Voluntary and Confidential Reporting Systems as a Means of Reducing the Accident Rate in Shadow 200 Flight Operations

<p>Although effective, the United States Army's Shadow 200 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has suffered an unacceptably high accident rate. Errors committed by operators have significantly contributed to this accident rate. The voluntary and confidential Aviation Safety Reporting System and Aviation Safety Action Program have been successful in identifying and addressing errors committed by air carrier pilots. This study has explored the implementation of voluntary and confidential reporting systems in Shadow 200 flight operations. Mixed methods research combined quantitative survey data and qualitative interview data as a means of determining attitudes relevant to the implementation of such systems. Identified deficiencies included: (a) Checklist errors, (b) misunderstanding of the Operational Hazard Report, (c) reported errors resulting in negative responses, and (d) Shadow operator perceptions of existing error reporting systems. Recommendations have been made relevant to remedying these deficiencies, improving the safety culture in the Shadow community, and conducting further research on related topics.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Aeronautics

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Applied Aviation Sciences

Year

2007

Author dc:creator

• Jagnow, William Lawrence

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nickolas D. Macchiarella
• Roger Mason
• Thomas Weitzel

• reporting systems
• Shadow 200
• flight operations
• Aviation
• Aviation Safety and Security

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/89

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:db-theses-1128