This presentation discusses FOQA (Flight Operational Quality Assurance), a program that uses digital flight data from routine operations to proactively improve aviation safety. It describes how FOQA works, the technology involved, data analysis process, and benefits. FOQA allows identification of safety issues from aggregated and de-identified data to reduce risks rather than punish individuals. The presentation outlines the history and regulatory framework of FOQA in the US and how it can integrate with a Safety Management System and other programs like ASAP.

1. Flight Operational Quality Assurance
(FOQA)
FOR
Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring
(HFDM)
Presented by:
Tom Longridge
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions
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2. What is FOQA?
Systematic, pro-active, and non-punitive use of
digital flight data from routine operations to
improve aviation safety…
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3. FOQA Concept
External Sources
Flight • Safety Reporting Systems
Data • Maintenance Databases
• Weather
Ground Manufacturers
Analysis
Facility Flight Training
FOQA TEAM
De-identified • Monitoring Team Mx/Engineering
Data • FOQA Analyst
• Safety Staff ATC/Airports
Events
and • Working Groups Safety
Measurements
Flight Operations
What Has Happened Why It Happened
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4. What FOQA Brings to Safety
 Safety not be defined as absence of accidents
 FOQA allows operators to know:
 How close to “brink”
 Problem severity
 FOQA enables decision-makers to actively identify,
manage and reduce risks
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5. Why FOQA is Important
 Objective, quantitative data routinely collected during
normal operations
 FOQA data:
 Provides objective measures of normal operations
 Enables early identification of problem areas
 Reduce risk and increase safety and reliability
 Identifies actionable information that can lead to
change
 FOQA helps change aviation safety from reactive to a
proactive mode
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6. FOQA in U.S.
 Voluntary program in U.S.
 Should be non-punitive and focus on identification of root causes and their
correction not place blame
 Just Culture
 Operators are not required to obtain FAA approval of FOQA programs
 Operators that seek FAA regulatory protections for FOQA data must
obtain FAA approval of their FOQA programs
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7. FOQA Milestones
 1991 - FAA contracts Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) to investigate
feasibility of flight data analysis programs for US airlines
 FSF report documents feasibility for US and coins the term “FOQA”
 1995 - DOT holds “Zero Accidents Safety Summit”
 Recommendation - FAA encourage and facilitate FOQA
implementation at U.S. air carriers
 1995 - FAA funded FOQA Demonstration Project
 1999 - UK CAA/Industry jointly funded Helicopter Operations
Monitoring Program (HOMP) study
 2009 - IHST publishes 1st Edition of HFDM Toolkit
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8. FOQA Program Phases
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9. FOQA Technology Components
 Airborne data recording and collection systems
 Data Transmission Systems
 Ground Data Replay & Analysis System (GDRAS)
 Data analysis & visualization tools, e.g., Flight
Animation Systems
 FOQA technology - has become increasingly
feasible for entire range of commercial helicopter
operators
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10. Data Acquisition Technology
 Dramatic Changes in Technology Past Decade
 Quick Access Recorders (QARs), e.g. optical disk
 Mini-QARs (Solid State Memory Devices)
 Combination units that combine QAR function with Flight Data
Acquisition Unit (FDAU)
 Light Aircraft Recording Systems (LARS)
 Self-contained GPS/Inertial units can capture essential aircraft
state information without system bus interface
 Newly purchased aircraft may be ordered FOQA equipped, or
FOQA ready, directly from the factory
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11. Media Evolution
 Tapes – now obsolete
 Optical Disks
 PCMCIA Cards
 Compact Flash Cards
 Solid state memory
devices
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12. Data Retrieval Methods
 Manual
 e.g. physical removal of disk or pcmcia card
 e.g. in-aircraft transfer of data from recording media to
portable unit
 Electronic
 e.g. wireless
 e.g. cell phone
 e.g, satellite
 Many competing technological approaches to choose
 Considerations:
expense
in-aircraft equipment installation
availability of airport infrastructure
bandwidth
operating environment
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13. Possible Considerations for
Choice of Equipment
Capability Comparison CommuniCube Teledy
Data Retrieval Methods
Manual Data Retrieval
Autom atic Data Retrieval
Cellular Modem
WiFi 802.11Modem
VHF Modem
Satellite Modem
Pre Process Data
Connectivity
ARINC 717 / 573 1
ARINC 429 Rx 7 1
ARINC 429 Tx 7 1
Ethernet 4
RS 422 2 1
RS 232 4
Analog Inputs 44
Analog Outputs 4
Digital Inputs 64
Storage Media (up to GB) 64
Software/Hardware Upgrades
Flight Tracking
FDR Correlation
Satellite phone
Electronic Flight Bag Connectivity
Maintenance Tracking
Maintenance Manual Storage
Upload to Aircraft Databases
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14. FOQA Analysis Software
 Provide configuration tools for parameters, Logical Frame Layouts (LFLs),
aircraft, airports, events, etc.
