SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AEROSPACE REPORTS

A Biweekly Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 10 - MAY 19, 2006

03 AIR TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY
Includes passenger and cargo air transport operations; airport ground operations; flight safety and hazards; and aircraft accidents.

Systems and hardware specific to ground operations of aircraft and to airport construction are covered in 09 Research and Support Facilities (Air).

Air traffic control is covered in 04 Aircraft Communications and Navigation.

For related information see also 16 Space Transportation and Safety and 85 Technology Utilization and Surface Transportation.

20060012186 Army Research Lab., Hampton, VA, USA

Signal to Noise Studies on Thermographic Data with Fabricated Defects for Defense Structures

Zalameda, Joseph N.; Rajic, Nik; Genest, Marc; [2006]; 9 pp.; In English; Thermosense XXVIII, 17-21 Apr. 2006, Orland, FL, USA; Original contains color and black and white illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): 23-762-60-61; Copyright; Avail.: CASI: There is a growing international interest in thermal inspection systems for asset life assessment and management of defense platforms. The efficacy of flash thermography is generally enhanced by applying image processing algorithms to the observations of raw temperature. Improving the defect signal to noise ratio (SNR) is of primary interest to reduce false calls and allow for easier interpretation of a thermal inspection image. Several factors affecting defect SNR were studied such as data compression and reconstruction using principal component analysis and time window processing. Author

Signal to Noise Ratios; Principal Components Analysis; Image Processing; Thermography; Nondestructive Tests; Defects

20060012207 National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC USA

Risk Factors Associated with Weather-Related General Aviation Accidents (Safety Study)

Sep. 07, 2005; 82 pp.; In English Report No.(s): PB2005-917004; NTSB/SS-05/01; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A05, Hardcopy

The goal of this National Transportation Safety Board study was to better understand the risk factors associated with accidents that occur in weather conditions characterized by IMC or poor visibility (.weather-related accidents.). Safety Board air safety investigators collected data from 72 general aviation accidents that occurred between August 2003 and April 2004. When accidents occurred, study managers also contacted pilots of flights that were operating in the vicinity at the time of those accidents for information about their flight activity. A total of 135 nonaccident flights were included in the study. All nonaccident pilots voluntarily consented to interviews and provided information about their flights, their aircraft, and details about their training, experience, and demographics. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration provided information about pilots' practical and written test results and their previous accident/incident involvement. Statistical analyses were used to determine the relationships between study variables and accident/nonaccident status and to identify variables that could be linked to an increased risk of weather-related general aviation accident involvement. The analysis revealed several pilot- and flight-related factors associated with increased risk of accident involvement. The safety issues discussed in this report include: (1) pilot age and training-related differences, (2) pilot testing, accident, and incident history, and (3) pilot weather briefing sources and methods. Safety recommendations concerning these issues were made to the Federal Aviation Administration. NTIS

Aircraft Accidents; General Aviation Aircraft; Risk; Safety; Transportation

20060012224 National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC USA

National Transportation Safety Board Highway Special Investigation Report: Emergency Medical Services Operations

Jan. 25, 2006; 88 pp.; In English Report No.(s): PB2006-917001; NTSB/SIR-06/01; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A05, Hardcopy

The report discusses safety issues identified during the Safety Board's special investigation of 55 emergency medical services (EMS) aircraft accidents that occurred in the USA between January 2002 and January 2005. Safety issues discussed in this report focus on less stringent requirements for EMS operations conducted without patients on board, a lack of aviation flight risk evaluation programs for EMS operations, a lack of consistent, comprehensive flight dispatch procedures for EMS operations, and no requirements to use technologies such as terrain awareness and warning systems to enhance EMS flight safety. NTIS

Accident Investigation; Emergencies; Highways; Medical Services; Safety Management; Transportation

20060012301 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA

Crew and Display Concepts Evaluation for Synthetic / Enhanced Vision Systems

Bailey, Randall E.; Kramer, Lynda J.; Prinzel, Lawrence J., III; [2006]; 18 pp.; In English; SPIE Defence and Security Symposium 2006, 17-21 Apr. 2006, Orlando, FL, USA; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): WBS 866-02-07-07 Report No.(s): SPIE Paper 6226-25; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy

