Safety Is No Accident - from V Bombers to Concorde

Safety Is No Accident - from V Bombers to Concorde PDF

Author: John R. W. Smith

Publisher: Air World

Published: 2020-09-19

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9781526769442

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Flying, as everyone knows, is generally regarded as the safest means of transportation. Yet for that to be the case an enormous amount of testing is undertaken. Central to this, of course, are the test pilots, who fly the aircraft, but it is the men behind the scenes who deal with the technical aspects of the aircraft - the flight test observers and engineers.Numerous books have been written by Test Pilots, but few, if any, from the perspective of an Aeronautical Engineer working as Flight Test Observer/Engineer in partnership with the Test Pilot. This book is an account of the author's flight-testing career, from the 1960s to early 1980s, at Avro and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).During the author's time at Avro, he flew on the development and certification test flights of the Avro 748, 748MF, Shackletons, Nimrod and Handley-Page Victor tanker. In the CAA, his role turned to regulation, making flight test assessments of manufacturer's prototypes and production aircraft, to check compliance with the CAA's flight safety requirements. The scope ranged from single-engine light aircraft to large civil transport aircraft. It involved frequent visits to foreign manufacturers and also included his participation in the CAA's Concorde certification flight test programme.Flight testing involves risk. Advancements in the understanding of aerodynamics and an increasingly professional approach to risk management improved safety, but it would never be risk-free. Several of the author's close friends and colleagues died in flight test accidents during this period of rapid aeronautical development; all on civil aircraft types. It is because of such people that the millions of flights undertaken each year are trouble-free.

Safety is No Accident—From 'V' Bombers to Concorde

Safety is No Accident—From 'V' Bombers to Concorde PDF

Author: John R. W. Smith

Publisher: Air World

Published: 2020-07-19

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 152676945X

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A behind-the-scenes look at the aeronautical engineers who keep the skies safe. Many are surprised to learn that flying is, statistically, the safest means of transportation. Even less well known is the crucial role that flight test observers and engineers play in ensuring that level of safety. In this book, one of them recounts his experience as an aeronautical engineer working in partnership with test pilots, painting a vivid portrait of his flight-testing career from the 1960s to early 1980s at Avro and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). During the author’s time at Avro, he flew on the development and certification test flights of the Avro 748, 748MF, Shackletons, Nimrod, and Handley-Page Victor tanker. In the CAA, his role turned to regulation, making flight test assessments of manufacturer’s prototypes and production aircraft, to check compliance with the CAA’s flight safety requirements. The scope ranged from single-engine light aircraft to large civil transport aircraft. It involved frequent visits to foreign manufacturers and also included his participation in the CAA’s Concorde certification flight test program. Advancements in the understanding of aerodynamics and an increasingly professional approach to risk management improved safety, but flight testing still involves risk, and several of the author’s close friends and colleagues died in flight test accidents during this period. It is because of the courage and expertise of such people that millions of flights now touch down safely each year.

Safety is No Accident - From 'V' Bombers to Concorde

Safety is No Accident - From 'V' Bombers to Concorde PDF

Author: John R W Smith

Publisher: Air World

Published: 2020-07-19

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1526769476

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Flying, as everyone knows, is generally regarded as the safest means of transportation. Yet for that to be the case an enormous amount of testing is undertaken. Central to this, of course, are the test pilots, who fly the aircraft, but it is the men behind the scenes who deal with the technical aspects of the aircraft – the flight test observers and engineers. Numerous books have been written by Test Pilots, but few, if any, from the perspective of an Aeronautical Engineer working as Flight Test Observer/Engineer in partnership with the Test Pilot. This book is an account of the author’s flight-testing career, from the 1960s to early 1980s, at Avro and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). During the author’s time at Avro, he flew on the development and certification test flights of the Avro 748, 748MF, Shackletons, Nimrod and Handley-Page Victor tanker. In the CAA, his role turned to regulation, making flight test assessments of manufacturer’s prototypes and production aircraft, to check compliance with the CAA’s flight safety requirements. The scope ranged from single-engine light aircraft to large civil transport aircraft. It involved frequent visits to foreign manufacturers and also included his participation in the CAA’s Concorde certification flight test programme. Flight testing involves risk. Advancements in the understanding of aerodynamics and an increasingly professional approach to risk management improved safety, but it would never be risk-free. Several of the author’s close friends and colleagues died in flight test accidents during this period of rapid aeronautical development; all on civil aircraft types. It is because of such people that the millions of flights undertaken each year are trouble-free.

