Jda foqa briefing slide view

Aviation Technology Solutions

Flight Operational Quality Assurance

(FOQA)FOR

Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring

(HFDM)

Presented by:

Tom Longridge

JDA Aviation Technology Solutions


What is FOQA?

Systematic, pro-active, and non-punitive use of

digital flight data from routine operations to

improve aviation safety…


FOQA Concept

Ground

Analysis

Facility

Events

and

Measurements

De-identified

Data

Flight Operations

Safety

Mx/Engineering

Flight Training

Manufacturers

ATC/Airports

FOQA TEAM

• Monitoring Team

• FOQA Analyst

• Safety Staff

• Working Groups

External Sources

• Safety Reporting Systems

• Maintenance Databases

• Weather

Flight

Data

What Has Happened Why It Happened


What FOQA Brings to Safety

Safety not be defined as absence of accidents

FOQA allows operators to know:

How close to “brink”

Problem severity

FOQA enables decision-makers to actively identify,

manage and reduce risks


Why FOQA is Important

Objective, quantitative data routinely collected during

normal operations

FOQA data:

Provides objective measures of normal operations

Enables early identification of problem areas

Reduce risk and increase safety and reliability

Identifies actionable information that can lead to

change

FOQA helps change aviation safety from reactive to a

proactive mode


FOQA in U.S.

Voluntary program in U.S.

Should be non-punitive and focus on identification of root causes and their correction not place blame

Just Culture

Operators are not required to obtain FAA approval of FOQA programs

Operators that seek FAA regulatory protections for FOQA data must obtain FAA approval of their FOQA programs


FOQA Milestones

1991 - FAA contracts Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) to investigate feasibility of flight data analysis programs for US airlines

FSF report documents feasibility for US and coins the term “FOQA”

1995 - DOT holds “Zero Accidents Safety Summit”

Recommendation - FAA encourage and facilitate FOQA implementation at U.S. air carriers

1995 - FAA funded FOQA Demonstration Project

1999 - UK CAA/Industry jointly funded Helicopter Operations

Monitoring Program (HOMP) study

2009 - IHST publishes 1st Edition of HFDM Toolkit


FOQA Program Phases


FOQA Technology Components

Airborne data recording and collection systems

Data Transmission Systems

Ground Data Replay & Analysis System (GDRAS)

Data analysis & visualization tools, e.g., Flight Animation Systems

FOQA technology - has become increasingly feasible for entire range of commercial helicopter operators


Data Acquisition Technology

Dramatic Changes in Technology Past Decade Quick Access Recorders (QARs), e.g. optical disk

Mini-QARs (Solid State Memory Devices)

Combination units that combine QAR function with Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU)

Light Aircraft Recording Systems (LARS) Self-contained GPS/Inertial units can capture essential aircraft

state information without system bus interface

Newly purchased aircraft may be ordered FOQA equipped, or FOQA ready, directly from the factory


Media Evolution

Tapes – now obsolete

Optical Disks

PCMCIA Cards

Compact Flash Cards

Solid state memory devices


Data Retrieval Methods

Manual e.g. physical removal of disk or pcmcia card

e.g. in-aircraft transfer of data from recording media to portable unit

Electronic e.g. wireless

e.g. cell phone

e.g, satellite

Many competing technological approaches to choose Considerations:

expense

in-aircraft equipment installation

availability of airport infrastructure

bandwidth

operating environment


Possible Considerations for

Choice of EquipmentCapability Comparison CommuniCube Teledyne WGL L3 QAR

Data Retrieval Methods

Manual Data Retrieval

Automatic Data Retrieval

Cellular Modem

WiFi 802.11Modem

VHF Modem

Satellite Modem

Pre Process Data

Connectivity

ARINC 717 / 573 1 1 1

ARINC 429 Rx 7 1 or 3

ARINC 429 Tx 7 1 or 8

Ethernet 4 1

RS 422 2 1 or 2

RS 232 4 2

Analog Inputs 44 7

Analog Outputs 4

Digital Inputs 64 4

Storage Media (up to GB) 64 2 1

Software/Hardware Upgrades

Flight Tracking

FDR Correlation

Satellite phone

Electronic Flight Bag Connectivity

Maintenance Tracking

Maintenance Manual Storage

Upload to Aircraft Databases


FOQA Analysis Software

Provide configuration tools for parameters, Logical Frame Layouts (LFLs), aircraft, airports, events, etc.

