module specification

This module examines the key aspects of safety, security and disaster management as they pertain to the aviation industry including regulations and processes currently employed in the sector. It examines the role of regulators and relevant Government agencies in promoting effective safety and security management.

The aim is for students to have an understanding of current best practice as it pertains to the aviation sector and the issues that arise from implementing this both in the UK, EU and globally. The module will also provide students with knowledge and understanding of the systems and procedures used to make commercial flying an exceptionally safe form of transport via an understanding of safety management systems and human factors analysis in accidents and incidents.  This module also aims to provide an insight into emergency planning and crisis management within the UK aviation industry, focusing primarily on airport responses to disaster and accident scenarios together with related Government legislation.

The regulatory framework for safety and security
Regulation organisation and rule making
Recording and reporting on safety data
Review of safety statistics 
Accident causation models
Human factors in aviation safety / psychology for airline accidents // CRM
Air traffic safety systems
Aircraft safety systems – introduction to SMS
Airport / airline safety – health and safety at Work Act
Aviation security  - the role of Dept for Transport (TRANSEC)
Airline security methods
Airport security methods
Crisis management for aviation
Airline safety and safety management systems

The formal delivery of the teaching and learning will be based on three contact hours per week. The contact hours will be formed of a three hour work shop involving lecture/seminar periods. The teaching and learning techniques employed on the module will consist of the following;

• Formal lectures
• Guest lecturers
• Case studies
• Panel discussions and debates
• Films / DVD’s
• Scenario based activities

Within the module there is significant opportunity to participate in proactive learning activities via the use of Weblearn facilities which promote inter-active discussions between both peers and lecturers and enables learners to share resources and access links to external journal articles, websites and other sources.

Discussion and debate are actively encouraged both within the classroom context and via Weblearn. Students participating in this degree come from a variety of backgrounds and often have a wealth of industry experience upon which to draw. It is useful to access this via proactive and inter-active classroom management. Students have a responsibility to prepare for forthcoming lectures so as to ensure that they fully understand the concepts discussed and, so as they can participate fully in debates and discussions. This can be done via accessing the module specifications on-line or via Weblearn, and ascertaining the forthcoming weeks lecture content.

Tutors will provide an indication of forthcoming lecture content at the end of each preceding lecture. The student should then research articles and textbooks as appropriate around these themes so as to contribute fully to discussions and inter-active Question and Answer sessions within the lecture.

Opportunities for reflective learning will be available throughout the module as students are given the opportunity to consider their approach to tasks and discussions whilst simultaneously having the opportunity to reflect upon informal feedback that may be given from lecturers on ideas and concepts spoken of in class and, on assessments submitted.

On successful completion of the module the student will be able to:

1. Critically assess the regulatory framework that affects the air transport sector with regard to health, safety and security.
2. Critically evaluate contemporary issues in aviation security and the role of national and international co-operation to defeat the threat to aviation.
3. Critically investigate the role of air accident investigation and human factors in the issues of accidents and incidents and the role of crew training for the reduction in air accidents and incidents.
4. Critically analyse the benefits of introducing safety management systems into airline and airport operations.
5. Explain the role and inter-dependencies of key agencies and organisations relating to contingency planning and disaster management within the aviation system.
6. Assess the benefits of multi-agency co-operation in the planning of major disaster events and how to adopt best practice in the management of major catastrophic events

 The assessment strategy will be based on 3 elements including 2 elements of coursework and 1 presentation as follows:

• A report on an air accident.
• A group presentation on the issues for safety management system introduction plus a group report.
• Case study report of into the safety and security of the aviation system.

The assessments in this period will be supported by a field trip to the United States of America so that students see the remarkable complexity of the mature air travel market in the USA and the safety and security working environment of airlines and airports.

Recommended texts:
Ballesteros,J. (2007)  Improving Air Safety Through Organisational Mangement. Ashgate.
Godstone,J. 2003. Unsafe at any Height. Ashgate
Goeters. K-Martin, 2004, Aviation Psychology: Practice and Research, Ashgate
Harris. D & H, Muir. 2005, Contemporary Issues in Human Factors and Aviation Safety, Ashgate
Hawkins F 1987, Human Factors in Flight, Ashgate
Wells, T.  (2010) Commercial aviation safety (4th Edition), Mc Graw-Hill

Background texts:
Barrett, B. & Howells, R. (1997) Occupational Health and Safety Law, M&E/Pitman.
Barrett, B & Howells, R. (2000) Occupational Health and Safety Law: Text and Materials (2nd Ed), Cavendish.
Bergman, D. (2000) The case for corporate responsibility, Disaster Action
James, P. & Walter, D (1999) Regulating Health and safety at Work: The way forward, The Institute of Employment Rights

Aviation psychology reading:
Banbury. S, and Tremblay. S, 2004, A Cognitive Approach to Situation Awareness: Theory and Application, Ashgate
Field,A. 2000. The Control of Air Traffic. Eaton
Helmreich. R, & A, Merrit. 1998, Culture at Work in Aviation and Medicine: National, Organisational and Professional Influences, Ashgate
Hunter, J. 2009. Anger in the Air. Ashgate
Moore, K.C. 2002. Airport, Aircraft and Airline Security. Ashgate
Muir, H. 2005.Contemporary Issues in Human Factors and Aviation Safety. Ashgate.
Stolzer, A. 2010. Safety Management Systems in Aviation. Ashgate.
Stolzer, A. 2011. Implementing safety Management Systems in Aviation. Ashgate

Risk/Crisis Management reading:
Duffey, R. (2008) Managing Risk: The Human Element. Wiley Blackwell
Garlick, A.R. (2007) Estimating Risk: A management approach. Gower
Holliwell, J. (1998) Risk: enough rope to hang the business. Financial Times Publication
Risk Management Handbook. (2009) FAA
Ritter, L. (2007) Securing Global Transport Networks: A Total Security Management Approach. McGraw Hill
Valsamakis, A.C. (2002) Risk Management: Strategy,Theory and Practice, RIRG
Wells, A. and Chadbourne, B. (2000) Introduction to Aviation Insurance and Risk Management. Krieger
Yilmaz, A. (2008) The Best Enterprise Risk Management Practice for Airline and Airport Business. VDM Verlag
http://www.ukresilience.info/ccact/index.htm - 'responding to emergencies', guide to civil contingencies act 2004
http://www.www.caa.co.uk - publications section with particular emphasis on CAP 642/576/168