 Transform flight-recorded data into usable format for processing & analysis using
LFL
 Process data
 Analyzes data to detect triggered events & routine operational measurements
 Generate reports & visualizations to help event interpretation
 Generate trend reports
 Referred to as Ground Data Replay and Analysis Systems (GDRAS) in US
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15. FOQA Analysis Software (Continued)
 Availability and usability of FOQA analysis software improving
 1996: Two vendors
 2004: Eight vendors
 2011: Sixteen-plus vendors?
 More efficient
 1992 FSF Study: One analyst for 20 aircraft
 Now: One analyst for 250 aircraft or more
 Easier to customize
 Build your own events
 Better analysis & visualization tools
 Vendor analysis services can reduce in-house labor
requirements
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16. Example of Visualization Tools
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17. Flight Animation Systems
 Creates real-time, interactive, high fidelity graphical depictions of
flight & simulator data
 Great analysis & communication tool
 Helps better understanding of some events
 Useful for training (new airfields, event recreation)
 Can be tied into simulator for debriefing purposes
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18. Typical Data Users In
an Operator’s FOQA Program
Maintenance/Engineering 57%
Operations 71%
Operations Control and Dispatch 18%
Performance Engineering 29%
Pilot Association 32%
Safety 93%
Training 54%
Other 11%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
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19. Pre-defined Events
allow streamlined analysis
 Events = Grouping of parameters to describe well-
recognized, flight operation “evaluation” points to be
tracked and monitored
 Two types of Events:
 Triggered Events
 Routine Operational Measurements
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20. Triggered Events
 Occur outside normal operating envelopes for specific
make/model/series
 Defined in terms of values of applicable parameters
 May be specified in terms of seriousness: Low – Medium - High
 Generates data characterizing each event
 Example Triggered Event:
 Excessive pitch-up during landing
Pitch>15 degrees, Elevation<50 feet MSL, Ground Speed<40
knots, Duration<2 seconds
 Excessive rate of descent
Elevation<10K ft MSL, Ground Speed>30 knots, Vertical
Speed>1500 ft/min, duration>2 seconds
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21. Routine Operational Measurements
 Provides “Snapshot” of normal operations
 Useful for tracking how close to edge of normal operations is being
experienced
 Provides statistical information that can be used to determine what
is “normal”
 Example Routine Operational Measurements:
 Takeoff/climb speed at 400 feet MSL
 Vertical Speed, Ground Speed at 450 ft MSL, Latitude 34o 1.0 min
North, Longitude 118o 27.2 min West
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22. Distribution Based Analysis
 Some operators prefer distribution-based approach to focus on
triggered events and routine operational measurements
 More powerful analysis and identification of anomalies
 Entire distribution of values for every FOQA parameter is collected and
analyzed
 Allows determination of shape, average value, and variance of a
distribution for given period of time.
