ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS…

FlightProfiler™ provides risk transparency into the flight under scrutiny.  It provides confidence (in that a good decision is being made) and objectiveness (in that a disinterested, independent source has performed an analysis of the flight).  This can then be utilized in many ways, not the least of which is as a check-and-balance with the flight crew to further ensure the safety of the flight. Most flight crews feel they do a good job of synthesizing the large amounts of data that come with every flight. The truth is that pilots (as people) are good at a lot of things, but this is not always one of them; and the consequence is that most decisions come down to gut feel. Computers are better than people at analyzing large amounts of data – which is not to say that they can replace people. Rather, they provide rigorous, repeatable analysis that is never influenced by gut feel, emotion, ego or pressure – and that can be used to drive better decisions. When this rigor is added to ATC it forces risk transparency.  This is good.  This will save lives.

3.        How accurate is FlightProfiler™?

FlightProfiler™ is capable of calculating a discreet answer (such as, this flight is 17% risky), but FlightProfiler™’s value and real accuracy is in how it calculates a multivariate answer (such as; a combination of factors X, Y & Z are leading this flight towards a higher level of risk and therefore you may want to look into changing A, B & C). It is very important to note that FlightProfiler™ can not predict the future. A perfectly routine flight can be eventful and an inherently unsafe flight can be uneventful. This service attempts to quantify and visually illustrate flight risk. Its results should always be challenged, it should never be used alone and it must be subordinate to ATC and flight crew decisions.

4.       Who uses FlightProfiler™?

People who are responsible for determining if flight plans are acceptable/safe/favorable. People who are responsible for researching flight plans. People who are responsible for optimizing the allocation of resources (pilots, aircraft, etc.). People who are responsible for representing passengers and flight customers. People who are responsible for flight safety.

5.      How does FlightProfiler™ make our operations safer?

• With risky flights, profiling exposes where unnoticed or inadvertently missed risks may be lurking…thereby enabling flight plans to be modified.
• With a satisfactory flight plan, profiling can show where risk increases and therefore where ATC, flight crew and flight management vigilance can be increased.

FlightProfiler™ addresses a need for risk auditing of the actual flight. Products & services exist for auditing of Flight Department processes, management & crew and of the factors that influence flights (e.g., weather, pilot qualifications, etc.), but nothing exists for the actual flight…that is the gap that we fill.

 

7.       Why link with ATC?

The US has a 10:1 aircraft to controller ratio that is growing and most options to modernize are significantly expensive.  ATC is evolving into ATM (air traffic management) specifically because of risk.  A system like ours can cheaply and easily bridge the many gaps that exist on our mutual path forward.

 

8.        Does the FlightProfiler Optimal Profile or FlightProfiler™ Minimum Profile fluctuate?

Generally speaking, the FlightProfiler™ Optimal Profile represents a best-case scenario and the FlightProfiler™ Minimum Profile represents a combination of low, but acceptable standards. These profiles have been engineered to show flight safety bounds and therefore are most valuable as reference points. It is not necessary to reconfigure flights so that they mirror the Optimal Profile. However, it is beneficial to know how close/far your flight is in relation to these reference profiles.

The FlightProfiler™ Minimum Profile does not represent a FAA-minimum (regulatory) boundary. Although FAA minimums are calculated in the profile, there are too many interacting factors to represent a "legal" minimum line. As such, intersecting this line does not represent that FAA regulations are being broken or that the flight is taking unnecessary risk. However, it does represent that risk is high and that the flight parameters should be double-checked and challenged.

10.      Is FlightProfiler™ for pilots?

It is for pilots and many pilots are using FlightProfiler™.  Some pilots believe that programming could never replicate their experience or decision making abilities - and they are right, but this tool was never designed to do that.  This tool was created to deliver a specific type of perspective that should be used in conjunction with pilot experience.

11.      Do all factor selections really influence profiles?

They do, although some influences are small. During the design of FlightProfiler™ a decision could have been made to not include those factors with a low or improbable risk. We decided against that because the small extra effort it took to get data on those factors provided a more comprehensive flight profile.

