NTSB Looks to Tackle Safety Threats

The NTSB recently published an updated version of their Most Wanted List for year 2014. This list highlights issues the agency determines to be top priorities for 2014. Three of these priorities directly relate to aviation, Address Unique Characteristics of Helicopter Operations, Eliminate Distraction in Transportation and General Aviation: Identify and Communicate Hazardous Weather. I will focus on the last two. The NTSB is positioning distractions in the transportation environment as a top priority in ensuring the traveling public remains safe. These distractions include personal devices, integrated technologies, and communications. The NTSB has seen the number of transportation accidents increase sharply, due to distracted operators. One such accident is described when a medical helicopter runs out of fuel because the pilot failed to notice the warning. His failure to be situationally aware was caused by text messaging, and resulted with the deaths of all those onboard as written in the full NTSB report. The NTSB is advocating for more education, stronger enforcement, and laws to try to eliminate distractions. Banning devices only does so much to prevent distractions, educating employees on the consequences of being distracted and what the government/company expects from them increases their diligence.

These three priorities presented by the NTSB are of significant importance to the aviation industry, however there are other topics that could be placed on the list. I do believe that managing distractions are a very important safety topic, whether it is a pilot flying an airplane or a ramp employee driving around a belt loader (I’ve witnessed a guy plow into a 737 radio antenna because he was on his phone). Distractions in the aviation industry can pose an immense safety risk and economic loss. Fatigue is another big issue, as it can create a distraction in the cockpit as well as on the ground. New regulations are now in effect which are designed to combat the threat of fatigue in the cockpit, so I understand why the NTSB wishes to focus on other priorities. The NTSBs other top priority, Identify and Communicate Hazardous Weather, is well placed on the list. The amount of general aviation deaths attributed to hazardous weather is shockingly high and all actions (better training/dissemination of information and information reports) should be recommended/implemented to try to reduce the number of deaths.

To cope with increasing amounts of technology that could pose a distraction, I envision the need for additional training staff. This additional staff would work with employees getting them to understand how distractions create risk and how to better manage the relationship between man and machine. Recommendations by the NTSB to reduce the amount of general aviation deaths may lead to more weather advisory positions, people tasked with organizing reports and analyzing data for trends, training positions, public speakers/presenters, and researchers.

Persistent Problems: Colgan Air

1) Identify and describe at least one other incident of a transport aircraft landing at the wrong airport that has occurred within the last 5 years.

In the past five years there have been several incidents of transport aircraft landing at the wrong airport. In September 2011, Colgan Air Flight 3222 operating as Continental Connection George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH) with the intended destination of Lake Charles Regional Airport (KLCH) however the flight mistakenly landed at Southland Field (KUXL). The flight was cleared for a visual approach into KLCH, but landed at KUXL at roughly 10:22 P.M. The article points out both pilots were familiar with this route. Due to the size of the aircraft (Saab 340) and the 5,000 ft. runway at KUXL there was no immediate danger. The airports are roughly nine miles apart and have the same runway orientation of 15/33. There have been similar incidents involving Continental Connection on this route twice before in the 1990s.

2) What are the hazards and complications of making such a mistake?

Landing at a wrong airport poses a hazard to passengers if there is an unfortunate or deadly result due to lack of runway. It also poses a hazard to those on the ground that may be driving/live near an airport if there is a runway overrun or fire. Besides the hazards, landing at the wrong airport causes complications for the company, having to get the passengers and luggage to the proper destination, transport of the aircraft to the intended destination, the resulting public relations nightmare, and safety investigations.

3) Do you believe that there is an identifiable and correctable reason(s) for these mistakes? If so, identify the reason(s). Or do you believe that they are just isolated incidents that have been over-hyped by the media? Why?

I do believe that in the majority of cases where an airplane lands at a wrong airport there is an identifiable and correctable reason. The act of landing at a wrong airport seems to stem from either lack of attention (sterile cockpit rule), spatial disorientation/confusion, or fatigue. All of these factors can be attributed to other causes of incidents/accidents as well, and can be dealt with through training and ensuring crew members get enough rest.

4) Southwest management decided to suspend the pilots involved in the incident at least until the investigation has been completed. Do you agree with this decision? Why or why not? If you are a management major, answer from the perspective of management. If you are a flight major, answer from the perspective of a pilot. This should not influence whether are not you agree with the decision, but rather serve as a platform for your rational.

The decision by Southwest management to suspend the pilots was the proper course of action to take until the investigation is complete. By doing so Southwest is showing their commitment to safety and to the wellbeing of the general flying public. Furthermore, it reduces any chance of criticism of Southwest by the media or competitors (I’m waiting for Spirit to post a cheeky ad on their website about the incident).  After an incident such as this, the pilots that were involved should be suspended for their own wellbeing as well. The pilots are probably under a great deal of pressure right now from the FAA, Southwest, and themselves; it would not be healthy or safe to have them flying.

Starting Point

“What are you studying in college?”—I’m often asked why I decided to major in aviation, more so why I picked an aviation management degree (after I get a confused look and asked “That’s an actual degree?”). I’ve never been able to articulate a reason other than aviation is my passion and I know that any position I hold in the industry would make me genuinely happy. I’m not entirely sure when my passion for aviation formed, but ever since a young age I have always been looking up.

As my last year of undergrad is progressing towards the end, I look back at each class I have taken and weigh how each has prepared me for graduation. I sat through numerous aviation and business related courses, many of which have improved my critical thinking skills and garnered further appreciation for the aviation industry as a whole. Each class has brought new challenges and information that, I hope, has prepared me well for my future after college. As for what direction my future is headed in, I am not entirely sure. Being a member of several professional aviation organizations, I have observed and researched many open positions across a spectrum of aviation specializations. Safety/training and marketing have continued to be the two more prominent interests in my educational and professional career to date; I hope to continue into one of these fields. My current internship position as a marketing analyst has refined these interests, allowing me to gain relevant experience in both areas. How the next few months play out will be incredibly interesting.

There are several current affairs that currently have my attention; however, the most prominent is the further consolidation in the commercial industry. Consolidation within the commercial industry will affect the traveling public with possible higher fares and reduced service and those, such as myself, looking for an entry level position with only a handful of companies that have access to large pools of applicants (many of which were let go after mergers due to redundancies and are looking for new positions). Following and analyzing these mergers has captivated me both personally and professionally, presenting themselves as a wonderful learning opportunity.