Approach and Landing Safety

http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;errors at all, except they do try to monitor and
charset=utf-8">manage the significant errors in precedence order.
IntroductionSuch crews are experienced at distinguishing
Hardly many inventions can manage to changeamong consequential errors as well as benign
the way people live and also how they experienceerrors, balancing alertness and attention, workload
the world like the way inventing airplane has done.and watchfulness, computerization and hands-on
The airline industry offer air transport foradeptness.
passengers. The growth of this industry has beenA close analysis of the individual level barricade
phenomenal, and the number of airlines andproposed, indicates that adding a supplementary
aircrafts has been growing fast. However, datalevel for example in personal readiness barricade
from the industry indicate that on the negativewill improve safety. In this particular case the
side the number of accidents also have beenextra barricade means adding a extra
significant with a high number of accidentscrewmember. An important aspect to remember
reported to occur during the approach and landingregarding human being error is that the moment
phase. Interestingly, this phase comprises of lessan individual makes an error, it becomes highly
than 20% of the total time an aircraft is in the air.unlikely that the same person will seize (entrap)
This issue has thus continued to raise concernshis error; other person (crewmembers) are the
from the various stakeholders in the industry.one most likely to seize the error. Thus, adding an
To address this subject, of approach and landingextra pilot to a crew of two pilots improves
safety, the study paper will carry on, along theblocking errors that might occur in the flight deck.
following field: approach and landing accidents will(Flight Safety Digest, 1999)
have to be defined for reasons of theoreticalUse of precision approaches
clarity; causes of these accidents will beThough approach and landing accidents are caused
underscored; and the various approach to preventby many factors, precision approaches offer an
these accidents, will be discussed at length; andadditional percentage of safety. Thus, it is
lastly “a way forward” in terms of aparamount that appropriate guidance equipments
conclusion will be provided.should be provided to achieve precision
Approach and landing accidentsapproaches. Providing these equipments will ensure
The phrase approach and landing accidents is usedthat that the planes lands more acutely and
to apply to accidents which occurs during visualsafely. However, the most excellent precision
approach, or in the course of instrument approachequipment would not accomplish its complete
following the intermediate approach fix (IAF). Or invalue, unless those operating them are well and
the course of landing move, this phrase also doesfully trained and also are disciplined in the
apply to those accidents which occur when theinstallation and proper usage of the equipment.
aircrafts are circling in the air or when starting a(Flight international, 2000)
missed approach process. According to StatisticsNew technologies to provide approach and landing
carried out by Netherlands Civil Aviation Authorityaircraft guidance
illustrate that, global, an approximately 17 fatalTechnology present the best way of reducing and
accidents of Approach and Landing happenedcontrol the number of accidents being witnessed
every year between1980 and1998 in airlinein the aviation. Through technology we can give
passenger businesses as well as cargo businessesaccurate and precise information about issues
conducted via aircrafts. (Flight Safety Digest,which may hinder accurate information that may
1999)resulting in causing an accident. With new
technology being innovated every day the aviation
Causes of approach and landing accidentsindustry needs to be on the forefront of
Non-precision approachtechnology advancement and implementation in
In a study carried out by safe flying Aviationhelping with the approach and landing process.
