Paper Example Undergraduate 4,150 words

Human Factors Affecting Safe Operation

Last reviewed: September 21, 2011 ~21 min read

¶ … Human Factors Affecting Safe

Operation Of The UAV

Study of Selected Human Factors affecting safe operation of the UAV

This chapter presents the findings of the thesis. The survey questionnaires are collected from the 35 respondents. The data are collected to test the following hypotheses:

Ho: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."

H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."

Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that the possession of computer skills and the lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."

H2:"UAV pilots believe that the possession of computer skills and the lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."

The findings are presented in the tabular and graphical forms. The descriptive statistics is used to summarize the findings and the inferential statistics is used to conclude on the findings based on the data collected. The data collected supports the first null hypothesis and rejects the first research hypothesis. However, the data supports the second research hypothesis and rejects the second null hypothesis.

Chapter 4: Findings

This chapter provides the findings of the thesis. The data collected are summarized using the descriptive statistics. The study also presents the inferential statistics that provides the conclusion of the whole data. The inferential statistics allows the researcher to test the hypotheses and generates the research findings. Based on the data collected, the data are analyzed and summarized using the graphs and tables. With the presentation from the graphs and tables, the researcher is able to provide the accurate picture of the findings and testing the hypotheses.

Descriptive Statistics

Table 19 provides the descriptive statistics, which reveals the summary of the findings. In the descriptive statistical table, standard deviation and means of all data are summarized. The descriptive statistics also summarizes the findings in percentages, which enables the researcher to present the findings in tabular and graphical forms. From the data collected and analyzed, the study supports the first null hypothesis, and rejects the first research hypothesis. The findings reveal that the data do not provide statistical significant to support the first research hypothesis. However, the study supports the second research hypothesis and rejects the second null hypothesis based on the data collected.

Inferential Statistics

The study uses the inferential statistics to infer the probability of using the data to test the hypotheses. The total number of 88 survey questionnaires is distributed; however, the researcher is able to collect 81 from the total 88 survey distributed to the respondents. 50 of the respondents filled out all the survey questionnaires. After analyzing the 50 survey questionnaires, there are suspected bias in the answers of the 15 respondents. Since the study intends to generate valid and reliable findings, the researcher discards the 10 survey questionnaires that contain suspected bias, and 35 filled survey questionnaires are finally accepted. Table 1 and Fig 1 present the summary of the survey finally accepted and used to generate the research findings.

Table 1: Summary of the Survey

Survey

Survey Collected

Percentages of survey collected

Total Number of Survey Distributed

Number of Survey Collected

92.05%

Survey completely filled out

56.82%

Number of Suspected Bias

17.04%

Accepted Returned Survey

39.77%

Fig 1: Summary of Survey Collected

Survey Questions and Findings

The first sub-problem is to identify and rank the most important experiences that the Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) pilots must possess to operate safely based on the perceptions of the UAV pilots.

The first five questions rate the possible attributes of the UAV pilots. The questions are scaled and a numerical value is assigned to each question where 1 is scaled not very important and 5 scaled very important with the possible responses as follow:

1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important

The descriptive analysis is used to accomplish the first order. The descriptive analysis is able to identify the kind of distribution resulted for each question, and whether a second order analysis is essential.

Based on the Likert scale, the questions are as follows:

For a UAV pilot to demonstrate effective aviation safety, he or she should be a:

Question 1: Graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT)

1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important

Table 2:

Question 1:

Graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT)

Scale

Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative Frequency

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Not Very Important

17.14%

2.914

1.40101

2: Not Important

28.57%

3: Not Sure

20%

4: Important

14.29%

5: Very Important

20%

Based on the findings of the statement, it is revealed that 16 respondents believe that graduating from the undergraduate training school is not important to demonstrate effective aviation safety while 12 respondents believe that it is important. Although, 7 respondents are not sure based on their response. Based on the percentages of the findings, it is revealed that 45.71% of the respondents agree that it is not important. While around 34.29% agree that it is important. Although, 20% of the respondents are not sure.

Table 2 and Fig 2 provide the summary of the findings of the question 1.

