Aviation safety – the theory, investigation, and categorization of flight failures, and the prevention of such failures through regulation, education, and training. It can also be applied in the context of campaigns that inform the public as to the safety of air travel.

Efforts to maintain and improve aviation safety include

• research, education, advocacy and publishing in the field of air safety.
• testing jet engines
• testing cockpit windows
• crew training
• safety procedures

Human factors and ergonomics also known as comfort design, functional design, and user-friendly systems, is a multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions from psychology, engineering, biomechanics, industrial design, physiology and anthropometry. In essence it is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body and its cognitive abilities. The two terms “human factors” and “ergonomics” are essentially synonymous.

• Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.

What’s the problem?

Bird strikes – some fascinating facts about aircraft bird strikes and re-creates the terrifying moments leading up to Air Flight 1549’s miraculous landing in the Hudson River.

• Ask – How often do bird strikes happen? How often do they strike a front window? At what altitude do bird strikes occur? Are any of these bird strikes preventable?
• Imagine – What techniques have been tried to keep birds away from airplanes? Can these be changed to be more effective?
• Design, Build – How strong is the window material currently in use? What properties can be changed to decrease the risk of bird strike damage?
• Improve – How can the effectiveness of current design be tested? How can the performance of these designs be improved? Is the recommended change cost effective? Will the change increase the safety of airline passengers?

That’s engineering

• System – a group of related things, that work with each other.

Engineering ideas

• system, testing, problem isolation, training, procedures, regulations, risk, cost effective, reliable

Do It
Challenges for you to work on…

• Find more examples of improvements in aviation safety.