which evaluated 132 accidents which happened inThe use of high technology such as the GPS
the course of landing approach in big airportsought to be reviewed regularly by the authorities
across the world between 1984 and 1993, it wasas well as the air carriers in order to equip the
found out that, there was a substantial variation inairfields with equipments for precision guidance
accident hazard for airplanes which flycapacity where current ground-based equipments
non-precision approaches against those flyingare too expensive or ineffective as result of
precision approach. The study revealed thatterrain and/or sitting problems. Both near future
commercial aircrafts flying non-precisionand far-future technologies for instance GPS
approaches were five times likely to cause anpromise to be solutions for the costs and terrain
accident when landing than those flying precisionproblems which are correlated with existing
approaches. (Flight Safety Digest, 1999)ground-based equipments, particularly in world
The non-precision approach do not offer theregions where terrain and economics have
vertical guidance which end at the runway as theaggravated procurement and suitable positioning
precision approach does. As such, flight crew hasof the equipments.( Johnson, 1998)
to more actively manoeuvre the airplane verticallyEncouragement of CFIT avoidance
in the course of the approach. The probability ofAirlines and authorities concerned must state a
the crew making an error is thus high in atough encouragement of Controlled flight into
non-precision approach when compared to theterrain CFIT prevention, in relation to the high
precision approach. (Flight Safety Digest, 1999)percentage of approach and landing accidents
Environmental factorswhich involves CFIT. The present programs which
It is worth noting that majority of approach andaddress the CFIT risks ought to be strongly given
landing accidents which have occurred over thesupport. The relevant authorities must take into
years did happen at night or during twilight hours.account the recommendations which are
In a previous study, done by safe flying Aviationsuggested by bodies such as CFIT Task Force in
it was found out that, 55 accidents out of 84minimizing risks and give encouragements to
accidents occurred during those periods (night andevery operator flying in the airspace to be familiar
twilight hours). However, the whether conditionswith the recommendations suggested.
seem not be a factor in causing accidentsReduction of approach and landing risks
because even in severe whether for example,differences among ICAO region.
thunderstorms, ice or wind did not appear asIn order to reduce the number of approach
aspects in many of the accidents which occurred.landing accidents, efforts need to be made to
These finding should not be surprising becausereduce the risk difference of approach landing
many accidents occurring in the course of landingamongst the international Civil Aviation
even during darkness (night) seem to entailOrganization ICAO regions. The international
precision or non-precision approaches. (Flightcommittee should provide this support. Private
Safety Digest, 1999)and government managements ought to be made
Terminal approach radarconscious of the danger factors and must be
Terminal approach radar is important in guiding theencouraged to tackle these dangers in their own
aircrafts when they are landing or taking of. Whenaspects of accountability. (AW&ST, 2000)
evaluation was done to determine the role ofSharing of information
terminal approach radar, it was revealed that theOne way of preventing or controlling the number
absence of terminal approach radar amplified theof accidents occurring during approach and landing
risk of an accident occurring during the approachphase is through sharing of information.
and landing phase. The risk was amplified to threeEncouragement should put on international sharing
times compared to when terminal approach radarof incident and accident data in order to facilitate
was in use.and address safety issues swiftly and more so
The clear protecting effect of terminal approacheffectively. Missing records or data outcomes
radar might be because of the actuality that, thefrom various factors which, include, state not
controllers might give a warning to the flight crewcomplying with the ICAO accident
supposing they stray off or get too low of theinformation-sharing prerequisites. Missing records
approach path. This also may be correlated toor data frustrates a lot of efforts put all over the
bigger levels of airport services since smallworld in attempting to identify the root causes of
airports or those with minimum movements maythese accidents. Thus, it is important for the
not be in a position to install these radars.governments around the world to share data
(Johnson, 1998)they have no matter how confidential it is with
Ways of controlling approach and landing accidentsother concerned bodies in order to reduce the
Different approaches have been suggested innumber of accidents which are occurring due to
order to reduce the number of approach andapproach and landing. (AW&ST, 2000)
landing accidents, we shall examine those whichUsing more professional pilots
are considered to be the most effective andThe expert flight crews normally will have a
successful ways.number of advantages in this phase of approach
Efficient error managementand landing. An autopilot airplane having two
The use of efficient error management standardscrewmembers that are professional can be able
is solution to reduce hazard and prevent approachto safely as well as effectively control the airplane
and landing accidents which have continued toduring this crucial phase of approach and landing.
