Many Swedish fighter pilots over the years have died during air missions. In recent years there has not been any breakdown of the JAS 39 Gripen with fatal outcome, although it has been close on several occasions. The high risk that it means to carry out daily training missions combined with serious missions, makes the role of the group interesting. It raises questions about the group dynamics on a fighter squadron. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate whether existing group theory used in the Understanding Group and Leader training at the Swedish National Defence College can be applied to fighter squadrons. Thus it was examined what the fighter squadrons do to achieve and maintain a well-functioning team, in order to ultimately deliver high efficiency in air combat missions. The method used was qualitative interviews. Interviews were conducted with the squadron leaders of the fighter squadrons who fly the JAS 39 Gripen in the Swedish Armed Forces. In order to produce query data and analyze the interview material, indicators derived from the group theory were used. The survey result shows that group theory used in courses at the Swedish National Defence College can be applied to fighter squadrons. The result also shows aspects of the fighter squadrons activities not found in the theory. This is especially the case in aviation activities, where the group performs at a high level with short notice, regardless if the group maturation generally is lower. The elements that fighter squadrons use to achieve and maintain a well-functioning group, consist of creating conditions for participation in the goal setting process, an open atmosphere to effectively manage conflicts, set occasions with feedback, management of experience and teambuilding.

Optimization of flight operations is a way to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment and make the use of airspace more effective. Reductions in fuel consumption and flight time are further desired by airlines to minimize operational costs. The flight planning tools of today optimize the vertical profile with the knowledge of wind conditions at different altitudes. Cost optimal speeds are however currently selected by the aircraft computer itself. Because this selection is performed locally and with limited data, e.g., weather, there is reason to believe speeds could be further optimized for an overall lower cost. This work presents a model constructed to optimize speeds through the implementation of modified cost indices along the cruise phase of a flight for minimized cost including fuel and time consumption. First, the effects of different parameters on the economical speed chosen by the aircraft are presented. A brute force approach is then used to establish optimal cost index selection when all possible paths are evaluated. From this, a speed optimizing dynamic programming model is constructed to find optimized cost index paths. Results of the model show reductions in flight costs, presented as either a fuel or a time reduction. Conclusions are derived from the test results to suggest improvements of the model and the next steps for aircraft flight speed optimization. / Optimering av flygverksamhet är ett sätt att minska påverkan av flygindustrin på miljön och effektivisera användandet av luftrummet. Minskningar av bränsleförbrukning och flygtid är vidare efterfrågat av flygbolag för minimering av flygverksamhetskostnader. Dagens planeringsverktyg optimerar den vertikala flygprofilen med information om vindförhållanden på olika altituder. Kostoptimala hastigheter väljs däremot av flygmaskinen själv i nuläget. I och med att dessa val utförs lokalt och med begränsad information, bland annat om väder, finns det anledning att ana att hastigheter kan optimeras ytterligare för att sänka helhetskostnader. Detta arbete presenterar en modell skapad för att finna optimerade hastigheter som implementeras med modifierade kostindex längs sträckflygningsfasen av en flygning för minimerad kostnad inkluderande bränsle- och tidkonsumption. Först presenteras effekten av olika parametrar på den ekonomiska hastigheten vald av flygdatorn. En brute force-metod används sedan för att fastställa den optimala kostindex banan då samtliga möjliga vägar utvärderas. Utifrån detta skapas en dynamisk programmeringsmodell för hastighetsoptimering för att finna en optimal kostindex bana. Resultat från modellen visar minskade flygkostnader i form av antingen bränsle- eller tidsbesparingar. Slutsatser dras utifrån testresultaten för att föreslå förbättringar av modellen och nästa steg för optimering av hastighet för flygplan.

<p>In the essay, the view of mistakes and disciplinary sanctions within the military aviation and health and medical service, are compared. The comparison shows that military aviation and health and medical service could have several points in common on how mistakes may occur, but that the present view of mistakes is different betwen the sectors. The view of mistakes and disciplinary sanctions is explicit within military aviation, and is based on a clear ideology on how mistakes occur, which is characterised of a systematic approach. Within health and medical service, an explicit and unequivocal ideology on how mistakes occur is missing, but, however, there are implicit ideas about infallibility and perfection. The comparison indicates that the view of mistakes is also, possibly directed by a bureaucratic model (instead of an ideology on mistakes), which aims to legitimacy, but that this may happen on the expense of not taking surrounding circumstances into consideration. In that way there may be a certain contrast in the health and medical service’s present system between rule of law and medical service safety.</p>

In the essay, the view of mistakes and disciplinary sanctions within the military aviation and health and medical service, are compared. The comparison shows that military aviation and health and medical service could have several points in common on how mistakes may occur, but that the present view of mistakes is different betwen the sectors. The view of mistakes and disciplinary sanctions is explicit within military aviation, and is based on a clear ideology on how mistakes occur, which is characterised of a systematic approach. Within health and medical service, an explicit and unequivocal ideology on how mistakes occur is missing, but, however, there are implicit ideas about infallibility and perfection. The comparison indicates that the view of mistakes is also, possibly directed by a bureaucratic model (instead of an ideology on mistakes), which aims to legitimacy, but that this may happen on the expense of not taking surrounding circumstances into consideration. In that way there may be a certain contrast in the health and medical service’s present system between rule of law and medical service safety.