Aviation research, sourced & cited.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) Project

Phase 1 of the UAS-NAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems-National Airspace System) project focused on MOPS (Minimum Operational Performance Standards) development for large UAS transitioning through Class D, E, and G airspace.

Weathering the Storm: Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Maritime, Atmospheric and Polar Environments

Unmanned systems have the potential to efficiently, effectively, economically, and safely bridge critical observation requirements in an environmentally friendly manner.

Current perspectives on emergency spin-recovery systems

The requirements generated by the loss-of-control problems of contemporary and future aircraft are discussed in connection with the development of rocket and parachute technology for spin-recovery systems used in current…

Unsteady wake effects on progressing/regressing forced rotor flapping modes.

A two bladed 16 inch hingeless rotor model was built and tested outside and inside a 24 by 24 inch wind tunnel test section at collective pitch settings up to 5 deg and rotor advance ratios up to .4.

Optimal Trajectories and Control Strategies for the Helicopter in One-Engine-Inoperative Terminal-Area Operations

Engine failure represents a major safety concern to helicopter operations, especially in the critical flight phases of takeoff and landing from/to small, confined areas.

3-D GRMHD Simulations of Disk-Jet Coupling and Associated Variabilities and Emission

We have performed the fully three-dimensional general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulation of jet formation from a thin accretion disk around a Schwarzschild black hole with a free-falling corona.

Incorporation of EGPWS in the NASA Ames Research Center 747-400 Flight Simulator

The NASA Ames Research Center CAE Boeing 747300 flight simulator is used primarily for the study of human factors in aviation safety. The simulator is constantly upgraded to maintain a configuration match to a specific U…

Identification and dual adaptive control of a turbojet engine

The objective of this paper is to utilize the design methods of modern control theory to realize a 'dual-adaptive' feedback control unit for a highly non-linear single spool airbreathing turbojet engine.

U.S. Civil Rotorcraft Accidents, 1963 through 1997

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recorded 8,436 rotorcraft accidents during the period mid - 1963 through the end of 1997.

Effect of Surface Traffic Count on Taxi Time at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport

As the amount of air traffic increases over the years, most airports simply do not have the means of expanding to handle the intensified traffic on the surface that will ensue.

Weather Research and Forecasting Model Sensitivity Comparisons for Warm Season Convective Initiation

Mesoscale weather conditions can significantly affect the space launch and landing operations at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).

Convective Weather Avoidance with Uncertain Weather Forecasts

Convective weather events have a disruptive impact on air traffic both in terminal area and in en-route airspaces. In order to make sure that the national air transportation system is safe and efficient, it is essential …

Liftoff and Time Equivalent Duration Data Evaluation of Exploration Flight Test 1 Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

The liftoff phase induces high acoustic loading over a broad frequency range for a launch vehicle. These external acoustic environments are used in the prediction of the internal vibration responses of the vehicle and co…

Evaluating Fatigue in Operational Settings: The NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program

In response to a 1980 Congressional request, NASA Ames initiated a program to examine fatigue in flight operations. The Program objectives are to examine fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption in flight operations…

Fatigue Countermeasures: Alertness Management in Flight Operations

Since 1980, the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program has studied the effects and impact of fatigue on flight operations . Sleep loss and circadian disruption are two of the primary physiological factors that underli…

Fatigue‐Related Countermeasures for Long‐Duration Exploration Missions

The NASA Human Research Program's (HRP) Behavioral Health and Performance Element (BHP) supports and conducts research to mitigate deleterious outcomes related to fatigue, sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, and wor…

Fatigue in U.S. Astronauts Onboard the International Space Station: Environmental Factors, Operational Impacts, and Implementation of Countermeasures

Since 2000, US astronauts have been supporting missions up to a six month duration on the International Space Station (ISS). Crewmembers have experienced fatigue for reasons similar to military deployments.

Situational Variables in Expert Pilot Decision Making

In traditional laboratory studies of decision making, the experimenter structures the problem, defines the goal and specifies available information.

Stress and Aeronautical Team Decision Making: Strengthening the Weak Links

A model that characterizes pilots'decision making in flight will be presented. Elements of the model that appear most vulnerable to stress will be examined in light of accidents and incidents.

Weighting Statistical Inputs for Data Used to Support Effective Decision Making During Severe Emergency Weather and Environmental Events

National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) weather and atmospheric environmental organizations are insatiable consumers of geophysical, hydrometeorological and solar weather statistics.

Task Analytic Models to Guide Analysis and Design: Use of the Operator Function Model to Represent Pilot-Autoflight System Mode Problems

Task-analytic models structure essential information about operator interaction with complex systems, in this case pilot interaction with the autoflight system.

Modes in Supervisory Control Systems: Structure and Transitions

Mode confusion is becoming a major drawback in operator interaction with systems that allow for multiple levels of automation. This drawback has manifested itself in several mode related accidents and incidents in commer…

Methodology for Examining the Operator and the System Concurrently: Pilot Interaction with Automation

Complex system description is problematic when considering operator task activities interacting with system dynamics. Engineering languages have matured sufficiently to allow machine system description at various levels …

Mode Transitions in Glass Cockpit Aircraft: Results of a Field Study

One consequence of increased levels of automation in complex control systems is the presence of modes. A mode is a particular configuration of a control system that defines how human command inputs are interpreted.

Design and Development of Functionally Effective Human-Machine Interfaces for Firing Room Displays

This project involves creating software for support equipment used on the Space l aunch System (SLS). The goal is to create applications and displays that will be used to remotely operate equipment from the firing room a…

Informing Rodent Behavior in Space: Gene Expression and Hyper-Emotionality Following Prenatal Stress

As space exploration pushes our boundaries further away from Earth and for longer durations, we will inevitably require the use of multi-generational studies to continue our expansion.