Transform flight-recorded data into usable format for processing & analysis using LFL

Process data

Analyzes data to detect triggered events & routine operational measurements

Generate reports & visualizations to help event interpretation

Generate trend reports

Referred to as Ground Data Replay and Analysis Systems (GDRAS) in US


FOQA Analysis Software (Continued)

Availability and usability of FOQA analysis software improving 1996: Two vendors

2004: Eight vendors

2011: Sixteen-plus vendors?

More efficient 1992 FSF Study: One analyst for 20 aircraft

Now: One analyst for 250 aircraft or more

Easier to customize Build your own events

Better analysis & visualization tools

Vendor analysis services can reduce in-house labor requirements


Example of Visualization Tools


Flight Animation Systems

Creates real-time, interactive, high fidelity graphical depictions of flight & simulator data

Great analysis & communication tool

Helps better understanding of some events

Useful for training (new airfields, event recreation)

Can be tied into simulator for debriefing purposes


Typical Data Users In

an Operator’s FOQA Program

11%

54%

93%

32%

29%

18%

71%

57%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Other

Training

Safety

Pilot Association

Performance Engineering

Operations Control and Dispatch

Operations

Maintenance/Engineering


Pre-defined Events

allow streamlined analysis

Events = Grouping of parameters to describe well-

recognized, flight operation “evaluation” points to be

tracked and monitored

Two types of Events:

Triggered Events

Routine Operational Measurements


Triggered Events

Occur outside normal operating envelopes for specific

make/model/series

Defined in terms of values of applicable parameters

May be specified in terms of seriousness: Low – Medium - High

Generates data characterizing each event

Example Triggered Event:

Excessive pitch-up during landing

Pitch>15 degrees, Elevation<50 feet MSL, Ground Speed<40

knots, Duration<2 seconds

Excessive rate of descent

Elevation<10K ft MSL, Ground Speed>30 knots, Vertical

Speed>1500 ft/min, duration>2 seconds


Routine Operational Measurements

Provides “Snapshot” of normal operations

Useful for tracking how close to edge of normal operations is being

experienced

Provides statistical information that can be used to determine what

is “normal”

Example Routine Operational Measurements:

Takeoff/climb speed at 400 feet MSL

Vertical Speed, Ground Speed at 450 ft MSL, Latitude 34o 1.0 min

North, Longitude 118o 27.2 min West


Distribution Based Analysis

Some operators prefer distribution-based approach to focus on

triggered events and routine operational measurements

More powerful analysis and identification of anomalies

Entire distribution of values for every FOQA parameter is collected and

analyzed

Allows determination of shape, average value, and variance of a

distribution for given period of time.

Entire distributions compared over time


Change in Parameter

Distribution Over Time

TIME IN MONTHS

TREND

P

A

R V

A A

M L

E U

T E

E

R


U.S. Regulatory Protections

FOQA Rule (14 CFR Part 13.401)

Effective 30 November 2001

FAA Approved FOQA Programs:

No use of FOQA data for enforcement

Exception - criminal or deliberate acts

Requires aggregate FOQA data to be provided to FAA in form and manner acceptable to Administrator for use in monitoring safety trends

Requires FAA approved FOQA Implementation & Operations (I&O) Plan


U.S. Regulatory Protections Safety Data

Safety Data Protection Rule (Part 193)

Published 25 June 2001

FAA Order 8000.81

Effective April 14, 2003

FOQA data provided to FAA from approved, voluntary FOQA program

Protected from public disclosure

FAA protects FOQA data from release under FOIA

Once designated as protected IAW Part 193


FOQA Advisory Circular

(AC No: 120-82)

