GHOST BUSTING
ADVANCED REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING
SE 6361 (FALL 2014)
DR. LAWRENCE CHUNG
PRESENTED BY: ADAM HOWARD
LARRY AND JANE GLAZER
Larry Glazer Real estate developer in Rochester, New York Buckingham Properties - Rochester’s largest
commercial real estate portfolio Xerox Tower Bausch + Lomb Midtown Tower
Jane Glazer Math Teacher (before going into business) Owner of QCI Direct – A catalog company Completed New York City Marathon in 1995
“The Glazers were innovative and generous people who were committedto revitalizing downtown Rochester and making the city they loved a betterplace for all.” - Gov. Andrew Cuomo
PAYNE STEWART
Well known for his exuberant golfing outfits
American Professional Golfer
Won MCI Heritage Golf Classic 1989
Won PGA Championship 1989
Won US Open 1991 & 1999
Played for the US on three World Cup teams
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
• Flying in private aircraft
• Aircraft deviated from flight plan
• No response when Air Traffic Controller radioed
• Two F-16 called in to investigate the “Ghost Aircraft”
• F-16 pilots report windows iced over
• Autopilot for both aircraft were engaged
• Aircraft crashes after running out of fuel
• No survivors
WHAT HAPPENED?
• Mechanical failure compromises the integrity of the cabin
• Cabin depressurizes • Door, window or duct seal failure?
• 60% of corporate jet depressurizations are caused by uncontained engine failure• Air enters engine from outside, drawn off, compressed,
heated and used to pressurize the cabin
• Pilot and crew experience hypoxia
WHAT IS HYPOXIA?
• Hypoxia - a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply.
• What happens at 40,000 feet during depressurization?• Warning alarms/lights go off in cockpit
• Pilots dawn oxygen mask / masks fall from ceiling for passengers
• Pilot takes aircraft below 10,000 FT
• Normally, atmosphere inside airplane should never feel more than @ 8,000 FT
TIME OF USEFUL CONSCIOUSNESS
Altitude (feet) Consciousness15000 30 min or more
18,000 20-30 min 22,000 5-10 min 25,000 3-5 min 28,000 2.5-3 min 30,000 1-3 min 35,000 30-60 sec 40,000 15-20 sec 45,000 9-15 sec 50000 6-9 sec
Research by the US Air Force shows 80 % of pilots with no experience of decompression wait as long as 15 seconds to
respond correctly to a loss of cabin pressure.
Stewart (46.4K)
Glazer (28.0K)Mt. Everest (27.9K)
PROBLEM-GHOST AIRCRAFT-
Small aircraft depressurization and pilot/crew becomes unconscious
• With autopilot engaged aircraft keeps flying at high altitudes
• Air Traffic Control has no status of aircraft
• Standard practice is to contact Air Force and request assistance
• Chase plane providing visual inspection is all they can do
• Autopilot continue to fly the programmed course for hours
• Aircraft eventually runs out of fuel and crashes
(This could happen over a highly populated area )
Post crash analysis• Cockpit Voice and Data Recorders (CVDR) have
limited voice recording capability making it difficult to hear communications if outside record window
2 HRS of voice recording time
GHOST BUSTING(THE SOLUTION)
• Autopilot detects depressurization and takes aircraft to lower altitude (<10,000 FT)
• Get crew and passengers to a breathable altitude
• Maybe pilot will regain consciousness and save the day
• In flight data link
• Capture CVDR data
• Download state of aircraft
• Report estimated fuel remaining to pinpoint crash site (to avoid populated areas)
• Determine cause of malfunction
• Remote override of autopilot to redirect aircraft
• Smart Cockpit Voice Recorder - saves recordings in relation to alarms and events
CHALLENGES
• What to do if system can’t decent to < 10,000 FT
• Flying in the mountains
• Traffic below aircraft
• Security
• FAA Regulations
ROBERT EDWARD “BO” REIN
Ohio State University Football (1964-1966 )-Led team in receptions 1964 & 1965-Rushing in 1966
Baseball (1965-1967)- Helped win 1966 College World Series
Noted Football Coach (1972-1980)North Carolina State Louisiana State
REFERENCES
• USA Today <http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/golf/stewart/stewfs05.htm>
• Cabin Decompression and Hypoxia <http://www.theairlinepilots.com/forumarchive/aeromedical/decompressionandhypoxia.php>
• MailOnline <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2746154/Rescuers-wreckage-plane-NY-real-estate-developer-wife-crashed-Jamaica-flying-1-700-miles-unconscious.html#ixzz3FwatEXvN>