The Dangers of Automation in Airliners: Accidents Waiting to Happen

The Dangers of Automation in Airliners delves into the risks and challenges of automation in aviation, exploring the history, development, and implications of automation systems. It highlights the tragic accidents caused by automation failures, such as the Boeing 737 MAX crashes and the Airbus A330 loss over the South Atlantic. The book also examines the human factors that can contribute to automation errors, including pilot training, workload, and decision-making processes. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach to aviation safety and ensuring that automation systems are designed and implemented with safety in mind.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Automation in aviation has the potential to be a lifesaver, expertly guiding a plane and its passengers through stormy weather to a safe landing. However, it can also be a murderer, crashing an aircraft and killing all on board in the mistaken belief that it is doing the right thing. Lawrence Sperry invented the autopilot just ten years after the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903, but progress was slow for the next three decades. Then, came the end of the Second World War and the jet age, which marked the beginning of the real trouble.

Aviation automation has been pushed to its limits, with pilots increasingly relying on it. Autopilot, autothrottle, autoland, flight management systems, air data systems, inertial guidance systems, and other advanced technologies are all part of this automation. However, these systems are only as good as their inputs, which, incredibly, can go rogue. Even the automation itself is subject to unpredictable failure.

Can automation account for every possible eventuality? And what of the pilots? They began flight training with their hands on the throttle and yoke, and feet on the rudder pedals. Then, they reached the pinnacle of their careers as airline pilots and suddenly found themselves going hours without touching the controls other than for a few minutes on takeoff and landing. Are their skills eroding? Is their training sufficient to meet the demands of today's planes?

The Dangers of Automation in Airliners delves deeply into these questions. You will be in the cockpits of the two doomed Boeing 737 MAXs, the Airbus A330 lost over the South Atlantic, and the Bombardier Q400 that stalled over Buffalo. You will discover exactly why a Boeing 777 smacked into a seawall, missing the runway on a beautiful summer morning. You will also watch pilots battling - sometimes winning and sometimes not - against automation run amok.

This book also investigates the human factors that contribute to these accidents. It explores the psychological effects of automation on pilots, including stress, fatigue, and distraction. It also examines the training and certification requirements for pilots, and whether they are sufficient to meet the demands of modern aviation.

In conclusion, automation in aviation has the potential to be a great asset to safety, but it also carries risks. It is essential that pilots and airlines take steps to mitigate these risks and ensure that automation is used in a safe and responsible manner. The Dangers of Automation in Airliners provides a valuable insight into the dangers of automation in aviation and the steps that can be taken to address them.

Weight: 392g
Dimension: 157 x 234 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526798275