Flight operational quality assurance (FOQA, ) also known as flight data monitoring (FDM) or flight data analysis, is a method of capturing, analyzing and/or visualizing the data generated by an

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or by using the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in ...

moving through the air from one point to another. Applying the information learned from this analysis helps to find new ways to improve flight safety and increase overall operational efficiency. Several

airline An airline is a company that provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for codeshare agreements, in wh ...

s and various national

air force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...

s have initiated FOQA programs to collect, store and analyze recorded flight data. The goal is to improve overall aviation safety, increase maintenance effectiveness and reduce operational costs.

Acronyms

*FOQA = flight operational quality assurance, *FDM = flight data monitoring, *FDA = flight data analysis, *MOQA = maintenance operational quality assurance, *MFOQA = military flight operational quality assurance, *SOQA = simulator operational quality assurance, *CFOQA = corporate flight operational quality assurance, *HFDM = helicopter flight data monitoring, *HOMP = helicopter operational monitoring program.

Applications

As a result of an ICAO Annex 6 mandate, all airlines are required under regional legislation to implement Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) programs. However, in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

, the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...

(FAA) does not yet require FOQA programs for commercial operators. The data recorded can be either pilot generated (as he or she moves the controls) or mechanically induced by related systems in the aircraft itself. "A significant barrier to wider adoption in the United States is pilot's universal lack of trust in who will see and act on the flight data once it is recorded and studied." The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requirement is defined in EU-OPS section 1.037. The FAA defined FOQA in its Advisory Circular #120-82, dated April 12, 2004. The agency's ''Air Transportation Operations Inspector's Handbook'' (FAA Order 8400.10, August 9, 2006) details what a valid FOQA system contains. An excerpt from Volume 1, Chapter 5, Section 2, page 1-221 of this FAA document states: "Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) is a voluntary safety program designed to improve aviation safety through the proactive use of flight-recorded data." In

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

, Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made it mandatory for all airline operators to carry out Flight Data Analysis for flight safety. Instruction clearly states the need for a flight safety department for all scheduled operators. Non-scheduled operators are required to present a safety report on a half-yearly basis to DGCA.

Literature

* US DOT: Advisory Circular
Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA), AC No: 120-82
12. April 2004. * European Union: Regulations
EU-OPS 1
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 8/2008 of 11 December 2007. * CAA Safety Regulation Group
CAP 739 Flight Data Monitoring
A Guide to Good Practise. First issue 29. August 2003. * swiss49 ag
FDM booklet for Pilots
V1.0, 13. January 2009 * IATA
IOSA Standards Manual
January 2008.

References

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Aerospace engineering Aviation safety