1st Edition
Aeronautical Decision-Making and Aviation Safety in the Alaskan Operational Setting
1 Aviation Operations in Remote Settings 1
What Are Remote Settings? 4
Transportation in Remote Settings 5
Remote Aviation Operations (Bush Flying) 7
Geography of the Bush 8
Aircraft 8
Airports/Aerodromes/Airfield Infrastructure 12
Regulatory Challenges 17
2 Fly Alaska: Remote Setting Operational Factors and Safety Implications 18
Fly Alaska: Historical Perspectives and Operations Safety 20
Historical Perspectives 20
Operations Safety 21
Organizational, Psychosocial, and Cultural Factors That Influence Operational Safety 22
Aviation Safety Management Initiatives—Effectiveness and Limitations 24
3 Theoretical Perspectives of Human Factors That Influence Aeronautical Decision-Making in Remote Operational Settings 28
Hazardous Attitudes and Pilot Personality 29
Anti-authority 30
Invulnerability 31
Macho 31
Impulsiveness 32
Resignation 32
Impact of Ego and Other Attitudinal Factors on Pilot Decision-Making in the Flight Deck 34
Goal Seduction, Plan Continuation Errors, and Pilot Decision- Making 35
Plan Continuation Errors 36
Foot-in-the-Door Persuasion 36
Social Theories Related to Operator Decision-Making 37
Social Identity Theory, Collective Self-efficacy, and Aviation Group Behaviors 38
4 Case Studies on Alaskan Aviation Operational Settings 40
Introduction to Alaska Case Studies 40
The Endemic of Controlled Flight into Terrain 41
CFIT Case Study: Togiak 41
Analysis 43
Organizational Culture and Accident Causation 48
Promech (Ketchikan) 48
Analysis 50
The Production and Protection Conundrum (External Pressures) 52
Ketchikan Mid-air 52
Analysis 53
5 Understanding Pilot Decision-Making in Alaskan Operational Settings: A Qualitative Approach 55
Interviewing 56
The Ethical Dilemma 57
Qualitative Data Analysis 57
Codes and Themes 58
6 Human and Organizational Factors Influencing Aeronautical Decision-Making in Remote Operational Settings: Real-Time Perspectives 60
Pilot Relationships 62
Pilot Attitudes 64
Skill Enhancement 68
Infrastructure Limitations 72
Organizational Factors 76
Regulatory Oversight 78
7 Push the Throttle, Let’s Fly Safely in Alaska’s Remote Settings: Concluding Perspectives and Reflections 81
Enhancing Aeronautical Decision-Making in Alaskan Aviation Operations Using Insider Perspectives 82
What Is Next for Aviation in Alaska? 85
Global Implications and International Perspective 86
Close Shaves in Northern Ghana 87
Concluding Remarks 91
Chapter References 93
Index 105
Biography
Dana Atkins started her career flying medevac operations to remote locations across Alaska. She has flown for numerous operators in Alaska and previously flew the Boeing 767 domestically and abroad. She currently flies the Boeing 737 for a Legacy Airline in the United States. Dana holds a Master of Science (MS) in Aviation from the University of North Dakota. Her main research interests are the human factors of bush and backcountry flying in remote settings.
Daniel Kwasi Adjekum is an assistant professor in the Department of Aviation, University of North Dakota, teaching courses in crew resource management, safety management systems, and human factors. He has over 24 years of experience as a former Ghana Air Force aircraft commander and aviation safety consultant. He has experience flying the BN-2T islanders and the Fokker F-27 into remote airstrips in Africa and previously flew the Boeing 737 aircraft for an international airline. Kwasi holds a Ph.D. in aerospace sciences. He is a globally recognized subject matter expert in aviation safety and a sought-after resource for global news media on aviation safety issues. He is also an International Air Transport Association (IATA) certified Safety Management Systems (SMS) implementation and control expert.
