Francis Lasalo Ngonga1 THE VARIOUS HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH AVIATION Definitions Hazard – Condition, object or activity with the potential of causing injuries

Francis Lasalo Ngonga 1

THE VARIOUS HAZARDS THE VARIOUS HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH ASSOCIATED WITH AVIATIONAVIATIONDefinitionsHazard – Condition, object or activity with Hazard – Condition, object or activity with

the potential of causing injuries to the potential of causing injuries to personnel, damage to equipment or personnel, damage to equipment or structures, loss of material, or reduction structures, loss of material, or reduction of ability to perform a prescribed of ability to perform a prescribed function.function.

Consequence of a hazard – Potential Consequence of a hazard – Potential outcome(s) of the hazard.outcome(s) of the hazard.


Cont. Definitions

For example - A wind of 15 knots blowingFor example - A wind of 15 knots blowingdirectly across the runway is a hazard. Thedirectly across the runway is a hazard. Thepotential that a pilot may not be able to potential that a pilot may not be able to

controlcontrolthe aircraft during takeoff or landing is one the aircraft during takeoff or landing is one

of of the consequences of the hazard.the consequences of the hazard.

Types of hazardsTypes of hazards ICAO defines them as natural, technical andICAO defines them as natural, technical andeconomic.economic.

Typical examples:Typical examples:Natural - Severe weather or climatic events Natural - Severe weather or climatic events e.g. hurricanes, major winter storms, e.g. hurricanes, major winter storms, drought, tornadoes, thunderstormsdrought, tornadoes, thunderstormslighting, and wind shear;lighting, and wind shear;


Cont. of types of hazards

Adverse weather conditions e.g. Icing,Adverse weather conditions e.g. Icing,freezing precipitation, heavy rain, snow,freezing precipitation, heavy rain, snow,winds, and restrictions to visibility;winds, and restrictions to visibility;

Geophysical events e.g. earthquakes, Geophysical events e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, floods and landslides. volcanoes, tsunamis, floods and landslides. Geographical conditions e.g. adverse terrainGeographical conditions e.g. adverse terrainor large bodies of water. or large bodies of water.

Environmental events e.g. wildfires, wildlife Environmental events e.g. wildfires, wildlife activity, and insect or pest infestation.activity, and insect or pest infestation.Public health events e.g. epidemics of Public health events e.g. epidemics of influenza or other diseases. influenza or other diseases.


Cont. of types of hazards

Technical - Deficiencies regarding:Technical - Deficiencies regarding: E.g.: aircraft and aircraft components, E.g.: aircraft and aircraft components,

systems, subsystems and related systems, subsystems and related equipment.equipment.

E.g.: an organization’s facilities, tools, E.g.: an organization’s facilities, tools, and related equipment.and related equipment.

E.g.: facilities, systems, sub-systems E.g.: facilities, systems, sub-systems and related equipment that are external and related equipment that are external to the organization.to the organization.

Economic - Major trends related to Economic - Major trends related to growth,growth,

recession, cost of material or equipment, recession, cost of material or equipment, etc.etc.


HazardHazard identification identificationIn order to identify hazards, consider:In order to identify hazards, consider:

Design factors, including equipment and Design factors, including equipment and task design.task design.

Procedures and operating practices, Procedures and operating practices, including documentation and checklists.including documentation and checklists.

Communications, including means, Communications, including means, terminology and language.terminology and language.

Organizational factors, such as company Organizational factors, such as company policies for recruitment, training, policies for recruitment, training, remuneration and allocation of resources.remuneration and allocation of resources.

Work environment factors, such as ambient Work environment factors, such as ambient noise and vibration, temperature, lighting noise and vibration, temperature, lighting and protective equipment and clothingand protective equipment and clothing.


Cont. Hazard identification

Regulatory factors, including the Regulatory factors, including the applicability and enforceability of applicability and enforceability of regulations; certification of equipment, regulations; certification of equipment, personnel and procedures; and the personnel and procedures; and the adequacy of oversight.adequacy of oversight.

Defences including detection and Defences including detection and warning systems, and the extent to warning systems, and the extent to which the equipment is resilient against which the equipment is resilient against errors and failures. errors and failures.

Human performance, including medical Human performance, including medical conditions and physical limitations.conditions and physical limitations.



InternalInternal• Flight Data AnalysisFlight Data Analysis• Company voluntary reporting systemCompany voluntary reporting system• Audits and surveysAudits and surveys

ExternalExternal• Accident reportsAccident reports• State mandatory occurrence systemState mandatory occurrence system

As a reminderAs a reminder• PredictivePredictive• ProactiveProactive• ReactiveReactive



By whom?By whom?

• By anybody By anybody

• By designated personnelBy designated personnel

How?How?

• Through formal processesThrough formal processes

• Depends on the organizationDepends on the organization

When?When?

