Understanding Air France 447 (29 page)

ADIRS - Air Data Inertial Reference Systems Three systems comprised of the Air Data and Inertial reference components.

ADS-C - Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Contract. An automatic position reporting system widely used in oceanic areas where radar is not available.

ADR - Air Data Reference. Three systems that provide altitude and airspeed data.

AOA -Angle of attack. The angle between the wing and the relative wind (the apparent wind resulting from the forward motion of the airplane)

ARCC - Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre

ATC - Air Traffic Control

BEA - Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (Office of Investigations and Analysis for the safety of civil aviation

CG - Center of Gravity

CPDLC - Controller Pilot Data Link Communications. A system for sending and receiving text messages between the aircraft and ATC that ensures the accuracy of the transmitted data. It is widely used in, though not limited to, oceanic areas where VHF radio coverage is not available.

CRM - Crew Resource Management (formerly Cockpit Resource Management). A human factors approach to more effectively managing of the flight, which makes optimum use of all available resources - equipment, procedures and people - to promote safety and enhance the efficiency of operations.

CVR - Cockpit Voice Recorder. This recorder provides a multi-channel recording of radio, inter-phone, and other communications from each pilot station, and cockpit area microphone audio, for use in accident investigations. Maximum storage capacity is between 30 minutes and 2 hours.

DFDR - Digital Flight Data Recorder. This recorder constantly records several thousand aircraft parameters for use in accident investigations.

DGAC - Direction Generale de l’Aviation civile (French Director General of Civil Aviation)

EASA - European Aviation Safety Agency. The Agency promotes the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation in Europe and worldwide. It is the centerpiece of a new regulatory system which provides for a single European market in the aviation industry.

ECAM - Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor. This system provides display and monitoring of aircraft systems. It uses the two center display screens on the instrument panel, and includes alerts, non-normal checklists, and other information.

ECP - Recurrent training in simulators

ELT - Emergency Locator Transmitter. A transmitter that sends an emergency location signal (trackable by satellite and search and rescue personnel). ELTs are typically triggered automatically by impact forces.

FCPC - Flight Control Primary Computer (PRIM)

Flight Director - A display, on the A330 consisting of a horizontal and a vertical command bars on the primary flight display (PFD). The command bars are generated by the flight management computer and provide pitch and roll guidance to the pilot to follow identical to the commands the autopilot follows when it is on. The FD and autopilot are usually both on in flight.

FO - First Officer

FPV - Flight Path Vector. A display on the PFD that shows the lateral and horizontal trajectory of the airplane independent of attitude.

GPWS - Ground Proximity Warning System

HF Radio - High Frequency radio. A radio spectrum (shortwave) that allows for long distance radio communications. It is widely used in oceanic areas where VHF radio coverage is not available. It is highly subject to interference and poor transmission quality.

ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization. Promotes understanding and security through cooperative aviation regulation.

IR - Inertial Reference. Three systems that provide attitude, heading, position, and other inertial based data

Mach - In reference to a scale where Mach 1.0 equals the speed of sound.

N
₁
- The speed of the fan stage of the engine, expressed in percent, though 100% is not the upper limit. It is the primary thrust setting parameter. 

ND - Navigation Display. On the A330 this display includes a moving map display, weather radar, TCAS, terrain, and additional navigation data.

PIC - Pilot in Command

PF - Pilot Flying

PFD - Primary Flight Display. On the A330 this one display includes attitude, airspeed, heading, altitude, vertical speed, auto-flight mode annunciations, and some additional information.

PNF - Pilot not Flying.

SAR - Search and Resecue.

SELCAL - Selective Calling. A system that allows the radio operator to transmit an aircraft’s unique SELCAL code. When the radio receiver recognizes its code, it sounds a call signal in the cockpit alerting the crew to contact the radio operator for a message. 

THS - Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer. aka: stab

TOGA - Takeoff/Go Around: A thrust setting and the full forward thrust lever position. If selected in flight with the flaps are out, it also commands the autopilot/flight director system to provide go-around guidance.

ULB - Underwater Locator Beacon

VHF Radio - Very High Frequency radio. The common radio band used aeronautical radio transmission. The transmissions are usually of good quality, but are limited to line-of-sight transmissions, and are therefore unusable for long distance communications.

About the Author

Bill Palmer is a currently an A330 captain for a major international airline.

As a member of his airline’s A330 development team for the introduction of the airplane to its fleet, he has been intimately involved in A330 fleet since 2002. He was the lead author and editor for the airline’s A330 systems manual, and has written numerous A330 training publications. He has served as an airplane and simulator instructor, check airman, designated examiner, and also on training related projects from video production to simulator certification.