Fig 2: Illustration of the Findings of Question 1

Question 2

To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a Pilot should be Under 40 years old

1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important

Table 3:

Question 2: Pilot should be Under 40 years old

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Not Very Important

43.86

2.057

1.1099

2: Not Important

22.86

3: Not Sure

4: Important

14.28

5: Very Important

Fig 3: Findings Pilot should be under 40

Based on the findings, it is revealed 66.72% of the respondents agree that to be under 40 is not important to demonstrate the effective aviation safety. Typically, only 34.28% of the respondents agree that to be under 40 years is important to demonstrate the effective aviation safety. The findings of the respondents of the survey question 2 supports the first null hypothesis and reject the first research hypothesis.

Question 3

To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should have a:

Have a minimum of 100 flying hours.

1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important

Table 4:

Question 3: Have a minimum of 100 flying hours.

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Not Very Important

3.2

1.549

2: Not Important

14.29

3: Not Sure

25.71

4: Important

5.72

5: Very Important

34.28

Fig 4: Having Minimum of 100 Flying Hours

Based on the findings, it is revealed that 34% of the respondents believe that it is not important while 40% of the respondents agree that it is important. However, the 25% of the respondents are not sure. Based on the findings from the survey, it is revealed that larger number of respondents believe that it is important to have minimum of 100 flying hours before demonstrating effective aviation safety.

Based on the results of the data presented, the paper presents whether the findings support the first null or alternative hypothesis.

Findings of the First Null and Alternative Hypotheses

Findings of the survey questions 1, 2 and question 3 assist the study to test the first null hypothesis that states:

H0: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."

Findings of the survey questions 1, 2 and question 3 also assist the study to test the first alternative hypothesis that states:

To test the first null hypothesis, paper employs p-value, which is the level of statistical test to obtain the probability of observed difference and whether null hypothesis is true. The p-value is the probability of obtaining observed differences in the sampling variation. Conventionally, a p-value should be greater than 0.05 (5%) to accept the null hypothesis. However, the Chi-square is used to test the probability of the obverted difference between two variables, which reflects the p-value probability.

To test the first null hypothesis, it is essential to provide the summary statistics of the findings of the first 3 survey questions as revealed in the Table 5.

Table 5: Summary of the Findings of Survey Question 1, 2 and 3

Survey

Survey Questions

Mean

Standard Deviation

% of Important

% Not important

% Not Sure

Graduate from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT

2.914

1.40101

34.29%

45.71%

Pilot should be Under 40 years old

2.057

1.1099

34.28%

66.72

Having Minimum of 100 Flying Hours

3.2

1.549

40%

34.29

25.71

Total

Mean %

36.19

48.91

Mean Difference

12.72

Fig 5: Bar Chart Comparing Responses of Survey 1, 2 and 3

Based on the findings in the Fig 5, it is revealed that the second survey, which indicates that a Pilot should be under 40 years to demonstrate the effective aviation safety, supports the first null hypothesis and rejects the first alternative hypothesis. From the bar graph in Fig 5, 66.72% of the respondents agree that to be fewer than 40 is not important to demonstrate the effective aviation safety, and 34.28% of the respondents agree that it is important to be under 40 years to demonstrate the effective aviation safety. From the descriptive in the Table 19, the respondents of the survey question 2 and 3 support the first null hypothesis and reject the alternative hypothesis.

Based on the findings, the study supports the first null hypothesis that states:

However, the study rejects the first research hypothesis that states:

Valenti et al. (2004) support the findings of the first hypothesis by pointing out that the major objective of the UAV is to execute mission without human interaction. UAV is remotely controlled aircraft where the pre-programmed flight plans are being controlled by complex dynamic automation systems. UAV is typically developed for number of mission including attack roles. UAV is also developed to eliminate the dangerous missions being carried out by the pilots of the manned aircrafts. In carrying out some of the missions, many pilots have lost their lives in the enemy combat, while some pilots have been killed during National Guard mission such as fires disaster, earthquake, and other natural disaster. Since the UAVs are remotely controlled by the automation systems, and not manned by the pilots "graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours" are not critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess.