Safety Was No Accident

Safety Was No Accident PDF

Author: James Fuller

Publisher: Trafford Publishing

Published: 2012-11

Total Pages: 459

ISBN-13: 1466968923

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This book will appeal to aviation engineers, air traffic controllers and all pilots who have taken a U.K. commercial pilots license. It explains how the U.K. Civil Aviation Flying Unit (CAFU) was formed during WWII and the work for which it was intended. How Flight Inspection methods were evolved to meet increasing challenges of improving navigational and landing aids and to ensure suitable flying standards were set for the issue of newly created licence requirements. It details the aircraft provided, their role; the seemingly ever changing Ministries from MCA to the CAA . It plots the beginning and the end of CAFU, asking how and why this occurred; tracks the changes of Ministries, policies, airfields, aircraft, inadequate housing, staff levels and pay, of aircrew and engineers who gave themselves to the safety of aviation, ensuring that to-days commercial aircraft are able to land in zero visibility conditions safely. It is a post-war history of the United Kingdoms effort, to be at the forefront of international aviation safety that is enjoyed by all who fly today. Whether you are a passenger or pilot, CAFU was a small part of this process and one to be proud of.

Last Days of the Concorde

Last Days of the Concorde PDF

Author: Samme Chittum

Publisher: Smithsonian Institution

Published: 2018-09-25

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1588346315

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The gripping true tale of a devastating plane crash, the investigation into its causes, and the race to prevent similar disasters in the future. On July 25, 2000, a Concorde, the world's fastest passenger plane, was taking off from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris when it suddenly burst into flames. An airliner capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound, the Concorde had completed 25 years of successful flights, whisking wealthy passengers--from diplomats to rock stars to corporate titans--between continents on brief and glamorous flights. Yet on this fateful day, the chartered Concorde jet, en route to America, crashed and killed all 109 passengers and crew onboard and four people on the ground. Urgent questions immediately arose as investigators scrambled to discover what had gone wrong. What caused the fire? Could it have been prevented? And, most urgently, was the Concorde safe to fly? Last Days of the Concorde addresses these issues and many more, offering a fascinating insider's look at the dramatic disaster, the hunt for clues, and the systemic overhauls that followed the crash.

Safety Is No Accident

Safety Is No Accident PDF

Author: Royal Aeronautical Society

Publisher:

Published: 2001-05-31

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9781857681420

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To maintain or improve our present safety levels, the aircraft fatality rate must be made to decline as fast or faster than the worldwide average growth rate of civil aircraft. The accidents attributed to, or containing an element of, human factor error has actually increased over the last ten years. This conference presents and discusses these and many similar issues with experts in their fields.

Safety in the Skies

Safety in the Skies PDF

Author: Cynthia C. Lebow

Publisher: RAND Corporation

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 96

ISBN-13:

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) bears a significant share of the responsibility for ensuring the safety of domestic and international air travel. The NTSB relies on teamwork to resolve accidents; the parties that participate in an investigation may include manufacturers and operatiors, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration. This arrangement works well under most circumstances, despite inherent conflicts of interest may jeopardize, or be perceived to jeopardize, the intergity of the NTSB investigation. The NTSB's ability to lead investigations and to form expert teams is aldo seriously threatened by a lack of training, equipment, and facilities; by poor control of information; and inadequate aids to project management.

Airline Safety Is Not by Accident... . (Well Maybe Sort Of, I'll Explain), a Memoir

Airline Safety Is Not by Accident... . (Well Maybe Sort Of, I'll Explain), a Memoir PDF

Author: John Allen

Publisher:

Published: 2021-10-18

Total Pages: 349

ISBN-13:

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Have you noticed how you walk on to your airline flight and don't give your safety any real thought? There are about 30% of the flying public out there who are nervous fliers, if not outright fearful fliers. But, most of the flying public give no more concern for their safety as they do getting a safe drink of water from their tap or turn on a switch for electricity to illuminate their way. However, at one time none of these endeavors were very safe. In this book, I go into intimate detail as to how airline travel has become so safe. And no, it wasn't all in response to accidents. If it were, there would be aircraft crashing on a monthly, if not weekly basis. No, there has been over three decades of hard, proactive work by the government (namely the FAA), industry, labor and education to develop and implement many philosophies, programs, policies and procedures that have "raised the safety bar" as the flying public expect. This safety journey started with the government and industry collaborating and providing key documents that set the framework for the "new era" of safety we enjoy today. The list is long but I delve into the origins of programs such as: AQP, ASAP, ASIAS, CAST, CRM, FOQA, FRMS, IEP, IOSA, LOFT, LOSA, NASIP, QMS, RNP, SAS, SEAP, SMS, SRB, TEM, UAS and VDRP. Don't worry, I included a Glossary and put it up front of the book to help you. This book is really a memoire because I found my 40+ year aviation carrer (whether by destiny or luck I don't know) gave me a front row seat in observing and even participating in the development and approval of the many programs I mentioned above. I also had the opportunity to implement an SMS at a major airline (so I could practice what I preached) and I take you step-by-step through that process. Since this is a memoire, written as my professional aviation carreer sunsetted, during the pandemic, I capture my thoughts on a vast range of subjects pertaining to aviation. I talk through my "Fini flight" as a tribute to the many airline pilots who were unable to have a fini flight of their own during the pandemic. I also wanted to provide to folks intrested in a carreer in aviation safety, some things that may help them (eg. leadership, ideas for success and the like). If you are involved in an aviation endeavor, space endeavor, a student of safety here in the United States or anywhere abroad, this book is for you. Enjoy!

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