• AnytimeAnytime

• Under specific conditionsUnder specific conditions



Specific conditions - Unexplained Specific conditions - Unexplained increase in safety-related events or increase in safety-related events or infractions, major operational changes infractions, major operational changes are foreseen, periods of significant are foreseen, periods of significant organizational changeorganizational change


HazardHazard analysis analysis ABCABC of hazard analysis of hazard analysis

AA – State the generic hazard (hazard – State the generic hazard (hazard statement)statement)

– Airport constructionAirport constructionBB – Identify specific components of the – Identify specific components of the

hazardhazard– Construction equipmentConstruction equipment– Closed taxiways, etcClosed taxiways, etc

CC – Naturally leading to specific – Naturally leading to specific consequence(s)consequence(s)

– Aircraft colliding with construction Aircraft colliding with construction equipment equipment

– Aircraft taking wrong taxiway, etcAircraft taking wrong taxiway, etc


Cont. Hazard analysis

Efficient and safe operations or provision Efficient and safe operations or provision of service require a constant balance of service require a constant balance between production goals...between production goals...

• maintaining regular aerodrome maintaining regular aerodrome operations during a runway construction operations during a runway construction projectproject

...and safety goals...and safety goals

• maintaining existing margins of safety maintaining existing margins of safety in aerodrome operations during runway in aerodrome operations during runway construction projectconstruction project

Aviation workplaces may contain hazards Aviation workplaces may contain hazards which may not be cost-effective to address which may not be cost-effective to address even when operations must continue even when operations must continue


Cont. Hazard analysis

Appropriate documentation Appropriate documentation management is important as:management is important as:

• It is a formal procedure to translate It is a formal procedure to translate operational safety data into hazard-operational safety data into hazard-related information. related information.

• It becomes the “safety library” of an It becomes the “safety library” of an organization.organization.

Tracking and analysis of hazards is Tracking and analysis of hazards is facilitated by standardizing: Definitions, facilitated by standardizing: Definitions, understanding, validation, reporting, understanding, validation, reporting, measurement, managementmeasurement, management


Documentation of hazardsDocumentation of hazards

Reactive method•ASR•MOR•Incident reports•Accident reports

Proactive method•ASR•Surveys•Audits

Predictive method•FDA•Direct observation systems

Method Identification Management Documentation Information

Inform person(s)

responsible for implementing

strategies

Trend analysis

Haz

ards

Haz

ards

Haz

ards

Haz

ards

FeedbackFeedback

Develop control and mitigation strategies

Assignresponsibilitie

s

Implement strategies

Safety bulletins

Report distribution

Seminars and workshops

Assess the consequences and prioritize

the risks

Safety managementinformation

Re-evaluate strategies

and processes


THE VARIOUS HAZARDS THE VARIOUS HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH ASSOCIATED WITH

AVIATIONAVIATION 1)1)Bird strikes (wild life)Bird strikes (wild life)

2)2)ThunderstormsThunderstorms

3)3)Storms & high windsStorms & high winds

4)4)Wake turbulencesWake turbulences

5)5)Airborne volcanic ashAirborne volcanic ash

6)6)Radio active materialsRadio active materials


Bird strikesBird strikes

1)1) Risk is higher when flying in Risk is higher when flying in bird sanctuaries – i.e. bird bird sanctuaries – i.e. bird inhabited areasinhabited areas

2)2) Not easy to avoid bird Not easy to avoid bird strikes at the current high strikes at the current high a/c speeds a/c speeds

3)3) Most bird strikes are Most bird strikes are between 50 & 800 ft. AGLbetween 50 & 800 ft. AGL


Effects /consequences of bird Effects /consequences of bird strikesstrikes

1)1)Wind screen damages due to Wind screen damages due to high impactshigh impacts

2)2)Turbine engine ingestionsTurbine engine ingestions

3)3)Tearing open skinsTearing open skins

4)4)Rupturing hydraulic linesRupturing hydraulic lines

5)5)Destroying propellers, Destroying propellers, compressor & turbine blades compressor & turbine blades etcetc

N.B.N.B. At slow speeds birds bounce off & at At slow speeds birds bounce off & at high speeds they penetratehigh speeds they penetrate


Calculation of the K.E. producedCalculation of the K.E. produced

E = ½*mvE = ½*mv22

Where E is the K.E. in joules, m is Where E is the K.E. in joules, m is the mass in kg and v is the speed the mass in kg and v is the speed in m/sin m/s

Example for m of 500gm and v of 90 Example for m of 500gm and v of 90 knots (46.3 m/s) E is 536 joulesknots (46.3 m/s) E is 536 joules

N.B.N.B. One joule = one kgm One joule = one kgm22/s/s22

Double mass you double EDouble mass you double E

Double v you quadruple EDouble v you quadruple E


Pilot’s responsibilityPilot’s responsibility

1)1)Avoid the birds – not the Avoid the birds – not the other way round. Some birds other way round. Some birds consider a/c an aggressor, consider a/c an aggressor, want to out fly it.want to out fly it.