Testing the Second Hypothesis

The study proceeds to test the second null hypothesis that states:

Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."

And the research hypothesis that states that:

H2: "UAV pilots believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."

Question 4

To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should have a:

3 years of experience as a pilot

1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important

Table 6:

Question 4:

3-Year Experience as a Pilot

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Not Very Important

22.86%

2.63

1.396

2: Not Important

37.14%

3: Not Sure

8.57%

4: Important

17.14%

5: Very Important

14.29%

Based on the findings, the research does not support the statement that possession of 3-year experience in the aviation industry contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF.

Question 5

To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should:

Possess computer skills

1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important

Table 7:

Question 5

Computer Skills

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Not Very Important

4.343

1.027

2: Not Important

11.43%

3: Not Sure

5.71%

4: Important

20%

5: Very Important

62.86%

Fig 6: Possessing of Computer Skills

Based on the findings more than 82% of the respondents agree that possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF. The data collected in the survey 5 support the second research hypothesis.

Question 6

To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should be Fighter Pilot.

1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important

Table 8:

Question 6

To be Fighter Pilot

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Not Very Important

34.29%

1.97

0.954

2: Not Important

45.71%

3: Not Sure

8.57%

4: Important

11.43%

5: Very Important

Based on the findings, the research does not support the statement that being a fighter pilot in the aviation industry contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF.

Table 9: Summary of the Findings of Survey Question 4, 5 and 6

Survey

Survey Questions

Mean

Standard Deviation

% of Important

% Not important

% Not Sure

3-Year Experience as a Pilot

2.63

1.396

31.43%

60.00%

8.57%

Possession of Computer Skills

4.343

1.027

82.86%

11.43%

5.71%

To be Fighter Pilot

1.97

0.954

11.43%

80.00%

8.57%

Total

Mean %

41.91%

50.47%

Mean Difference

8.56%

Fig 7: Bar Chart illustrate the Findings of the Survey Question 4, 5 and 6

To further test the hypothesis 2, the research proceeds to provide the findings of the rest of the survey questions.

Findings of the Rest of the Survey Questions

Question 7: "Have you attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) or the new UAV operators Course?"

Tick the one appropriate to you

1 -- UPT 2-- UAV operator course 3-- No previous pilot training

Table 10

Question 7: Have you attended UPT course?

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: UPT

80%

1.229

0.426

2: UAV Operator course

20%

3: No Previous Pilot Training

Based on the findings all the respondents have attended aviation courses. 80% of the respondents have attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), and 20% have attended the UAV operator courses. The findings have revealed that the respondents know the importance of attending the aviation training courses.

Question 8: What is your age?

Tick the one appropriate to you.

1-- 20-35

2-- 36-50

3-- 51 or older

Table 11

Question 8:

What is your age?

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: 20-35

48.57%

1.742

0.82

2: 36-50

28.57%

77.14

3: 51 or older

22.86%

Findings have revealed that 48.57% of the respondents are between the age of 20 and 35, while 28.57% of the respondents are between 36 and 50 years of age. However, 22% of the respondents are 22.86%.

Question 9: "How many flying hours have you logged?"

Tick the one appropriate to you

1-- 0-750

2-- 751-1500

3-- 1500+

Table 12

Question 9:

Flying Hours

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: 0-750

40%

1.89

0.832

2: 751-1500

31.43%

71.43%

3: 1500+

28.57%

Based on the findings approximately 70% of the respondents have logged less than 1500 hours of the flying hours. While only 28.57% of the respondents have logged more than 1500 flying hours.

Question 10. "How many years of experience do you have as a pilot"?

Tick the one appropriate to you

1-- None

2-- 5 or less

3-- 6-15

4-- 16+

Table 13

Question 10

Years of Experience

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: None

28.57%

2.4

1.143

2: 5 or less

25.71%

54.28%

3: 6-15

22.86%

77.14%

4 16+

22.86%

The findings have revealed that more than 70% of the respondents have had up to 5 years of experience as pilots. Based on the findings, more than 70% of the respondents have understood the safety procedures in the pilot profession. Many of the respondents understand the safety procedures in the aviation industry based on their experience as pilots.

