Aviation Security Threats: Air Rage

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, air rage is defined as the violent behavior in flight from an aircraft passenger. As of September 28, 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received 4,498 unruly passenger reports which is a significant increase from previous years. Expanding on the severity of this situation, from 2015 to 2020 the FAA initiated 786 air rage investigations. On this year alone, 2021, the FAA has initiated 808 air rage investigations. The following chart shows the number of reports so far this year in comparison to last year’s weekly rate:  

(Source: https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/)

Air rage is a significant threat to aviation because unruly passengers are just not complying with federal regulations, but they are getting physical with cabin crews. For example, on May 23^rd, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant was punched in the face by an unruly passenger causing her to lose two teeth and other injuries to her face. To cope with the rising amount of air rage cases, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has restarted a self-defense course for airline crews that was previously suspended during the pandemic. This course prepares airline crews to defend themselves against violent passengers. Also, the TSA is doubling fines for those passengers that refuse to comply with federal regulations and can add unruly passengers to No-Fly lists. No-Fly lists are enforced nationwide by the TSA through its Secure Flight program. This measure prevents unruly passengers that been put in No-Fly lists to board any commercial aircraft. Currently, there are proposals to include airline No-Fly lists to TSA’s No Fly lists. 

References:

Cambridge Dictionary.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/air-rage

DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support/travel-redress-program

FAA. (2021). Unruly Passengers.

https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/

USA Today News.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2021/09/03/woman-who-punched-southwest-flight-attendant-charged-assault/5711554001/

 

Aircraft Systems and Flight: Negative Torque System in Constant Speed Propellers

A constant speed propeller is a propeller that rotates at a constant rotational speed (RPM) regardless of the flight condition. Whether the aircraft is flying at slow or fast speeds, the propeller spins at the same RPM. Speed adjustments are achieved by changing the propeller’s blade angle or pitch. Propeller blades are just like airfoils and produce lift as the blades rotate through the air. This, in consequence, produces the aircraft to move forward or thrust. Engines with constant speed propellers offer a variety of advantages over fixed pitch propeller engines. For example: they offer better performance at different flight conditions by constantly adjusting the propeller’s blade angle, the ability to change the blade angle to produce thrust reversing to stop an aircraft at landing, and the ability to feather the propeller in flight. The term feathering the propeller is known as the ability to maintain the propeller’s blade angle in a position where it does not induce excessive drag on the aircraft when an engine needs to be shutdown in flight. There are aircraft malfunctions that require an engine to be shutdown in flight, for example, loss of oil quantity. When not rotating, an unfeathered propeller presents a flat surface to the air stream and produces excessive drag. Another condition that arises when an engine is shutdown is the propeller free spinning due to the airstream passing through it. Since the propeller is not being controlled anymore, the airstream can continue to spin the propeller causing it to drive the shutdown engine. This is called negative torque and its dangerous because it causes excessive drag and can further damage a shutdown engine by driving the engine. This is where a Negative Torque System (NTS) comes in to play. When an engine is shutdown in flight, a Negative Torque System feathers the propeller by maintaining blade angle and prevents the propeller from windmilling in flight. If the Negative Torque System was to malfunction in flight during an engine shutdown, the propeller won’t be able to feather and the propeller will spin freely. These conditions can ultimately cause loss of aircraft control due to the increased drag from an unfeathered propeller and a free spinning propeller can cause a fire on an engine that was shutdown due to a low oil quantity by driving the engine again.

References:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2016). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK). Chapters 7 and 14.

How Air Pressure and Air Density Affect Aircraft Performance

Our Earth’s atmosphere is composed of many gases, mainly nitrogen and oxygen, that we call air. Air, though invisible, consists of mass which are atoms and molecules up in our atmosphere. The amount of atoms and air molecules in a given space is called air density. Gravity plays an important role in air density because it has the force to compress air atoms and molecules in a given space. This is known as air pressure. Gravitational forces are stronger closer to the earth’s surface, thus increasing air pressure and consequently increasing air density. As the chart below shows, air pressure and air density decrease as we go up in altitude.

 

So how do they affect aircraft performance? Air pressure affects aircraft instruments that are essential for safety of flight like the barometric altimeter and airspeed indicator. Lack of air pressure will produce erroneous indications from these instruments. As an aircraft goes higher in altitude air becomes less dense. At those altitudes there’s just not enough air mass to produce lift and maintain an aircraft afloat. Low air density can also affect engines because there’s not enough air for the engine to use and maintain power. It is also worth mentioning that in a low air density environment there’s a lack of oxygen. Aside from affecting aircraft performance it also affects human performance. Lack of oxygen in an aircraft can cause hypoxia which is the lack of oxygen saturation in the human body. Hypoxia will reduce human performance and if not corrected, will cause death and an aircraft disaster. 

 

Not every aircraft is designed equally. Some aircraft are designed to perform better at higher altitudes and some others are designed to perform better at lower altitudes. Knowing how air pressure and air density affects aircraft performance will ensure a safe flight.

 

 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2016). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK). Retrieved

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/13_phak_ch11.pdf

Ahrens, D. & Henson, R. (2020). Meteorology Today, An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment. Chapter 1, Section 1.3b. 

How Ethics Play An Important Role In Aviation

Trying to define what ethics are supposed to be is not a simple concrete task. Why is that? Is because ethics are how things should be or a way of life based on what society perceives is right, or in this case, what the aviation organization prescribes is the right way to do business. This can vary depending on the moral judgement set by aviation organizations. The aviation industry is heavily regulated by governmental authorities and operations are conducted under the scrutiny of set regulations and the media. Ethics are important in aviation because it is not just about compliance with the laws and regulations but also a question of corporate character and culture. An aviation organization can be in compliance with all rules and regulations but what is the overall ethical culture of the organization? Are they about making profits at the expense of quality service, safety, and their people? Or is it about providing quality service and conducting daily safe operations? If organizational ethics are not aligned with what is socially acceptable, unethical decisions or situations may arise. This can lead to unsafe practices and loss of life and assets. In conclusion, ethical decision making and behavior in aviation are critical to long term success in business. 

Ferguson, M. & Nelson, S. (2014) Aviation Safety: A Balanced Industry Approach.