I am researching Airspace Infringements of GA aircraft

[ewan_whose_army]

Hello,

I am currently working on a MSc in Human Factors and Safety Assessment in Aeronautics at Cranfield University in the UK. Being a UK General Aviation pilot myself, I have chosen to research the underlying causes of General Aviation aircraft operating under VFR flight rules infringing controlled airspace.

According to data published by Eurocontrol in 2009, the number of GA infringements in EASA countries has been steadily increasing year on year.

The aim of my research is to gain a better understanding of why pilots infringe or airspace, or how they discover they are infringing and take avoiding action to avoid an infringement.

In this survey, about 30-40 EASA GA pilots across all levels of experience will be asked to complete a survey that asks questions about their GA flight experience.

Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. There are no foreseeable risks associated with this project. However, if you feel uncomfortable answering any questions, you can withdraw from the survey at any point.

Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported only in the aggregate. Your information will be coded and will remain confidential. The raw data will only be accessible by myself and my project supervisor

If you have any questions about the survey or my research, please do not hesitate to contact me : e.douglas@cranfield.ac.uk

Thank your for your time

Ewan Douglas

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FVJKMHQ

[Gertie]

Survey doesn't work. CAA UK PPL isn't an option for licence, and if you try to type this in the "other" box it won't let you move to the next page. Hint: test software before publishing it.

Plus, to get people here to that this sort of thing seriously you tend to have to explain a little more of your methodology, in particular where you are getting your samples from, as nobody is going to take seriously a survey based on self-selected responses from random people who read a posting on a web site.

[Flyingmac]

Try reading the latest 'Clued Up'. Pages 38 and 39, and 40 to 44.

I'm assuming you are researching infringements BY GA aircraft, and not OF?

[ewan_whose_army]

Survey doesn't work. CAA UK PPL isn't an option for licence, and if you try to type this in the "other" box it won't let you move to the next page. Hint: test software before publishing it.

Plus, to get people here to that this sort of thing seriously you tend to have to explain a little more of your methodology, in particular where you are getting your samples from, as nobody is going to take seriously a survey based on self-selected responses from random people who read a posting on a web site.

Hmm okay, I have had 18 reposes so far and they have gone through Okay. I will have a look at the Other box, unfortunately the University has made me use Survey Monkey, I would have programmed it myself but Ethics wanted to use a preexisting system.

The methodology is Critical Incident Technique so I need first hand recollection of incidents. The data has been derived from Face to Face interviews, and this survey monkey system.

[Irv Lee]

Guess what arrived in my mailbox 22:50 on Friday? Data collected from infringing pilots' reports 2009 to April 2012 and subsequent analysis. Just sifting now for publication on FlyOnTrack later this week. There has been an enormous amount of effort spent on this by NATS.

Some teasers to be going on with:
310 Surveys returned by the infringers. Reasons analysed and split into 508 causes (some had more than one cause).
Out of all the causal factors, the top 5 were:
Misident of land features (62 ticks)
Pilot Workload (44)
Poor/Incorrect Preflight briefing (44)
Mis-read Map (40)
Unplanned change in route/altitude (32)

Analysis includes how these split into licence types, whether they had a GPS in use (or what they call an 'airspace awareness device'), hours on type, and more. For example of the 62 ticks of misident of land features, 11 had professional licences, 35 had PPLs, 5 had an NPPL, 10 were students, with 1 'other licence'.

Of the 40 who misread a Map, 19 had a GPS in use, 6 more had both a GPS and an Airspace Awareness device in use (giving 25 with electronic help in use), leaving 15 without.

Plenty more coming. Why do I get the feeling that publishing it is not going to result in a wave of stunned and appreciative silence?

[Colin G]

Done the survey but not sure if it went through. Kept going round in circles on the incident details page.

[Flyingmac]

Shame. I like to take part in surveys but I've never even come close to infringing. Honest, Guv.

[Keef]

Failed at page 1. I filled in the "Other (please specify)" box, and was told "This question requires an answer". It seems "Other" is not an answer.

I'll put in a (wrong) answer that satisfies the survey and see if I can get any further.

[Keef]

Nope. Filled in page 2, and was returned to the page with all the stuff I'd typed removed. Presumably it didn't like my answers.

I'd suggest get a copy of the latest "Clued Up" which addresses this issue, or persuade Irv to share the big data package with you.

[peterh337]

Some teasers to be going on with:
310 Surveys returned by the infringers. Reasons analysed and split into 508 causes (some had more than one cause).
Out of all the causal factors, the top 5 were:
Misident of land features (62 ticks)
Pilot Workload (44)
Poor/Incorrect Preflight briefing (44)
Mis-read Map (40)
Unplanned change in route/altitude (32)

That sounds like it has been done a whole lot more properly than previous "attempts" at analysing CAS bust causes.

I wonder if they forgot gethomeitis? That one always de-bases any pretence of serious analysis.

[leiafee]

Done the survey but not sure if it went through. Kept going round in circles on the incident details page.

Likewise.

[James Chan]

I found a wealth of interesting information at the Eurocontrol website.