Aviation Security

 

    Electronics have become so popular that it is hard to find anyone who doesn’t own at least one laptop, tablet, or gaming device. You can notice how prevalent electronics have become whenever you are at an airport and see almost everyone on some form of electronic device. Terrorists have noticed also and are using this information to smuggle improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into airports by concealing them in electronic devices. Before, they were trying to smuggle IEDs in their shoes or on their body until the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) started to require passengers to remove their shoes and to pass through a full-body scanner. Since this was no longer an option to terrorists, they looked towards electronics which had the potential to pass through security without being detected. These IEDs would then be on the person while boarding the plane, thus causing disastrous outcomes.

    TSA became aware of the situation and implemented new mitigation strategies for their checkpoint layer of security. These strategies included implementing testing teams to figure out areas of weakness in detection. Their solution was to require enhanced screening at certain overseas airports where terrorists were more likely to get on a flight that was bound for the United States, while also increasing the amount of random checks for passengers and carry-on baggage (Transportation, n.d.). In addition to the increased overseas checks, TSA adopted new procedures in the United States for carry-on baggage. In 2017, passengers were required to place all electronics that are larger than a cellphone in a separate bin for x-ray screenings (Transportation, n.d.). The increased strategies for the checkpoint layer of security can minimize IEDs slipping through, since this is the last line of defense inside of an airport before people are able to board a plane.

    The issue with TSA’s mitigation strategies for IEDs hidden in electronics though, is that it only centers around the checkpoint layer of security. IEDs shouldn’t be found while going through the checkpoint after already entering the airport, and so there should be a larger focus on the canine level of security outside the airport entrance and inside the airport lobby. Canines can detect the explosives and allow for an increase in security before even getting to the checkpoint. The odds of finding IEDs are increased and the risk of one slipping past is minimized at the checkpoint.  

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References

Transportation Security Administration. (2017). Inside Look: TSA Layers of Security.               Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2017/08/01/inside-look-tsa-            layers-security.

Transportation Security Administration. (n.d.). Transportation Security Timeline. Retrieved      July 29, 2022, from https://www.tsa.gov/timeline.

 

The Oil System

 

The oil system in an aircraft is integral to keeping the engine running since it lubricates the engine’s many moving parts, removes contaminants, prevents corrosion, cools the engine and cylinders, and creates a seal between the pistons and cylinder walls (PHAK, 2016). To give a simple and basic explanation of the oil system, it works by having the oil flow through the strainer screen in the oil sump. The strainer screen filters out any particles in the oil that could flow through the system and cause damage. The oil then passes through a pump before going to either the oil cooler or oil filter. If it is hot and needs to be cooled down, this is when it goes to the oil cooler. On the other hand, if the oil is cool enough, it goes to the oil filter where the lingering contaminates get filtered out that the strainer screen did not get before. After this process, the oil goes to the engine to cool, clean, and lubricate (Aircraft Systems, 2016). The oil system is monitored by the oil temperature gauge and the oil pressure gauge. The oil pressure gauge shows the pilot the pressure of the oil being supplied to the engine, while the oil temperature gauge shows the temperature of the oil. If the oil temperature gauge is high, this may indicate an issue with the oil system such as a blocked oil cooler. 

One of the most important parts to this system is the oil cooler. If it were to malfunction, the engine would no longer be cooled internally by the oil. This could lead to engine damage such as the scoring of the engine’s cylinder walls, warping the valves, and damage to the pistons and rings, leading to a loss of engine power and detonation (PHAK, 2016). Another issue with the loss of the oil cooler is that as oil heats up it becomes less viscous, thus causing the bearings to have more friction. It is important that the pilot monitors the temperature gauge to see if there is any excess oil heat and to replace the oil cooler when necessary since it can become less efficient over time due to carbon built up.

By monitoring the oil system gauges and doing the proper preventative and scheduled maintenance, such as oil changes and cleaning of the strainer screen, the deterioration of the oil system can be decreased and will be able to keep the engine’s performance optimal.  

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 References

Aircraft Systems - 06 - Oil System. (2016, September 9). YouTube. Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWDCXFwPLIs&list=PLzW-Ub1FWeZzdOHQhNK0U0Ci1a-VRH8IO&index=38

Federal Aviation Administration. (2016). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK). Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/.

The Effects of Humidity on Aircraft Performance

 

One of the environmental factors that affects aircraft performance, and that pilots must take into account while flying, is humidity. Due to water vapor being lighter than air, and therefore moist air is lighter than dry air, the air becomes less dense when it has more water in it (PHAK 11-5). Aircraft performs to the best of its ability in dense air because the engine takes in more air and there is a greater force on the airfoils, therefore, less dense air is not a favorable condition for flying (PHAK 11-2). Since humidity is a cause for less dense air, it can cause longer takeoffs, loss of efficiency, loss of speed, and being able to fly longer distances.

We cannot change the environment, but we can minimize the impact that humidity has on aircraft performance. One way to do this is by including humidity in the density altitude calculations. The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge states that when determining aircraft performance and density altitude, humidity is not an essential factor and there is no chart for computing its effects on the density altitude (PHAK 11-5). By adding humidity to your density altitude calculations, you get a more accurate answer which in turn can give the pilot the proper altitude of where he/she needs to fly, thus allowing the aircraft to maintain the peak fuel efficiency and engine performance.

Unless we somehow figure out how to control Mother Nature, or just not fly on a humid day, getting a proper density altitude by factoring in humidity will maximize the performance of aircraft.

 

References

Federal Aviation Administration. (2016, August 24). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/.

Ethics in Aviation

 

Ethics is a very important aspect in the aviation industry.  It is knowing what the right thing to do is and acting upon that knowledge, even when no one is looking. It seems pretty straightforward, but it can sometimes be difficult to put into practice during an actual situation where ethics are put into play. For example, you are doing maintenance on the aircraft and you break a tool. A little piece of the tool ricochets across the floor and now you’re spending an hour looking around for it. You can’t find it but you know that you must for total tool accountability and to make sure it didn’t somehow end up in the aircraft. No one saw this situation happen and your shift ended a while ago. You are also quite certain that it didn’t land in the aircraft somewhere. Do you continue looking for it?

Situations like this happen every day in the aviation industry and it’s imperative that everyone who is involved in this industry have good ethics. A wrong decision can have dire consequences that can cost lives. I see questionable ethical decisions that airmen make almost on a weekly basis, and they are afraid of admitting any wrongdoing. “This group of professionals will not altruistically and voluntarily step forward and report safety violations that may impugn their professional competence and threaten their livelihood.” (Stanford & Homan, 1999). A lot of people are afraid of reprisals, but it is important to understand that doing things in the ethically correct manner is critical to safety. By having this important professional attribute, you set an example to everyone else you work with, and it becomes the norm to do what is ethical.

 

References

Stanford, L., & Homan, W. (1999). A Model of “Applied Ethics” in Aviation Safety: The Aviation Safety Reporting System. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.15394/JAAER.1999.1235