2)2)Report bird strikes to Report bird strikes to relevant authoritiesrelevant authorities

3)3)Get appropriate briefing from Get appropriate briefing from ATCs ATCs


Other stakeholders responsibilities All the stakeholders have a

responsibility to do in minimizing bird strikes

Provide appropriate training to all


Airborne volcanic ashAirborne volcanic ashEruptions from active volcanic Eruptions from active volcanic

mountainsmountains

Fine powdered or dusty, glassy, Fine powdered or dusty, glassy, abrasive rock debris dispersed as abrasive rock debris dispersed as airborne clouds over long airborne clouds over long distances that can remain in the distances that can remain in the atmosphere for daysatmosphere for days

Best safety strategy is to avoid Best safety strategy is to avoid encounters with volcanic ashencounters with volcanic ash

These have caused the industry These have caused the industry millions of dollars millions of dollars


Effects of the exposure on the a/c and its equipment

1)Degraded engine performance including engine flame out

2)Loss of visibility due to opacity of wind screen & landing lights

3)Failure of critical navigational & operational equipment due to plugging of the pitot-static system

4)Deposition of material on hot-section components

5)Erosion of compressor blades & rotor-path components


6) Blockages of fuel nozzles & cooling passages

7) Contamination of the oil system & bleed-air supply

8) Contamination of the electronics

9) Erosion of the antenna surfaces

10)Impairment of the operations at airports within the vicinity & down wind side


Known exposure encounters1) Between 1971 & 2001 over 40 airports

in 15 countries have had their operations severely affected including closures

2) From 1973 through to 2000 over 100 encounters have been documented

3) Engine failures have occurred 150 to 600 miles from the volcanic sources

4) Memorable examples include: The 1982 B747 flying at night with 240 pax in Indonesia (Galunggung volcano) – a/c lost power in all the 4 engines & descended from 37,000 ft to 25,000 ft. Crew Managed to restart 3 engines after 16 mins & safely landed in Jakarta;


The 1989 B747 with 231 pax at Redoubt volcano in Alaska, USA – a/c was nearing landing at Anchorage International airport when it encountered the exposure. The 4 engines flamed out & crew managed to restart 3 engines with 2 minutes to ground impact


Indications of an exposure Smoke or very fine dust in the cabin

Acrid odour (like electrical smoke)

Low air speed indications

Cargo fire warnings (caused by ash triggering smoke detectors)

Static discharges (St Elmo’s fire) around windscreen, on wing, stabilizer or fin tips

White glow (searching effect) at engine inlets

Multiple engine malfunctions (increasing EGT, power loss, stall or flame out)


General in-flight procedures upon encounter1)Exit the ash cloud as quickly as possible –

do not attempt to climb out of the ash cloud

2)Disconnect the autothrottle

3)Throttles at minimum – terrain permitting

4) Ignition on

5)Bleed air systems full on

6)Start APU when clear out of the ash cloud

7)Monitor EGT

8)Restart engines (if required)


9) Monitor airspeed & pitch altitude

10)Place crew oxygen masks on 100% if ash enters the flight deck

11)Declare an emergency to ATC, if necessary

12)Transmit volcanic activity report

13)Land at the nearest airport


Minimizing exposure hazard Continuously monitor all known

volcanoes

Have a clearly spelt procedure on the steps (operational & maintenance) to follow upon exposure

Utilize the 9 regional volcanic ash advisory centers (VAACs) established in 1995 in Darwin, Australia

Effectively train the key operational staff


Hazards in the hangarHazards in the hangar Aviation hazards are not just in flight Aviation hazards are not just in flight

they are on ground as well & could be they are on ground as well & could be chemical, mechanical, environmental or chemical, mechanical, environmental or procedural but experts warn that ‘you procedural but experts warn that ‘you find them before they find you’find them before they find you’

Hence necessity of an occupational Hence necessity of an occupational safety & health administration (OSHA)safety & health administration (OSHA)

Oxygen and grease is a typical example Oxygen and grease is a typical example – mix them & the consequences are well – mix them & the consequences are well knownknown

Inflation of tyres outside the Inflation of tyres outside the recommended cages is also well knownrecommended cages is also well known


Fatalities have occurred when service Fatalities have occurred when service personnel fail to observe mandatory personnel fail to observe mandatory warnings & precautions warnings & precautions

Operational & maintenance manuals Operational & maintenance manuals normally have warnings, precautions & normally have warnings, precautions & notes which must be strictly followed notes which must be strictly followed

Aviation & hearing are not ‘buddies’ – Aviation & hearing are not ‘buddies’ – appropriate care must be takenappropriate care must be taken

Ensure that you read the material Ensure that you read the material safety data sheet (MSDS) of any safety data sheet (MSDS) of any chemical you handlechemical you handle

Composite material used in a/c is toxicComposite material used in a/c is toxic


Chemicals often damage the Chemicals often damage the environment if not appropriately environment if not appropriately disposed offdisposed off

Initial & continuation training is Initial & continuation training is absolutely necessaryabsolutely necessary


Clarifications, questions and Clarifications, questions and feedbackfeedback

Thank you very Thank you very

much for your much for your

attention and attention and

cooperationcooperation

Documents

Francis Lasalo Ngonga1 THE VARIOUS HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH AVIATION Definitions Hazard – Condition, object or activity with the potential of causing injuries