Jumpstart your
problem solving
with QED Templates

Aircraft navigation systems are advanced technological platforms for guiding aircraft safely and efficiently through airspace. Aircraft navigation system errors can have severe consequences and may arise from various sources. These systems consist of instruments and technologies designed to determine and monitor the aircraft’s position, altitude, speed, and heading. The most common components of these navigation systems include GPS (Global Positioning System), inertial navigation systems (INS), VOR (VHF Omni-directional Range) stations, and radar systems. By working together, these navigation systems enable pilots to precisely plan routes, navigate, and maintain situational awareness, which is critical for ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel. Errors in aircraft navigation systems can have severe consequences and may arise from various sources. Analyzing these errors through the 5M 1E framework can help to identify contributing factors.

Aircraft Navigation System Errors

Man

•   Misreading
•   Wrong interpretation of navigation data
•   Incorrect input

Machine

•  GPS receivers failure
•   Malfunctions in inertial navigation systems (INS)

Materials

•   Faulty charts/ maps
•   Incorrect navigation database

Method

•   Errors in data entry
•   Incorrect navigation procedure
•   Outdated flight planning method

Measurement

•   Inadequate monitoring of navigation systems
•   Failure to cross-check multiple sources of navigation data

    Environment

•   Solar flares
•   Atmospheric disturbances
•   Electromagnetic interference (EMI)

Fishbone diagrams visually represent potential causes contributing to a specific problem. This visual clarity helps teams understand the complexity of issues and identify possible areas for improvement.

Who should use the Aircraft Navigation System Errors template?

• This fishbone is helpful for anyone who wants to know the reasons for errors in the aircraft navigation system.

Why use this template?

• It helps anyone interested in learning more about avionics and faulty aircraft navigation systems.
• This Ishikawa diagram is simple. Designing a fishbone template becomes much more comfortable as one can arrange causes and sub-causes categorically. It is also helpful in analyzing other problems.
• Draft and create a template for problem analysis in ProSolvr by smartQED

Curated from community experience and public sources:

• https://skybrary.aero/sites/default/files/bookshelf/2437.pdf
• https://www.ctsys.com/gps-navigation-system-failure-grounds-hundreds-of-flights/