SM4 Safety Articles & Resources

OR
Air traffic control team working in airport tower

Code Red: Planning for the Cyberattack Aftermath

This is an era of rapid change and technological advancement, and although it is challenging, responsible organizations seek to manage and mitigate cyber risks. Insecure systems and uncertain people, added to inadequate contingency plans, create a perfect business continuity storm in the aftermath of a cyberattack.

Posted on December 10, 2024
Aircraft mechanic inspects a jet in hangar at airport

Let’s Get Personal (About Risk)

Aviation loves to talk about risk management. Insurance companies, manufacturers, and organizations all fully embrace the concept and know that to make it work on the line, we must get people at all levels and from all functional areas to embrace it. Tools such as the Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) are noble attempts, but at the core of it all lies the simple fact that people, as individuals, view risk differently.

Posted on December 10, 2024
check engine lights

Check Engine Light: The Illusion of Program Effectiveness

An aviation company’s responsibility is to ensure regulatory compliance and conformance to its internal policies, procedures and processes, including voluntary standards. To do that, leaders and team members throughout an organization must understand and monitor the “dashboard lights.”

Posted on November 5, 2024
person writing in notebook

Gaining Insight Into the Living DNA of a Safety Management System

Managing safety culture is like baking bread. It is a living organism, and no matter how you measure the ingredients and bake it, each loaf has its own unique shape, color and crumb. However, a multidimensional safety culture survey can be a vital tool for periodic assessment and improvement.

Posted on November 5, 2024
UPRT Flight training

Rise Up for the Next Generation

There is no doubt in my mind that flying is the way mankind is meant to travel, yet the continued success and growth of the industry requires a refined approach to safety. As someone who flies commercially and with a new interest in a career in aviation, I want the reassurance that the pilot in command (PIC) and crew are adequately prepared if and when an aircraft ends up in an upset.

Posted on October 1, 2024
pilot in cockpit

Cognitive Overload in Aviation Training: Understanding and Mitigating Risks

If we look through a microscope at the elements of “safety”, we see things that are often hidden. We secretly know that the rules don’t matter as much as the attitude of the company and the person using them. The reality is that the rules are simply a benchmark to form a circle of safety parameters around an organization to establish the minimum level of safety.

Posted on October 1, 2024
airplane mechanics talking in the hangar

Peer Support Programs: Transforming How Aviation Addresses Mental Health

While the industry has evolved in acknowledging these issues, stigma still impedes many from seeking available resources. Here, the significance of Peer Support Programs (PSPs) has been increasingly recognized. These initiatives offer a confidential haven where concerns can be openly discussed, free from judgment.

Posted on September 3, 2024
Mechanic and flight engineer having a discussion

How High Demand Can Lead to Decreased Professionalism

It’s a good time to be an aviation professional. Demand is high, and supply is low. Options are many. Wages are up. For the first time in years, professionals in the aviation industry have the upper hand. But there is a dark underbelly to these good times.

Posted on September 3, 2024
woman with megaphone at demonstration

Preparedness and Protocols for Encountering Protests and Demonstrations

Civil unrest, workforce strikes and political demonstrations present unique safety elements for our global mobile aviation industry. Business aviation, despite a very low collective carbon footprint and many significant contributions to green energy initiatives, is unfairly and increasingly targeted by protestors.

Posted on August 8, 2024