Consolidation of Skills - Aviation End of Course Research Project

Objective
• Consolidation of skills learned throughout the year including aerodynamics, operations, regulations, weather, safety, and flight planning.
• Apply the principles of Crew Resource Management (CRM) and utilize factors affecting the physiology of flight.
• Develop new knowledge of factors affecting aircraft and aviation safety.

Equipment
• (10) Flip VideoTM cameras
• (2) Classroom VRAircraft Flight Simulators
• (20) Student Laptops
References
• “Private Pilot.” Jeppesen, 2007.
• “Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook” Machado, 2004.
• “Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge” FAA, AC 61-23C.
• “Culture, Environment, and CRM.” Kern, 2001.

Presentation
I. Introduction of the Scientific Method - lecture
a. Hypothesis, Experimentation, Data, Conclusion
i. Developing a thesis statement
ii. Importance of establishing a baseline, or control group
iii. Need to review and revise experimentation procedures
iv. Methods of data analysis
v. Writing the conclusion
II. Review of Crew Resource Management
a. The CRM “loop” process
b. Accident causation models
i. The “error chain”
ii. Dr. James Reason’s “swiss cheese model”
III. Review of Simulator rules and procedures
a. Checklist usage
b. Dispatch paperwork
c. Rules and policies for CACC Simulators
IV. Division into Student teams
a. Simulator Schedule
V. Research Topics
a. The effects of right and left handed pilots controlling the aircraft with the non-dominate hand
b. The effectiveness of procedural “flows” memorization versus physical checklist usage
c. The possible effects of listening to music of different genres on pilot performance
d. Strategies to mitigate the risks associated with cockpit distractions

Student Work
• Selection of Research topic and development of hypothesis
• Execution of project in accordance with rubric
• Collection and review of data through use of Flip VideoTM cameras
• Analysis and publication of the report

Completion Standards & Assessment
• Students will utilize the Flip VideoTM to record all experiments, then review the data for errors in the procedure
• Students will draft a research report, and a Powerpoint Presentation with embedded video to demonstrate their findings to the class.