Pilots Flying Fatigued Alertness in the Skies Essay

Pilots Flying Fatigued Alertness in the Skies - Essay Example A National Transportation Safety Board safety study of U.S. major air carrier accidents attributed to flight crew error from 1978 to 1990 found that in half of the flights crews had been awake for more than 12 hours prior to their accidents. "Crews comprising captains and first officers whose time since awake was above the median for their crew position made more errors overall and significantly more procedural and tactical decision errors" (Strauss, 2007). Fatigue has significant physiological and performance consequences. It is essential that all flight crewmembers remain aware and play their role in flight safety by their observations and actions. As fatigue is a safety concern, this discussion will describe the symptoms of fatigue along with its physical and psychological effects specific to airline pilots. Looking into the factor of pilot fatigue and how it affects the aviation industry in the short and long runs is the concern of this study. The paper will research on the extent of fatigued pilots flying in the skies and the hazards it poses to consumers and the aviation industry in general. Factors that lead to this problem and possible solutions will also be discussed. The study will contribute to a better understanding of the risks the aviation industry is facing when pilots fly their airplanes under fatigued conditions. It is important that consumers have closer insights on the limitations of the pilot. Airline owners need to get a better view of pilots as a special human resource with tremendous roles and responsibility. Knowing what causes fatigue will effectively give solutions to problems that can directly be attributed to pilots flying planes under stressed conditions. Pilot fatigue is a national interest in so much as it is the concern of airline clients and owners. Safety in the skies is a multi million dollar industry because besides human lives, transport goods using airplanes has developed ways of business and lifestyles. Disruption does not only cause delays but also loss of business. The study will therefore contribute to the growing research that is urgently needed by regulating bodies. "The National Transportation Safety Board has cited fatigue as a factor in more than 20 aviation accidents. As a result, addressing the issue of pilot fatigue has been on the NTSB's Most Wanted Safety Improvement List for almost a decade.In order to address the issue of pilot fatigue, the FAA does have regulations in place that limit pilots' hours of service. In addition, since December 1995, the FAA has been working on updating and improving the Federal regulations limiting pilots' flight time. The FAA wants to incorporate the latest research on fatigue into regulations, as well as simplify existing rules, making it easier to respond to changing business practices in the aviation industry." (House of Representatives Report, 1999) Studies help private entities and public officials appreciate the effectiveness of existing laws and regulations. However, studies help improve existing regulations that can prevent accidents from happening. In a fast paced environment where people and machines continuously attain twenty-four hour by seven-day operations, studies like this will share valuable information. Pilots Flying Fatigued Documented accidents have shown that pilot error can be attributed to

Trend Paper- Current Trend in America to End Capitol Punishment Essay

Trend Paper- Current Trend in America to End Capitol Punishment - Essay Example Since then more than 15,000 American citizens have been executed under the death penalty inscribed in its laws and practices, with the first half of the twentieth century marking the period of time in its history, when there was the most prolific use capital punishment (Dieter, 1). The new Millennium has been marked by a rising trend against the use of capital punishment in the laws and practices of America. Drop in execution rates, unwillingness of some states to use capital punishment, and rising exonerations are clear indications of the growing trend in America against capital punishment. A recent Gallup poll confirms the trend against capital punishment, with support for capital punishment reducing among the general American population to the lowest level in the last thirty years (Sarat & Martschukat, 2). There is a clear rising trend against capital punishment in America. ... nt in the American judicial system, it is necessary to evaluate the trend in the attitude of the States and communities that make up the American nation. New Jersey stands out as being the first jurisdiction to remove capital punishment from its judicial system by means of legislative action, in 2006. A commission was appointed by New Jersey for evaluating its capital punishment system, and the commission by a vast majority recommended the removal of the capital punishment system. In Illinois, in 2000, consequent to a near miscarriage of justice, the Governor banned capital punishment, which still remains in place. Attempts to reinstate death penalty that was overturned in 2004 have been strongly resisted by the New York legislature (Dieter, 3). The scenario across America is almost the same, reflecting a clear indication that the death penalty is no longer popularly acceptable across the country. In twelve states death penalty finds no place in their statutes. Among the other 38 sta tes the application of death penalty is less than more, with probably the State of Texas remaining the sole staunch supporter of the continued use of capital punishment. With such clear evidence of mounting resistance to capital punishment across America, there can be no argument against the rising trend against the use of capital punishment in America (Revenge begins to seem less sweet). Arguments for the Removal of Capital Punishment The lethal injection used for capital punishment may be a benign manner of bringing an end to the life of an individual through the judicial process. Yet, many a botched execution, resulting from its use by unqualified personnel or poor management has roused the empathy of the public to the manner in which a condemned man is put to death (Sarat & Martschukat,