12.      Why is the FlightProfiler™ graph background yellow and orange?

Originally, the background included distinct regions of green, yellow and red. This was visually pleasing, but it was too suggestive – implying that a profile that completely fell within a green region would be risk-free. We adopted the current background because it was more realistic in that all flights have risk.

13.      When should the service be utilized? How often should it be used?

FlightProfiler™ should be employed on a per flight (leg or cycle) basis. If a flight will be departing from New York and stopping in Chicago before leaving for a final destination in Los Angeles, the program should be run twice…once for each leg. Our weather feed comes from one of the best sources in the world...which is on contract with the US Goverment.  However, because weather is such a dynamic factor, even the best data can quickly become inaccurate.  Our data feed includes forecasts as much as 130 hours out, but to ensure the best accuracy, profiles should be run as close to acutal departure time as possible.

14.      Are there situations where it is most beneficial to use FlightProfiler™?

FlightProfiler™ was created to aid flight/mission planning decisions. Its value is best recognized prior to aircraft departure. While flight management teams on the ground can utilize the program while the aircraft is enroute, if flight conditions are changing rapidly flight managers must appreciate that inputs for FlightProfiler™ may not accurately reflect what is actually taking place.

15.      Why do most Profiles fall in the yellow, upper portion of the graph?

Most profiles should fall in the yellow, upper portion of the graph. This signifies that the flight management team is doing their job – ensuring that flights are safe. Aviation is a very safe industry. Most flights are extremely safe and therefore profiles will indicate the same.

16.      Why is there so much space below the FlightProfiler™ Minimum Profile?

On those occasions where there is an increase in flight risk, we want the user to notice. We do not want complacency (in that the user expects to see a good profile) or inattention (in that the user does not recognize that a profile shows risk) to occur. Therefore, we have disproportionately weighted risk such that it is accentuated. The visual consequence of doing this is that the graph needs a lot of space below the FlightProfiler™ Minimum line to reflect those profiles where risk increases.

17.      Do flight profiles correspond with flight phases?

Profiles are snapshots that represent combinations of influences. Profiles do not represent or correspond to flight phases. Said differently, FlightProfiler™ does not model dynamic flight phases (such as climb, top of descent, etc…). For example, the curve to the immediate left of the right vertical axis does not represent the flight on "short & final.” Instead, the slope of the line at that point represents if risk is increasing or decreasing at the destination.

18.      How does FlightProfiler™ integrate into a Flight Department? How should it by utilized?

No tool or service will be successful without a strong, standardized and disciplined safety culture backing it up.  If this describes your department than FlightProfiler™ will easily and successfully integrate into the organization. At many locations, Schedulers & Dispatchers will utilize FlightProfiler™ to fulfill their roles & responsibilities. At other companies, Flight Managers, Charter Managers, Director’s of Operations and Pilots will utilize the service. The following is one recommendation for utilizing the service… Schedulers & Dispatchers (DOs/Flight Managers at smaller companies) should run a profile once most data is known about an upcoming flight. It is beneficial to run the profile even if all data is not known…and then run it again as more data becomes available. Once a profile is generated, it should be reviewed with DO/Flight Managers. DO/Flight Managers can ascertain risk levels and make determinations.  For example -he/she may decide that more data may be needed to better understand why risk is increasing at the destination. If the DO/Flight Manager is satisfied with the flight plan, but realizes that risk may be higher at certain points…developing alternate/contingency plans with Flight Crews, Schedulers & Dispatchers and the rest of the organization may be beneficial.

All flights have risk, so no matter what profile is computed – even the very best – each flight needs independent review. In this particular case, because the selected flight does fall close to the FlightProfiler™ Minimum Profile, it should be analyzed further. For example, if just a few changes are made to the flight, the profile could dip below the FlightProfiler™ Minimum Profile; or if just a few changes are made to the flight, the flight’s safety margin could dramatically improve.