Date of Award

May 2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Aviation

First Advisor

Mark Dusenbury

Abstract

The nature of aviation is not without inherent risk. Conducting flight training operations increases the overall risks due to inexperience of the student pilot and the challenges of the learning environment. Flight data seeks to reduce these risks; as seen in its success for commercial airlines. These successes are slowly coming to general aviation through programs like the National General Aviation Flight Information Database (NGAFID). This study seeks to determine if the type of takeoff performed by the flight crew led to a lower indicated airspeed (IAS) during a low airspeed on climbout event. Using 262 individual low airspeed on climbout events within the NGAFID, this study determined that a stop-and-go takeoff led to the lowest airspeed during climbout. This study also determined that low airspeed events while the aircraft was turning did not have a significant impact on the severity of the airspeed during the event. This information is critical for flight instructors during training exercises to monitor airspeed during critical phases of flight to reduce the possibility of a stall/spin condition. Additional research is needed in the field to further reduce the fatality rate for low airspeed and stall/spin conditions. Dashboarding tools within the NGAFID can be created to facilitate instructor-led student debriefings in real time regarding performance during a flight training event.

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