Research Proposal on "Aircraft Crash Survival Analysis and Design"

Research Proposal 6 pages (1936 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Aircraft Safety Design

Aircraft safety has become increasingly important during the last few decades. An increase in commercial flight accidents have for example also brought to light the need for better aircraft safety measures. For this reason, several studies have been conducted, with the result of new safety measures being implemented for commercial aircraft. Standard safety measures such as seatbelts and structure have been supplemented by revolutionary measures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew alike.

As an example of measures to implement optimal safety in commercial aircrafts, the Engineer (2008) notes that a new design, the blended wing body (BWB) aircraft, improves the potential safety of its crew and passengers, with the ability to be evacuated in less than 90 seconds. This is proven by simulation software (airEXODUS), developed by the Greenwich University's fire safety engineering group (FSEG). The software has been developed in response to results from air crash investigations and interviews with passengers. A particularly important feature is that it takes into account the human factor in potentially hazardous occurrences within the aircraft.

The BWB features the ability to carry 1,000 passengers on a deck, with the length of the cabin including 20 exists and eight aisles. In other words, there is ample space for passengers to escape should the need arise.

According to the Engineer, the BWB craft is part of an investigation program for the improvement of commercial air safety, also known as the new aircraft concepts research (NACRE) program. In addition to safety, the program aims to improve the efficiency, performance, comfort and economy of the aircraft industry. As part of the preparation process for the new craft, several emergency evacuation certification tests are needed. One projected problem is exit visibility, with passengers potentially being unable to see the exits.

Simulation software such as airEXODUS is beneficial for the future safety of aircraft, in that safety measure can be quantified for their efficiency in a real-time situation. The simulation program has for example also proved useful in determining the possibility of evacuation within the projected 90 minutes.

Bristow and Irving (2005) examine legislation that regarding aircraft safety. Airworthiness is an aspect of safety that includes numerous features. These features include the categories of product integrity, operation, and organizational approval. As such, the structure and materials of the aircraft, along with its propulsion, system and equipment, should be verified by continuous analysis and tests. Ensuring product integrity also means that possible failures should be taken account, with safety measures including specific plans for emergency landings.

Legislation furthermore requires that aircraft be constructed in such a way to minimize vibration or other effects that could compromise the structural integrity of the craft. Inspections should be held on a regular basis in order to minimize and identify environmental degradation.

Passenger safety also needs to be taken into account when constructing and inspecting aircraft safety. Each seat should for example be sufficiently firmly attached to the aircraft structure, with seatbelts also firmly attached. These need to be inspected for wear as a result of motion and vibration.

Loading aerodynamics are another important factor relating to safety. If aircraft loading is done incorrectly, or with a lack of proper aerodynamic balance, wear could occur, which could compromise the structure of the craft. As such, one of the regulations relating to this issue is that aerodynamic loading should be check continually and optimized for the minimum of damage.

In order to further ensure the safety of the craft in flight and the passengers on board, projections are made of possible failures. All the possible danger features identified are then investigated thoroughly prior to flight in order to minimize the possibility of failure or accident. In connection with this, thorough investigations of accidents that do occur are launched in order to implement preventative measures for future flights.

The development of modern computer technology also means new measures to ensure even greater safety for aircraft passengers. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, 2008) Website for example addresses a revolutionary technology known as "self-repairing" aircraft. This is a technique that is built around the healing properties of biological organisms in nature. In addition to greater in-flight safety, this also means possibilities for designing lighter aircraft, which in turn could mean fuel savings, lower flight costs, and a reduction in carbon emissions.

The technology entails a mechanical healing process that works much like a biological wound. When a hole or crack appears in the structure of the aircraft due to factors such as wear and tear or environmental factors, an epoxy resin is emitted from broken vessels around the tear. This resin then seals up the tear, like blood would do by forming a scab on a wound. EPSRC also suggests that a dye could be added to the resin in order to identify the compromised structure once the aircraft has landed in order to make thorough repairs. While the technology therefore serves as a sufficient temporary measure, it is vital that any body structure problems be thoroughly investigated and repaired right away when the aircraft has landed.

The ESPRC also notes that the technology is most useful in craft constructed from the increasingly popular lightweight, high-performance fibre-reinforce polymer. This means that not only aircraft, but also cars, wind turbines, and spacecraft can benefit from the self-repair system. Specifically, hollow glass fibres are filled with resin and hardener, which would ooze out whenever the fibres are broken. According to ESPRC, the healing potential of the resin is then 80-90%, which means that an aircraft can continue operating at its normal operational load, and that a landing can be conducted safely, whereas a crack of the same calibre would have been fatal in the past. This does not meant hat conventional inspection or maintenance routines are replaced. Instead, the technology serves as a valuable additional safety system for aircraft.

The ESPRC projects that this technology could encourage the further implementation not only of the safer, but also lighter FRP composites as opposed to the generally used aluminum models currently in use. This could translate into substantial fuel and cost savings, along with optimizing the safety of passengers and crew. The ESPRC holds that the technology could be ready for use within about four years.

Clearly, there are many factors involved in ensuring air safety for passengers. The newest technology such as flight simulators, concept aircrafts and self-repair technology are measures projected for the future of aviation safety for both passengers and crew. In the current context, however, the legal obligations of the aircraft owner include only to maintain safety during flight. While the above measures may greatly enhance this goals, they should however not detract from the current responsibility of ensuring safety, even when flying in a predominantly aluminum craft. In addition to investigating new ways of ensuring safety, the aircraft professional also needs to investigate the ways in which safety can currently be optimized.

Wells & Rodrigues (2003) identify air traffic controllers, along with pilots manning each flight, as a primary safety factor of aircrafts. Human factors may have a detrimental effect upon the safety measures within an aircraft. These human factors however interact with a myriad other factors in ensuring or endangering the safety of passengers. Indeed, the authors note that safety measures relating to flight operations, training practices of specific airlines, as well as design and production interact in order to ensure safety. Furthermore, inspection policies enforced by the FAA also play a significant role.

The FAA and airlines in their care also interact to ensure safety for commercial airlines (Wells & Rodrigues, 2003, p. 139). Part of the FAA's responsibility is to conduct regular audits of inspection guidelines and standards at commercial aviation facilities. It is the responsibility of airlines to comply with these and assist as far as possible.

By performing these inspections and audits, FAA professionals can identify possible weaknesses in aircraft and operations that might compromise the safety of passengers and flights.

These inspections have become of even greater importance in the contemporary climate of aviation. Passenger demands are higher and more numerous. As a result, air traffic volumes have increased significantly, also making further demands upon crew members. In addition to flight crews, airline maintenance personnel have also worked longer hours to ensure the safety of aircraft. This is necessitated by an increased amount of hours per day for each aircraft. Maintenance personnel then need to be particularly alert to any wear and tear of aircraft that could lead to flight accidents. As mentioned above, a thorough investigation of these accidents and the reasons for safety failure should be investigated in order to improve future flights and safety requirements for passengers.

In these investigations, Wells and Rodrigues (2003) note five influencing factors: man, machine, medium, mission, and management. These factors are interrelated and interact to influence the safety of commercial flights.

According to the authors, great advances in terms of aircraft safety were made during 1920-1950 (2003, p. 141). Indeed, this is indicated in… READ MORE

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