Published 12 April 2004

Based on review and recommendations by FOQA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARC)

Provides guidance on means to develop, implement, and operate voluntary FOQA program acceptable to FAA


FAA Access to FOQA Data

Approved FOQA I&O Plans requires:

Provide access to de-identified aggregate and trend data

Regularly brief local FAA office on adverse safety trends

Inform FAA of corrective actions planned or taken

Level of local FAA office involvement varies by operator


FOQA Integration with

Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)

ASAP - voluntary program for obtaining reports of safety related events,

including alleged violations of FARs

90+ operators have FAA Approved ASAP MOUs

Most U.S. operators with FOQA Programs also have ASAP Programs

FOQA provides objective data on what happened

ASAP provides insight as to why it happened

ASAP is acceptable means of meeting SMS requirement for employee

reporting program


SMS

HFDM


SMS Process Flow for Hazard ID and Risk Management

System Analysis & Hazard

Identification

Risk Assessment &

Control

Outputs: To Safety

Assurance,

Evaluate

Controls

Control/

Mitigate

Safety

Risk)

Inputs: Safety Risk Mgt

•Hazards identified from Safety

Assurance

Inputs: Safety Risk Mgt

•New System

•System Change

•New Operational Procedure

System &

Task

Analysis

Hazard

Identification

Risk

Analysis

Risk

Control

RiskAssessment

Start


Closing the Loop with FOQA Data

Identify problems

Determine corrective action

Evaluate effectiveness of corrective actions based on continued acquisition and analysis of FOQA data

Acquire Data –

Identify Problems

Analyze Data –

Implement

Corrective

Action

Review Data –

Evaluate Actions

Taken


FOQA/ASAP

Information Sharing Meetings

Operators present safety issues identified and actions taken, or

planned

Based on individual FOQA & ASAP data

Includes OPS, FA, DX, and MX employee group ASAPs

Provides for both separate (by discipline) meetings & joint sessions

Managed by MITRE for FAA

Next meeting 29-31 March 2011 in Memphis, TN

Register Online for InfoShare at:

www.mitrecaasd.org/infoshare

http://www.mitrecaasd.org/infoshare


Aviation Safety Information

Analysis & Sharing (ASIAS)

FAA program with MITRE IT & analytical support

Aggregate and cross-correlate safety related data from multiple sources:De-identified FOQA, ASAP, VDRP, ASRS data FAA data, e.g. ATC radar data, NMACS, AIDS, etc.

Military data

National resource for discovering common, systemic safety problems Span multiple operators, fleets and regions in global air transportation system Requires wide industry participation for success Supports multi-agency data sharing

Supports international data sharing

Governed by joint FAA/Industry ASIAS board

Operator signs non-disclosure agreement and MOU with MITRE

Participation is acceptable means of complying with 14 CFR 13.401

Benchmark individual operations against national average

See http://www.asias.faa.gov/ for further info and contact information

http://www.asias.faa.gov/


Useful Resources

www.ihst.org

HFDM Toolkit and other resources

www.caa.co.uk

HFDM study reports and other resources

www.foqa-asap.com

Info and tools for both FOQA and ASAP

rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library

FAA FOQA AC 120-82 and other resources

http://www.ihst.org/

http://www.caa.co.uk/

http://www.foqa-asap.com/




Successful FOQA Programs Require

Tools, Technology, and SupportTechnology

A Skilled Team of ProfessionalsPeople

Integrated Step-by-Step ActivitiesProcesses

FOQA REQUIRES THE COORDINATION OF ALL THREE


Bill [email protected]

www.jdasolutions.aero301-941-1460 ext 170

Bob [email protected]

512-898-8809

Greg [email protected]

www.westernavionics.com800-668-9704


The EndAny Questions?

If you have any questions click on any of the links below to either send us an email or view our

web pages, thank you for your interest. (Links work in Slide Show mode only.)

Our FOQA Team

Presented at Heli-Expo 2011

http://www.jdasolutions.aero/



http://www.aerobytes.co.uk/



mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Jda foqa briefing slide view

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