Bill started flying at the age of 15, soloed on his 16th birthday and completed his private certificate at 17. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and holds a BS in Aeronautical Science. He earned his flight instructor certificate in 1978 and has been instructing almost non-stop since then, while holding airplane, instrument, multi-engine, and ground instructor certificates. Besides light aircraft he has also taught on the 727, 757, A320, DC-10, and A330, and written manuals for the DC-10, A330, and B-787 fleets. He has also produced numerous training publications and videos for the various fleets as well.

Bill holds an ATP with type ratings in A320, A330, B757/767, B777, DC10, and commercial glider and flight engineer-turbojet ratings.

Footnotes

1.
The indicated airspeed is the airspeed that shows on the airspeed indicator. As altitude increases, this value decreases in comparison to the actual speed through the air.

2.
The first class professional pilot’s license is no longer issued by French authorities, but it was a grade between the commercial and airline transport ratings that allowed the pilot to act as first officer on any aircraft and captain on aircraft weighing up to about 46,000 lbs.

3.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/was-air-france-captain-with-a-woman-when-flight-447-was-in-trouble/

4.
 Fatigue, alcohol and performance impairment NATURE, Volume 388, 17 JULY 1997, page 235

5.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9kFag4j2pQ

6.
 
http://www.lepoint.fr/societe/crash-du-rio-paris-la-fatigue-des-pilotes-a-ete-cachee-15-03-2013-1640312_23.php

7.
 
http://www.bea.aero/en/enquetes/flight.af.447/questions29juillet2011.en.php

8.
 
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=703

9.
The animation can be viewed in a web browser at this address: 
http://www.bea.aero/en/enquetes/flight.af.447/trajectoires/trajectoires010609.html

10.
AF447 Final Accident Report page 40

11.
Photo licensed to the public domain

12.
 
http://www.flyafrica.info/forums/showthread.php?20124-Similar-event-experienced-as-AF447

13.
 
http://www.gcaa.gov.ae/en/epublication/pages/investigationreport.aspx

14.
”Storm Finder. New weather radars should help airline pilots avoid turbulence and passenger injuries” Aviation Week & Space Technology dated September 13 2004

15.
Appendix 9 from the AF447 final report

16. 
AF447 Final Accident Report page 65

17. 
 AF447 Final Accident Report page 40

18.
Air France A330-200 photo copyright Wim Callaert

19.
 
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_12/attack_military.html

20.
 
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_12/attack_story.html

21. 
 AF447 Final Accident Report page 43

22. 
 AF447 Final Accident Report page 106

23.
Airbus ”Safety First” Development of A380 Flight Controls part 1

24.
This is similar to the normal operation of many conventionally controlled transport airplanes, which will lockout or limit some surfaces with flaps or slats extended.

25. 
 AF447 Final Accident Report page 174

26.
Engine speed is measured in percent RPM of the fan stage of the engine, commonly referred to as N1.

27.
As per phone conversation with Airbus experts on the accident.

28.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Airlines_Flight_6231

29.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birgenair_Flight_301

30.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroper%C3%BA_Flight_603

31.
 
http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2010/aar1003.PDF

32. 
 AF447 Final Accident Report page 195

33.
American Airlines Flight 587 Accident report, page 160

34. 
 
http://www.ausbt.com.au/pilot-panic-brought-down-air-france-af447-investigators
 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-wise/how-panic-doomed-an-airli_b_1135004.html

35.
 
http://www.killology.com/art_psych_combat.htm

36.
 AF447 Final Accident Report page 204

37.
Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents-Worldwide Operations, 2002-20011,  Boeing Commercial Airplane Group,
http://www.boeing.com/news/techissues/PDF/statsum.pdf

38.
Aviation Week and Space Technology, Amping the Envelope December 2, 2012

39.
Loss of Control in Flight, Training Foundations and Solutions, Randall Brooks, European Airline Training Symposium, November 2010

40.
Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents-Worldwide Operations, 2002-2011, p.22, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group 
http://www.boeing.com/news/techissues/PDF/statsum.pdf

41.
Aviation Week and Space Technology, Amping the Envelope December 2, 2012

42.
 
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo/all_safos/media/2013/SAFO13002.PDF

43.
Degradation of Pilot Skills, Graduate Thesis, University of North Dakota, Michael W. Gillen, December 2008

44. 
 AF447 Final Accident Report  page 192