SM4 Safety Articles & Resources
Putting Complacency on the Defense
It has been a theme of much of my own writing and speaking to aviation professionals that the temptation to latch on to and proclaim that technology will save aviation from the bane of human error is an overused trope.
When Parallel Paths Diverge
The global aviation industry has made considerable progress in the area of safety management with the introduction of the Safety Management System (SMS).
Sucking It Up in the Inverted World: Why Simulators Won’t Cure Your Squeaky Voice (or Your Crew Dynamics)
The aviation industry operates at an unprecedented level of safety. Automation makes the bulk of what we do incredibly reliable, yet we now have a generation of aviators for whom the most intense physical challenge is peeling the foil off a lukewarm catering tray.
How Much SMS Does Your Flight Department Need?
A safety management system scales to the operation using it. For a small flight department, the core functions can fit inside the routines the team already runs.
When the Drone Does Something Unexpected: Preparing Pilots Beyond the Checklist
A pilot is finishing a routine aerial inspection when the drone stops responding as expected. The video feed freezes, a warning appears or the aircraft begins an automated maneuver the pilot did not anticipate.
Before the Event: Finding Safety Signals in Everyday Flight Data
Most flights end exactly as planned. The passengers arrive, the aircraft returns to service and no safety report is filed. Yet from a safety perspective, the flight’s data may still have something important to say.
Fatigue Reporting: Lessons from Reticent Doctors and Lax Parents
Whether you are aware of it or not, if you work in a safety-sensitive role, you are constantly faced with micro-decisions about whether a given situation has crossed the threshold to become a potential safety hazard.
The Safety Culture Delusion: Why Aviation Leaders are Flying Blind
Walk into almost any corporate flight department or charter operation and you’ll find a familiar message: Safety is our highest priority. Ask leadership how they know that statement is true, and the answer is often the same: an annual safety culture survey.
Preparedness Is Key To Combat Growing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Interference
Over the past several decades, GNSS has evolved from a convenience to a critical component of modern aviation safety. Today’s aircraft rely on GNSS for aircraft positioning and navigation, instrument approaches, surveillance and traffic awareness, terrain awareness and runway overrun prevention.
