Course Description
Weather related
injuries and accidents in both the Commercial (i.e., commuter, transport
category) and General Aviation (GA) industries are of major concern
worldwide. Analysis of GA accident data typically shows a large number,
if not most, fatal accidents involve adverse weather conditions. In the
Commercial aviation industry weather related accidents are less frequent
than in GA, however they have the potential for larger casualties. In
addition, the Commercial industry experiences numerous injuries to
flight attendants and/or passengers involving turbulence each year.
To
allow for lessons learned, occurrences must be comprehensively
investigated to determine if weather is a contributing causal factor.
This investigation must include gathering and plotting atmospheric data
to establish the state of the atmosphere at the time of the occurrence,
during the flight, as well as pre-flight. Detailed analysis of the
plotted atmosphere data will enable investigators to identify if, and
what, meteorological factors played a role in accident causation (i.e.,
low-level wind shear, icing, mountain wave turbulence). In addition,
atmospheric data may be of immediate use to other groups on the
investigation team. For example,
wind information is needed by the groups concerned with wreckage
distribution, whilst upper wind and temperature data may be vital to
those working with power plants, and aircraft performance. Therefore it
is imperative an investigation team has an individual skilled in the
collection and analysis of meteorological data.
Though it
is important to understand what meteorological conditions and phenomena
influenced the aircraft, it is also important to understand pilot and
dispatcher decisions in relation to weather. By having a detailed
understanding of the meteorological conditions present at the time of
the occurrence, in-flight, and pre-flight investigators will be better
able to understand situations encountered by the pilots and dispatchers,
as well as the operational decisions that came out of them. This
analysis may highlight issues with pilot or dispatcher incorrect and/or
incomplete knowledge due to training deficiencies, and/or poor
dissemination of weather data, or incomplete weather data due to
reporting limitations. By combining Forensic Meteorology and Human
Factors investigators will not only be able to identify unsafe
preconditions and individual failures, but organisational and regulatory
failures that may have played a role in the occurrence.
This is a
hands on course. You will learn by doing: by looking at data,
determining causes, and developing findings. This course develops
investigators’ weather visualisation skills to appreciate the three
dimensional nature of the atmosphere as well as the types of data
(including numerical models) used to analyse the 3D aspects of weather
producing phenomena involved in occurrences. You will also review
several actual accident reports from various countries from a weather
perspective. You will learn sound investigative techniques, analytical
skills, and weather presentation techniques needed to better enable you
to produce and communicate a comprehensive, quality report when you
participate as part of an investigation board.