Question 11. Which of these aircraft have you previously piloted? (Circle all that apply)

1-- "Heavy" aircraft; 2-- "fighter/bomber" aircraft; 3-- rotary aircraft; 4-- none of these"

Table 14

Question 11:

Aircraft previously Piloted

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Heavy aircraft

45.71%

2.23

1.35

2: Fighter or bomber aircraft

20%

65.71%

3: Rotary aircraft

65.71%

4 None of these

34.29

The finding of the survey question 11 supports the findings of the survey question 10. The respondents have had years of experience as pilots. More than 65% of the respondents have previously piloted heavy aircrafts or fighter or bomber aircrafts.

Question 12. "Do you possess computer skills"?

Tick the one appropriate to you

1-- Yes

2 -- No

Table 15

Question 12 Possession

of Computer Skills

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Yes

80%

1.2

0.406

2: No

20%

The findings supports survey question 5 that states that "to demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should possess computer skills. The findings of the survey question 12 shows that 80% of the respondents are computer literates. The results show that many of the respondents understand the importance of possessing compute skills in the safety of UAV pilots.

Question 13. "Have you ever been involved in a "human related" aviation safety," incident?

Tick the one appropriate to you

1-- Yes

2 -- No

Table 16

Question 13:

Human Relation Aviation Safety

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Cumulative Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Yes

2: No

Question 14: "Critical attributes of being a UAV pilot are graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), being under 40 years old, and having a minimum of 100 flying hours experience?"

Please Tick One

1-- Strongly Disagree; 2-- Disagree; 3 - Neither Agree or disagree; 4 - Agree; 5 - Strongly Agree

Table 17

Question 14: Attributes of being a UAV pilot

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Strongly Disagree

22.86%

2.2

0.901

2: Disagree

42.86%

3: Neither Agree or disagree

25.71%

4: Agree

8.57%

5: Strongly Agree

Fig 8: Attributes of A UAV Pilot are being under 40, having minimum of 100 flying

Hours and graduating from UPT

The findings of the survey question 14 also accept the first null hypothesis, and reject the first research hypothesis. From the findings of the survey, it is revealed that more than 65% of the respondents disagree or strongly disagree with the statement.

Based on the findings, the study confirms the support of the first null hypothesis that states:

However, the study rejects the first research hypothesis that states:

Question 15. "To what extend do you agree/disagree with the following statement: UAV pilots who possess computer skills and who have never been involved in a human related incident are critical factors to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."

Please Tick One

1-- Strongly disagree; 2 - Disagree; 3-- Neither agree or disagree; 4-- Agree; 5-- Strongly agree

Table 18

Question 15: Computer Skills and Human Related Incident

Scale

Frequency

Cumulative Frequency

Percentage

Mean

Standard Deviation

1: Strongly Disagree

3.94

0.802

2: Disagree

2.86%

3: Neither Agree or disagree

25.71%

4: Agree

45.71%

5: Strongly Agree

25.71%

Fig 9: UAV Pilot who posses Computer Skills and never involved in Human Related

Incidents are critical factor in UAV Safe Operator

From the findings, the study accepts the second research hypothesis that states:

H2: "UAV pilots believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."

However, the study rejects the second null hypothesis that states:

Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."

Alexander, (2007) supports the findings of the hypothesis 2 by arguing that advanced in computer technology has revolutionized all aspects of life. In a dynamic technological environment, computer technology has cut across all span of life. Since the complex automated computer program remotely controls the UAV, the pilots need to posses computer skills to enhance safety operations of the UAV. In the aviation industry, the application of computer technology has been used to reduce the loss of life and enhancement of aviation safety. Since aircraft accidents occurs on the daily basis in the aviation industry, and the UAV is developed to minimize the occurrence of accidents and enhance aviation safety. The UAV platform is well instrumented with computers and sensors with one or two general-purpose flight processors. The Ground Control Station (GCS) of the UAV is run by the computers and controlled by the system operators. Typically, the computers automated systems are used to achieve automatic takeoffs and landings for UAV. (See Appendix 1).

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