THE RUNWAY DE ICING PROBLEM: ARE PILOTS RESPONSIBLE?A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The recent crash (spring 1992) of an airliner at La Guardia Airport, in which icing on the wings was implicated as a causal factor, has intensified the debates over (1) the role de icing plays in air transportation safety, and (2) the extent to which pilots are responsible for air transportation problems were de icing is implicated as a causal factor. The fatal crash at La Guardia was only the latest of several in recent years in North America in which de icing was implicated as a causal factor.
It is proposed that a research study be conducted, the purpose of which will be to examine the de icing problem as it affects air transportation safety. Specifically, the focus of the proposed research will be the assessment of the following questions:
1. To what extent should airline pilots be responsible for assuring that effective de icing procedures are observed, and that aircraft do not take off until such procedures have been effected?
2. To what extent should airline pilots be responsible for formulating and determining the adequacy of de icing procedures?
The findings of the proposed research study will be presented in the form of a five chapter research paper. Chapter titles and contents for the proposed research paper will be as follows:
Chapter 1 Introduction: This chapter will state and explain the problem investigated, describe and explain the research methodology employed, and outline the presentation of the findings of the study. It is planned that the data required for the proposed study will be obtained through the conduct of library research.
Chapter 2 The Air Transportation Safety Problem Generally: This chapter will provide an overview of the broad issues involved in air transportation safety. All of the various factors contributing to air transportation safety, of which de icing is but one, will be reviewed, and the int...