traffic advisories should be requested and used when available to assist the pilot’s own visual scanning -- advisories in no way lessen the pilot’s obligation to see and avoid.

 

 8.  If not practical to initiate radio contact for traffic information, at least monitor the appropriate frequency.

 

 9.  Make frequent position reports along your route and AT UNCONTROLLED AIRPORTS BROADCAST YOUR POSITION AND INTENTIONS ON COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (CTAF).

 

 10.  Make your aircraft as visible as possible - turn on exterior lights below 10,000 MSL and landing lights when operating within 10 miles of any airport, in conditions of reduced visibility, where any bird activity is expected or under special VFR clearance.

 

11.  If the aircraft is equipped with a transponder, turn it on and adjust it to reply on both Mode 3/A and Mode C (if installed).  Transponders substantially increase the capability of radar to see all aircraft and the MODE C feature enables the controller to quickly determine where potential traffic conflicts exist.  Even VFR pilots who are not in contact with ATC will be afforded greater protection from IFR aircraft receiving traffic advisories.

 

IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR PART 91.413, WHILE IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE, EACH PILOT OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERABLE ATC TRANSPONDER MAINTAINED SHALL OPERATE THE TRANSPONDER, INCLUDING MODE C IF INSTALLED, ON THE APPROPRIATE MODE OR AS ASSIGNED BY ATC.  IN CLASS G AIRSPACE, THE TRANSPONDER SHOULD BE OPERATING WHILE AIRBORNE UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED BY ATC.

 

 12.      ABOVE ALL, AVOID COMPLACENCY

 

Promoting Aviation Safety is the key.

Aviation Safety, Analyses & Applications

Aviation Safety, Analyses & Applications

 

I want to share this safety post to all people in the Aviation Community all around the world, although my buddies on the different airlines will probably read it, just to see how to stay away from incidents and accidents in General and Commercial Aviation. So, also I would like to extend my appreciation and thanks to all my Instructors and teachers of different schools and colleges I was attended, where I learned the concept of Air Safety.

I could not have produced such all safety post without many aviation professionals who helped in my goal to understand why accidents happen in Aviation. My sincerest appreciation to:

 

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Nova South Eastern University.

The Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) in Oklahoma City,

The FAA in Miami Florida Aviation Safety Program FAA Safety Team.

L3 Communications Aviation Recorders.

Singapore Aviation Institute.

Colombian Civil Aviation Authorities.

Colombian Air Force Training Center.

 

Why accidents happen is a question that all pilots asked, in my personal view the topic frequently called in Aviation called Human Factors, and how it applies to all General Aviation. So, in the context this word Human Factors deals with errors that pilot make, why they make them, and how we as pilots can prevent them. When I wrote different concepts in my safety blog, the mayor issues that I can explain is how pilots can read and apply the causes and factors why pilots crashed.

Always remember that Human Factors is the study of how people interact with the situations, recall the meaning of Human Factors is a conceptual model, the original Shell concept, named after the initial letters of its components, Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware.

A strong Safety Culture is the essential first element inside your Cockpit, always the safety culture in your organization is the Key to stay away from incidents and accidents, also maintain a good discipline of human factors to fly safely all the time.


Whether you go to work with your three stripes or four stripes, on your sleeve, remember there is abundance of resources to manage, the main Goal on all is Safety, Safety is first, a good pilot is the one who use all the available resources inside your cockpit, I hope this short safety post helps you to comprehend why accidents happen. As far as reading this safety post pick up the best and fly safely all the time always remember  we learned from other pilots mistakes. Safety is the Key.