 Entire distributions compared over time
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23. Change in Parameter
Distribution Over Time
P
A
R V
A A
M L
TREND
E U
T E
E
R
TIME IN MONTHS
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24. U.S. Regulatory Protections
 FOQA Rule (14 CFR Part 13.401)
 Effective 30 November 2001
 FAA Approved FOQA Programs:
 No use of FOQA data for enforcement
Exception - criminal or deliberate acts
 Requires aggregate FOQA data to be provided to FAA in form and manner
acceptable to Administrator for use in monitoring safety trends
 Requires FAA approved FOQA Implementation & Operations (I&O) Plan
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25. U.S. Regulatory Protections
Safety Data
 Safety Data Protection Rule (Part 193)
 Published 25 June 2001
 FAA Order 8000.81
 Effective April 14, 2003
 FOQA data provided to FAA from approved, voluntary FOQA program
 Protected from public disclosure
 FAA protects FOQA data from release under FOIA
 Once designated as protected IAW Part 193
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26. FOQA Advisory Circular
(AC No: 120-82)
 Published 12 April 2004
 Based on review and recommendations by FOQA Aviation
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARC)
 Provides guidance on means to develop, implement, and
operate voluntary FOQA program acceptable to FAA
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27. FAA Access to FOQA Data
 Approved FOQA I&O Plans requires:
 Provide access to de-identified aggregate and trend data
 Regularly brief local FAA office on adverse safety trends
 Inform FAA of corrective actions planned or taken
 Level of local FAA office involvement varies by operator
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28. FOQA Integration with
Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)
 ASAP - voluntary program for obtaining reports of safety related events,
including alleged violations of FARs
 90+ operators have FAA Approved ASAP MOUs
 Most U.S. operators with FOQA Programs also have ASAP Programs
 FOQA provides objective data on what happened
 ASAP provides insight as to why it happened
 ASAP is acceptable means of meeting SMS requirement for employee
reporting program
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29. SMS
HFDM
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30. SMS Process Flow for Hazard ID and Risk Management
Start
System Analysis & Hazard
Identification
Inputs: Safety Risk Mgt
System &
•New System
Task
•System Change
Analysis
•New Operational Procedure
Hazard
Identification
Inputs: Safety Risk Mgt
•Hazards identified from Safety
Assurance
Risk
Risk Assessment &
Analysis Control
Evaluate
Controls
Risk Outputs: To Safety
Assessment
Assurance,
Control/
Mitigate
Safety
Risk)
Risk
Control
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31. Closing the Loop with FOQA Data
 Identify problems
 Determine corrective
Review Data – Acquire Data – action
Evaluate Actions Identify Problems
Taken  Evaluate effectiveness of
corrective actions based
on continued acquisition
and analysis of FOQA
data
Analyze Data –
Implement
Corrective
Action
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32. FOQA/ASAP
Information Sharing Meetings
 Operators present safety issues identified and actions taken, or
planned
 Based on individual FOQA & ASAP data
 Includes OPS, FA, DX, and MX employee group ASAPs
Provides for both separate (by discipline) meetings & joint sessions
 Managed by MITRE for FAA
Next meeting 29-31 March 2011 in Memphis, TN
 Register Online for InfoShare at:
www.mitrecaasd.org/infoshare
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33. Aviation Safety Information
Analysis & Sharing (ASIAS)
 FAA program with MITRE IT & analytical support
 Aggregate and cross-correlate safety related data from multiple sources:
 De-identified FOQA, ASAP, VDRP, ASRS data
 FAA data, e.g. ATC radar data, NMACS, AIDS, etc.
 Military data
 National resource for discovering common, systemic safety problems
 Span multiple operators, fleets and regions in global air transportation system
 Requires wide industry participation for success
 Supports multi-agency data sharing
 Supports international data sharing
 Governed by joint FAA/Industry ASIAS board
 Operator signs non-disclosure agreement and MOU with MITRE
 Participation is acceptable means of complying with 14 CFR 13.401
 Benchmark individual operations against national average
 See http://www.asias.faa.gov/ for further info and contact information
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34. Useful Resources
 www.ihst.org
 HFDM Toolkit and other resources
 www.caa.co.uk
 HFDM study reports and other resources
 www.foqa-asap.com
 Info and tools for both FOQA and ASAP
 rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library
 FAA FOQA AC 120-82 and other resources
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35. Successful FOQA Programs Require
People A Skilled Team of Professionals
Processes Integrated Step-by-Step Activities
Technology Tools, Technology, and Support
FOQA REQUIRES THE COORDINATION OF ALL THREE
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36. The End
Any Questions?
If you have any questions click on any of the links below to either send us an email or view our
web pages, thank you for your interest. (Links work in Slide Show mode only.)
Our FOQA Team
Aviation Technology Solutions
Bill Norwood Bob Whetsell Greg Taylor
wnorwood@jdasolutions.aero bobw@aerobytes.co.uk gtaylor@westernavionics.com
www.jdasolutions.aero www.aerobytes.co.uk www.westernavionics.com
301-941-1460 ext 170 512-898-8809 800-668-9704
Presented at Heli-Expo 2011
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