What Ethics in the Aviation World Means to Me

     The system I have chosen for this post is the aircraft electrical system. According to the pilot's handbook of aeronautical knowledge, the electrical system is generally a 14 or 28 volt direct current system that consists of several working components. Examples of these could be: an alternator, voltage divider, an electrical generator, a load meter, a battery, fuses/circuit breakers, and all of the wiring needed to facilitate the connections for it to function ( Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge , 2016). The primary means by which it does this is via the belt-driven alternator during normal operation. The power generated this way is then sent to maintain the battery's charge as well as provide the necessary voltage to operate the various aircraft systems. Some of these include: The fuel system, flight control, navigation, environmental, and aircraft lighting. It should be noted that this system is known to be one of the more reliable but failures, thoug...

     The environmental hazard that I have chosen for this blog entry is the pressure changes and its effects on altitude readings. W e measure this through the use of an altimeter, according to J.C Bellamy. If the factors influencing pressure remained constant, then pilots would be able to maintain a constant height with ease. However; this is rarely the case. These variables need to be accounted for on the altimeter so that it displays the true altitude. An example: if an aircraft is flown from a high pressure area to a low pressure area the constant altitude would be displayed, but the actual height of the aircraft above the ground would be lower than the indicated altitude. The other major factor that influences this is temperature. For example, when the pilot flies into a colder air mass while keeping a constant altitude, the true altitude would be lower due to the molecules moving more slowly, crowding together, and causing the air to increase in density (Ahrens, pg....

Ethics has several definitions available to it according the Merriam-Webster's dictionary. However, the one I am choosing to represent is: A set of principals that dictate the actions of a group or an individual (M erriam-Webster, 2021 ). My interpretation of this is the concept of a personal moral compass. This idea resonates with me due to my experiences within the aviation world as a maintainer. One of the sayings that has always been drilled into our head is "Do the right thing, even when no one is watching."  Another is "by the book" maintenance. It is easy to become deafened to the importance of your work because of the repetitive nature of the job and that equipment/ parts are replaceable. Another tire changed, another antenna sealed, these things can encourage complacent attitudes to easily form. Right? But what about the lives of the pilots and crew that are dependent on the ability of the maintainers to complete these tasks correctly every time? The qu...