module specification

The aviation industry has a huge number of interdependent factions within it and this leads to vast operational complexities. This together with a highly regulated industry, a competitive and dynamic external environment and a substantial level of Government involvement has the potential to expose airlines and airports alike, to a vast array of risks and uncertainties, both internally and externally.

This module examines the key aspects of safety and security issues as they pertain to the aviation accidents and incidents including regulations and processes currently employed in the sector. It examines the role of regulators and relevant Government agencies and international organisations in promoting effective safety and security management through the use of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Security Management Systems (SeMS).

The module aims to provide students with:
an understanding of current best practice that is being promoted by competent regulators and international aviation organisations in enhancing safety and security of the industry.
knowledge and understanding of the systems and procedures used to make commercial flying an exceptionally safe form of transport via an understanding of SMS.
tools that can be used to select and implement techniques for the identification, quantification and management of hazards, threats and risks.
to comprehend how SeMS procedures can be integrated into airport and airline operations.
 
The module also aims to develop students' skills, in particular: academic study skills; literacy; applied analysis; critical thinking; interpersonal and team-working; communication, including oral presentation and problem solving.

NA.

Safety Regulation

• The regulatory framework for safety and security LO1
• Regulation organisation and rule making LO1

Accident reporting and SMS

• Recording and reporting on safety and security data LO2/LO3
• Review of safety and safety statistics LO2/LO3
• Accident causation models LO2
• Safety Management Systems LO2
• Safety Reporting LO2
• Safety Culture LO2

Airline and airport security

• Airline security methods LO3
• Airport security methods LO3
• Security Management Systems LO3

The formal delivery of the teaching and learning will be based on three contact hours per week spread over 12 weeks. The contact hours will be formed of a two-hour interactive session which draws from teaching and learning strategies such as workshops, lectures, guest speakers, case study discussions, panel discussions and debates, videos, online Weblearn platforms, as well as scenario-based real time activities and simulations.

Peer to peer learning will also feature within the programme as students work together to develop solutions to practically based solutions and assess/ critique the relevant impact.

Groupwork will form a large part of the sessions, with student participating in active learning as they disseminate and discuss relative experience and acquired knowledge on factors which contribute to accidents and serious incidents.

The remaining hour of contact time will be a seminar-based approach where students will explore current safety and security themes and trends in more detail.

We will also make use of alumni to provide a careers perspective for this section of the industry and make use of guest lecturers to provide contextual learning around safety and security.

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 on accidents and incidents and appropriate readings 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.

At the end of this module, Students will be able to:

LO1 Assess the regulatory framework that affects the air transport sector with
        regard to health, safety and security.
LO2 Evaluate the structure and importance of implementing safety management
        systems in aviation.
LO3 Explore new and existing information on contemporary issues in aviation
             security and the importance of national and international co-operation with a
             view to identifying new patterns of thinking and relationships.

The assessment of this module will take the form of a group presentation. Students will be placed in groups of five. They will be given five ramp scenarios in which regulations have been beached. Each student will be required to use CAPs and any other documents to explain the regulation breaches in one of the scenarios and come up with recommendations. All the group members will then come up with a summary of recommendations to improve ramp safety. The second assignment is a written individual report which looks into how contemporary psychology and human factor issues can be addressed using the models and procedures taught in the module.
The module’s assessment is passed on aggregate.

https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/users/4452E3A4-89E9-7BAC-4BF2-766C62139526/lists.html
Core Textbooks

Sweet, K. (2008). Aviation and Airport Security, Terrorism and Safety Concerns. CRS Press.

Stephenson, K., Cusik, J., & Antonio, I. (2017). Commercial Aviation Safety. McGraw-Hill Education.

Recommended texts:

Stolzer ,A.(2008) Implementing safety management systems in aviation, Ashgate

Ballesteros, J. (2007) Improving Air Safety Through Organisational Management. Ashgate.

Harris. D & H, Muir (2005) Contemporary Issues in Human Factors and Aviation Safety. Ashgate

Wells, T. (2010) Commercial aviation safety (4th Edition), Mc Graw-Hill

Duffey, R. (2008) Managing Risk: The Human Element. Wiley Blackwell

Garlick, A.R. (2007) Estimating Risk: A Management Approach. Gower

Online Sources
IATA (International Air Transport Association): https://www.iata.org/
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organistaion): https://en-gb.facebook.com/InternationalCivilAviationOrganization/