NASA s Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) project is developing technologies with practical applications that strive to eliminate low-visibility conditions as a causal factor to civil aircraft accidents and replicate the operational benefits of clear day flight operations, regardless of the actual outside visibility condition. Enhanced Vision System (EVS) technologies are analogous and complementary in many respects to SVS, with the principle difference being that EVS is an imaging sensor presentation, as opposed to a database-derived image. The use of EVS in civil aircraft is projected to increase rapidly as the Federal Aviation Administration recently changed the aircraft operating rules under Part 91, revising the flight visibility requirements for conducting operations to civil airports. Operators conducting straight-in instrument approach procedures may now operate below the published approach minimums when using an approved EVS that shows the required visual references on the pilot s Head-Up Display. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the complementary use of SVS and EVS technologies, specifically focusing on new techniques for integration and/or fusion of synthetic and enhanced vision technologies and crew resource management while operating under the newly adopted FAA rules which provide operating credit for EVS. Overall, the experimental data showed that significant improvements in SA without concomitant increases in workload and display clutter could be provided by the integration and/or fusion of synthetic and enhanced vision technologies for the pilot-flying and the pilot-not-flying. Author

Enhanced Vision; Head-Up Displays; Visibility; Instrument Approach; Display Devices; Flight Operations; Civil Aviation

20060013016 Civil Aeromedical Inst., Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Reexamination of Color Vision Standards, Part 2, A Computational Method to Assess the Effect of Color Deficiencies in Using ATC Displays

Xing, Jing; Schroeder, David J.; March 2006; 18 pp.; In English Contract(s)/Grant(s): AM-HRRD522 Report No.(s): DOT/FAA/AM-06/6; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy

The previous study showed that many colors were used in air traffic control displays.We also found that colors were used mainly for three purposes: capturing controllers immediate attention, identifying targets, and segmenting information. This report is a continuing effort to reexamine the FAA s color vision standards, focused on understanding how individuals with color vision deficiencies use color-coded information. We first reviewed and synthesized the literature about the effectiveness of color relative to achromatic visual cues. Next, we developed several algorithms to assess the effects of color for individuals with color vision deficiencies. Using a computational algorithm that simulates how color deficient individuals perceive color, we were able to calculate the effectiveness of color in task performance. By considering together the effectiveness of redundant visual cues and the perception of those with color vision deficiencies, we provide a method to assess the potential effects of color deficiencies in using color displays. Author

Display Devices; Color Coding; Color Vision; Air Traffic Control; Visual Stimuli; Human Performance; Algorithms

20060013126 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA

Synthetic Vision Enhanced Surface Operations and Flight Procedures Rehearsal Tool

Arthur, Jarvis J., III; Prinzel, Lawrence J., III; Williams, Steven P.; Kramer, Lynda J.; [2006]; 20 pp.; In English; SPIE Defense and Security Symposium 2006, 17-21 Apr. 2006, Orlando, FL, USA; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): 866.02.07.07 Report No.(s): SPIE-6226-18; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy

Limited visibility has been cited as predominant causal factor for both Controlled-Flight-Into-Terrain (CFIT) and runway incursion accidents. NASA is conducting research and development of Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) technologies which may potentially mitigate low visibility conditions as a causal factor to these accidents while replicating the operational benefits of clear day flight operations, regardless of the actual outside visibility condition. Two experimental evaluation studies were performed to determine the efficacy of two concepts: 1) head-worn display application of SVS technology to enhance transport aircraft surface operations, and 2) three-dimensional SVS electronic flight bag display concept for flight plan preview, mission rehearsal and controller-pilot data link communications interface of flight procedures. In the surface operation study, pilots evaluated two display devices and four display modes during taxi under unlimited and CAT II visibility conditions. In the mission rehearsal study, pilots flew approaches and departures in an operationally-challenged airport environment, including CFIT scenarios. Performance using the SVS concepts was compared to traditional baseline displays with paper charts only or EFB information. In general, the studies evince the significant situation awareness and enhanced operational capabilities afforded from these advanced SVS display concepts. The experimental results and conclusions from these studies are discussed along with future directions. Author

Enhanced Vision; Flight Control; Flight Operations; Head-Up Displays; Automation

Source: NASA