Introduction to Aeronautical Science

  Today, I would like to discuss the problems that can be caused by icing on a fuel injected engine system, with a Cessna 172 in mind. Although fuel injected systems are greatly advantageous compared to carburetor systems in regards to icing, there are still problems that can occur. The main concern would be impact icing, that type of icing being the type that gathers on the outside of the aircraft ("Aircraft Systems", 2008, p. 7-11-7-12). Impact ice usually occurs when there is moisture in the air, whether that be mist, rain, snow, clouds, or others of the like. This ice build-up is similar to what may be experienced when ice builds up on an aircraft’s wings (Martin, 2017). Naturally, icing conditions and icing should generally be avoided as best as possible, but if faced with a situation where icing threatens, it is important to know how it could possibly interfere with your fuel injected engine. One of the greatest concerns regarding fuel injected engine systems and impa...

  Hi Class, This week I wanted to look more closely into landing performance on wet runways. As we read this week in our readings, wet runways can be extremely detrimental to the landing performance of aircraft. The two major factors that need to be considered is first, braking effectiveness. Braking effectiveness is the percentage of power that the pilot needs to apply to the brakes without allowing the aircraft to skid. When the runway is wet, there is a risk of dynamic hydroplaning, which is when the runway is covered with a layer of water that the wheels ‘ride’ on, leaving them unable to experience the friction of the runway and unable to brake effectively (“Aircraft Performance”, 2008, p. 11-1-11-28).  Even if there is not a full coating of water on the runway, the water present can still prevent effective braking. One way that this risk can be decreased or mitigated is the use of grooved runways at airports, which is considered one of the best options. Not only does...

Within the aviation industry, the connection between ethics and safety is vital. The aviation industry, whether it be military, commercial, or even recreational, carries lives of millions in it’s hands everyday. Ethics can be connected to nearly every aspect of the industry - from the manufacturing of parts, to the assembly of the aircraft, to the training of the crew, to split-second decisions made in near emergencies, and everything in between. In ways, I believe that ethics within the industry rides on the idea of putting others before yourself. In regards to the assembly of the aircraft, dedicating extra time and effort towards making sure every aspect of the aircraft is correctly assembled would be the more ethically right decision when compared to rushing to finish the assembly to contribute to an increased quota, or rush through assembly so the worker can take a break. That rushed assembly could lead to a part being too loose on an aircraft or another part being prone to breakag...