Environmental Factor that Affects Aircraft Performance

Aircraft performance is a science. How an aircraft flies depends heavily on two factors - pressure and temperature. Atmospheric pressure applies a weight, and therefore a force on aircraft in flight (PHAK, 11-2). The atmosphere becomes less dense with increased altitude. Without acknowledging the environmental effect of air pressure on an aircraft, pilots would not have an accurate reading on their altitude or be able to determine the aircraft's capabilities. 

The average atmosphere weighs 14.7 pounds per square inch (PSI) (PHAK, 11-2). This matters because as the atmospheric density decreases, there is less air for the engine to operate with, the propeller becomes less efficient thus creating less thrust, and lift is decreased due to less force on the airfoils (PHAK, 11-2). 

Pilots rely on an instrument called an altimeter to get an accurate reading on pressure altitude, which affects aircraft performance and also when assigning aircraft to altitudes above 18,000 feet (PHAK, 11-3). The aircraft’s altimeter takes measurements in mercury and millibars. The standard surface pressure at sea level is 29.92 inches of mercury, and the altimeter automatically shows the altitude when operating in the standard atmosphere (PHAK 11-3). When the atmosphere has additional pressure forces, the pilots adjust their altimeter to account for the pressure changes and provide an accurate altitude. As the density of the air increases, so will the performance of the aircraft. Temperature also affects the density of the atmosphere. As the air temperature increases, density decreases. As air temperature decreases, density increases (PHAK, 4-4). Pilots need to know the atmospheric pressure and pressure to determine the aircraft's capabilities. 

(PHAK, 11-2, figure 11-1)

References 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2016). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK).                 Retrieved https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/

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Ethics in the Aviation Industry

The aviation industry is a unique career field because it is seldom a grey area. The purpose of air traffic control is to prevent collisions, provide a safe airspace, and support homeland defense missions (FAA, 2020).

To ensure safe operations, there are an abundance of rules in place in aviation.  Ethical thinking and behavior supports an environment of trust and truthful communication between everyone operating in the aviation realm.  

If a pilot does not adhere to an altitude he/she was assigned in order to arrive to the airport sooner, a collision may occur. If an air traffic controller makes assumptions rather than verifying what the pilot request, there is no way to ensure a safe airspace. If a maintainer chooses not to do a final safety check on the aircraft he/she is responsible for, many safety issues may arise in flight. 

There are countless ways aviation can become unsafe. By adhering to a higher level of ethics, the most important being truthfulness, integrity, and personal responsibility, aviation accidents and mishaps can be kept to a minimum and provide a safe place to operate.  

Resource:

Federal Aviation Administration. United States Department of Transportation. (2020). 

    Joint Order 7110.65Y CHG 1. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/