occur over the years. In the approach and landingBecause one pilot can monitor the flight
fatal accidents mentioned previous, thereeffectively while the other pilot perform the brief,
happened because of some contributory factorsbut in case the other pilot is not proficiency
(incidents involved in the accident chain of eventsenough in any of the give task. Then they may
which resulted in the accident) which possiblyhave trouble when landing. Some critical items
might have been avoided if the errorwhich are covered on the arrival briefing include:
management practices were correctly executed.1. The airport quarter and obstacles
Human being errors are usually related with2. During instrument approach, every one of
mishap contributory factors. Whereas it would bedetails of the approach
best to stipulate error-free airline working3. Special instructions or notes for the landing field
performance, this is not practical; in any case,4. Runway being used
“to make a mistake is human” naturally,5. Expected taxi course
where individuals and technology strongly6. Numbers for arrivals
interface, mistakes are an ordinary by-product.When the pilots adhere to this, studies contacted
Being able to Understand and accept thatearlier indicate that the probability of approach and
mistakes will happen, is crucial for aviation teamlanding accidents to occur will be highly be reduced.
concerned with safety to successfully deal withHowever, if the pilots miss undertaking these
these mistakes in order to surmount thecritical steps then the worse can happen.
Approach and Landing accidents menace. This canTherefore professional pilots are important aspect
be done through technology improvement,in reducing the number of approach and landing
formulating appropriate training courses, andaccidents in the airports. (AW&ST, 2000)
carrying out missions by use of relevant and clearConclusion
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). SuchApproach and landing accidents is used to apply to
focused method is classically directed towardsaccidents which occur during visual approach, or in
making improvement in the performance activitiesthe course of instrument approach following the
of the forefront personnel-pilots, ramp crewsintermediate approach fix (IAF). Or in the course
maintenance technicians, and air traffic controllers.of landing move, this phrase also does apply to
“Error management strategies increase systemthose accidents which occur when the aircrafts
tolerance to errors and help make errors evidentare circling in the air or when starting a missed
before they cause damage” (Flight Safetyapproach process. Over the past the most of the
Digest, 1999).accidents that have been happening in the aviation
Error management need to be pictured as aindustry have been mostly occurring this phase of
multifaceted protective barricade systemapproach and landing, however, it is the shortest
whereby every level is intended to assist entrapmoment in the course of the entire flight. Among
errors and prevent damaging error end results.the reasons why these accidents occur is
More protective levels constructed into abecause of Non-precision approach and terminal
particular process, will mean the more probableapproach radar, the environmental factors have
that process will operate safely even after errorsbeen known not to contribute a lot. In order to
are brought in. Possible limitations at hand at anyaddress and control this issue, it is important to
particular moment during a manoeuvre, included intake several steps. Among them is efficient error
the approach and landing stage, should be listedmanagement, use of precision approach and also
over each one of the barricade. Of course, it mayusing professional pilots who have a lot of
not be possible to list all limitations since they willexperience, this will go along way in reducing the
change in relation to the task being performed atrates of these accidents. However we these
a particular time. (Flight Safety Digest, 1999)measures are not taken up we shall continue to
The extent of a hole in the barricade willwitness this accidents in the industry.
represent the collective outcome of the limitationsReference:
which are listed over the barricade. A barricadeAltman, H.B. and Johnson, D.A. (1996): Aircraft
with many limitations will have a bigger hole, thus,passenger safety; Passenger education and
making it extra prone an error slipping through thesurvival. Flight-log, Washington, DC: The
barricade.Association of Flight Attendants.
The moment errors happen; an effectualAW&ST, Aviation Week & Space
multifaceted system will eventually deflect or trapTechnology (2000): Commuter Airline Safety;
the error. Errors might go through one or twojournal of Aviation Week & Space
levels; however a good protecting system willTechnology, March Vol.12
ultimately entrap the error prior to it breakingJohnson, D.A. (1998): Advances in getting the
through the whole system. (Altman and Johnson,safety message to passengers, Advances in
1996)Aviation Safety Conference. PA: Society of
Experienced crewmembers as well as efficientAutomotive Engineers.
crews don't strive to stay away from making