Space Weather and the Aviation End User: Advancing Operational Safety Through Research-to-Operations-to-Research (R2O2R)

Allied Pilots Association-Aeromedical Committee, Chairman, CAPT Rondeau Flynn

Space Weather and the Aviation End User: Advancing operational safety through

Research-to-Operations-to-Research (R2O2R)

Airlines rely on predictable systems that offer accuracy, precision, and redundancy to uphold the highest level of safety for aviation operations. Aviation recently celebrated its 122^nd year, and has become the safest mode of transportation that humans have ever created. Understanding the complex relationship between space weather and airline operations can be simplified with the use of “aviation impact products” and using standard operating procedures to enhance the decision making process for both aviation stakeholders and end users.

Aviation safety within the end user community is deeply ingrained, and has led to many aviation successes. Building upon this safety culture, space weather can influence aviation operations, and provide additional risk; this risk is not linear, but dependent on geographic location, altitude, education, and access to space weather products and services. Operational success can be found with the use of highly accurate forecasts and advanced space weather models that extend lead times in forecasting. Advanced space weather models create a risk reduction profile for aviation operations, human biology, and communication systems for the safety of aviation operations.

This presentation will expand on the growing needs of the aviation community, and outline initiatives to collaborate and develop aviation centric space weather products. Advancements within the scientific research and end user communities can fill the knowledge gaps of aviation end users, and accelerate the capabilities to enhance the (O2R) Operations to Research framework.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the Allied Pilots Association (APA) serves as the certified collective bargaining agent for the 16,000 professional pilots who fly for American Airlines.

APA was founded in 1963 and is the largest independent pilots’ union in the world. APA provides a broad range of representation services for its members and devotes more than 20 percent of its dues income to support aviation safety.