The Aircraft Accident Investigation That Never Was

The Italian Transition that Never Was

The recent argument that the notion of „transition‟ should be set aside in attempting to explain the trajectory of Italian politics in the past two decades is to be welcomed, but does not go far enough in explaining why we, as Italianists, got our case wrong and how exactly we might get our case right today. The transitional „myth‟ was born and maintained despite growing evidence of its inheren...

Aircraft accident investigation: the pathologist's role.

General Aspects in Aircraft Accident Investigation

Wiegman and Shappel (26) described years ago a practical and comprehensive model of human factors which can be applied to every accident. The so named HFACS or Human factors Accident Classification System model followed the causative models described by previously by Reason (17) and later by AGARD WG-23 (19). Nowdays it constitues a handy taxonomical tool to identify and determine causal facts ...

John Tyndall and the Royal Medal that was never struck.

Just once in its long history has a Royal Medal been awarded but not presented. John Tyndall FRS (1820-93) was the chosen recipient in 1853 for his early work on diamagnetism but declined to accept it. The story of why Tyndall felt compelled to turn down this considerable honour sheds light on the scientific politics and personal relationships of the time, on the importance given to the study o...

Aircraft accident investigation: the decision-making in initial action scenario.

In the complex aeronautical environment, the efforts in terms of operational safety involve the adoption of proactive and reactive measures. The process of investigation begins right after the occurrence of the aeronautical accident, through the initial action. Thus, it is in the crisis scenario, that the person responsible for the initial action makes decisions and gathers the necessary inform...