Ascent/abort training in the Shuttle Mission Simulator

The Shuttle Mission Simulator is the primary tool employed in the training of orbiter flight crews in ascent and abort flight techniques at the Johnson Space Center.

The Role of Spatial Disorientation in Fatal General Aviation Accidents

In-flight Spatial Disorientation (SD) in pilots is a serious threat to aviation safety. Indeed, SD may play a much larger role in aviation accidents than the approximate 6-8% reported by the National Transportation Safet…

Certification of a Modified Research Public Aircraft

NASA Ames Research Center has several aircraft that have been modified to conduct aeronautical and scientific research. NASA's purpose is to provide research to improve safety of flight and support scientific research fo…

Gas Emissions Acquired during the Aircraft Particle Emission Experiment (APEX) Series

NASA, in collaboration with other US federal agencies, engine/airframe manufacturers, airlines, and airport authorities, recently sponsored a series of 3 ground-based field investigations to examine the particle and gas …

Emergency Flight Control of a Twin-Jet Commercial Aircraft using Manual Throttle Manipulation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created the PCAR (Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft Recovery) project in 2005 to mitigate the ManPADS (man-portable air defense systems) threat to the commercial aircraft fleet with…

A Laboratory Glass-Cockpit Flight Simulator for Automation and Communications Research

A laboratory glass-cockpit flight simulator supporting research on advanced commercial flight deck and Air Traffic Control (ATC) automation and communication interfaces has been developed at the Aviation Operations Branc…

Differences Training for the Glass Cockpit

This study followed two groups of pilots from a major US air carrier as they went through a transition to advanced technology aircraft.

Evaluation of the Terminal Area Precision Scheduling and Spacing System for Performance-Based Navigation Arrivals

The growth of global demand for air transportation has put increasing strain on the nation's air traffic management system. To relieve this strain, the International Civil Aviation Organization has urged all nations to a…

Analysis of Rapidly Developing Low Cloud Ceilings in a Stable Environment

Forecasters at the Space Meteorology Group (SMG) issue 30 to 90 minute forecasts for low cloud ceilings at the Space Shuttle Landing Facility (TTS) to support Space Shuttle landings.

An Improved UAV-Based Fog Collector for Local-Scale Aerobiological Sampling

The use of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to passively collect fog for microbiological analysis is being investigated at NASA Ames, contributing to our understanding of the dynamics and limits of the biosphere.

Research to Operations: The Critical Transition

Space Life Sciences Directorate (SLSD) specializes in transitioning technology and knowledge to medical operations. This activity encompasses funding a spectrum of research and technology efforts, such as understanding f…

The Transition of NASA EOS Datasets to WFO Operations: A Model for Future Technology Transfer

The collocation of a National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office with atmospheric scientists from NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama has afforded a unique opportunity for science sharing a…

Rotorcraft Flight Dynamics and Controls Research at NASA

In recent years, NASA has invested in key activities in the areas of flight controls, handling qualities and operations of rotorcraft for civilian applications.

Helicopter Safety Research

In response to the President's challenge to reduce civil aviation accidents by a factor of 10 by the year 2022, NASA has embarked on an ambitious safety program in partnership with other government agencies and industry.…

Alaska Humans Factors Safety Study: The Northern Area

At the request of the Alaska Air Carriers Association, researchers from the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System, at NASA Ames Research Center, conducted a study on aspects of safety in Alaskan Part 135 air taxi operati…

Fatigue crack propagation in aerospace aluminum alloys

This paper reviews fracture mechanics based, damage tolerant characterizations and predictions of fatigue crack growth in aerospace aluminum alloys.

Operational Interventions to Maintenance Error

A significant proportion of aviation accidents and incidents are known to be tied to human error. However, research of flight operational errors has shown that so-called pilot error often involves a variety of human fact…

Reduction of Maintenance Error Through Focused Interventions

It is well known that a significant proportion of aviation accidents and incidents are tied to human error. In flight operations, research of operational errors has shown that so-called "pilot error" often involves a var…

Identifying Human Factors Issues in Aircraft Maintenance Operations

Maintenance operations incidents submitted to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) between 1986-1992 were systematically analyzed in order to identify issues relevant to human factors and crew coordination.

Analysis of Crew Fatigue in AIA Guantanamo Bay Aviation Accident

Flight operations can engender fatigue, which can affect flight crew performance, vigilance, and mood. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) requested the NASA Fatigue Countermeasures Program to analyze crew fa…

Impact of Parallel Computing on Large Scale Aeroelastic Computations

Aeroelasticity is computationally one of the most intensive fields in aerospace engineering. Though over the last three decades the computational speed of supercomputers have substantially increased, they are still inade…

Wetting Angle and Surface Tension of Germanium Melts on Different Substrate Materials

The sessile drop technique has been used to measure the wetting angle and the surface tension of molten germanium (Ge) on various substrate materials.

Determination of the Wetting Angle of Germanium and Germanium-Silicon Melts on Different Substrate Materials

During Bridgman growth of semiconductors detachment of the crystal and the melt meniscus has occasionally been observed, mainly under microgravity (microg) conditions.

Contact Angles and Surface Tension of Germanium-Silicon Melts

Precise knowledge of material parameters is more and more important for improving crystal growth processes. Two important parameters are the contact (wetting) angle and the surface tension, determining meniscus shapes an…