Flight Safety Foundation Flight Safety Digest 2003

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September 2003–February 2004

Waterproof Flight Operations: A comprehensive guide for corporate, fractional, on-demand and commuter operators conducting overwater flight

The work on this extraordinary Flight Safety Digest was begun in 2001 by the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) publications staff in response to queries from corporate aviation managers who were initiating overwater flights. They wanted additional guidance about how to ditch their aircraft, how to select life rafts, how to use the required equipment and what might be expected from search-and-rescue resources in various parts of the world.The publications staff came to realize that the sea is the great equalizer: Whether the survivors arrive from a ditched aircraft or from an abandoned ship, once in the water, their survival issues are universal. 664 pages.

This issue is not available for download, but it can be purchased in hard copy or CD-ROM by mail, fax, or telephone. This publication can be also be purchased online using our secure server and your credit card in hard copy for US$160.00 plus shipping and handling for members and US$240.00 plus shipping and handling for nonmembers; and on CD-ROM for US$29.00 plus shipping and handling for members and US$69.00 plus shipping and handling for nonmembers.

July–August 2003

Loss of Control: Returning From Beyond the Envelope 48 pages. [PDF 506K]

Two articles, “Airplane Upset Recovery Training: A Line Pilot’s Perspective” and “New Airline Pilots May Not Receive Sufficient Training to Cope With Airplane Upsets,” examine upset-recovery training for pilots.

May–June 2003

Consensus Emerges From International Focus on Crew Alertness in Ultra-long-range Operations 64 pages. [PDF 694K]

After two years of workshop discussions and follow-up meetings, recommendations have been issued for planning and approving flight-sector lengths greater than 16 hours between specific city pairs. Specialists at these meetings forged operational guidelines that will help the airline industry to expand the operational envelope while maintaining safety.

March–April 2003

The Human Factors Implications for Flight Safety of Recent Developments in the Airline Industry 92 pages. [PDF 685K]

To ensure wider distribution in the interest of aviation safety, this report has been adapted from The Human Factors Implications for Flight Safety of Recent Developments in the Airline Industry. The report was prepared for the Joint Aviation Authorities by Icon Consulting, Human Reliability Associates and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Information and Research. Some editorial changes were made by FSF staff for clarity and for style.

February 2003

Pilot Selection Systems Help Predict Performance and Foundation Launches Project to Prevent Ground Accidents 32 pages. [PDF 413K]

Research shows that structured selection systems can identify applicants who possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and personality traits most valued by a particular aircraft operator and who will succeed as pilots in that operator’s line operations. Also ...

The FSF Ground Accident Prevention (GAP) project was initiated to prevent accidents and incidents that occur on airport aprons and adjacent taxiways, and while moving aircraft in hangars. The first phase of the project will include collecting and analyzing data, which will serve as the basis for developing recommendations and tools for preventing ground accidents.

January 2003

Most Fatal U.S. Commercial Helicopter Accidents Occur in Instrument Meteorological Conditions 72 pages. [PDF 500K]

A study of 147 accidents from 1991 through 2000 involving helicopter operations conducted under U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 135 found that 58 percent of the fatal accidents occurred in instrument meteorological conditions. Human error was the primary causal factor in 66 percent of the accidents. Many human-error accidents occurred during the en route phase of flight and involved inadequate in-flight planning and decision making or inadequate evaluation of weather information.