SM4 Safety Articles & Resources
A wealth of knowledge provided by experts in aviation safety can be found here in our Aviation Safety Resource Library. From time-proven safety and risk management principles to updates on the latest in aviation safety regulation, you’ll find the information you need to strengthen the safety culture in your organization. The content available here can be used as curriculum in your organization’s safety systems, and the experts whose content appears here are available as aviation safety consultants and safety trainers.
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Safety Management Systems in Aviation Maintenance
There has been “much ado” about Safety Management Systems (SMSs) in aviation since their debut many years ago. A great deal of the attention has gone to SMS implementation in the Flight Operations arena, and it’s been a positive story.
The Modern “Water Cooler”: How Collective Intelligence Drives Aviation Safety
Who would have thought the humble water cooler would still be driving industry-wide progress? In aviation, progress has always been fueled by shared knowledge.
How Compounding Risks Drive Runway Excursions
Runway excursions rarely result from a single factor. More often, they develop when several manageable risks combine into a situation that leaves little margin for error.
Strengthening Aviation Safety Through Collaboration and Community
Safety is not just a set of rules or a manual on a shelf. For those of us at Global Aerospace, it is a lived experience that requires us to get out of the office and into the hangars.
After the Waiver Era: How Part 108 and DJI Uncertainty Are Reshaping Drone Programs
The drone industry is navigating a profound shift as the flexibility of the waiver era gives way to the permanence of system-level standards.
The Very Real Danger of Hidden Risk
We’ve all seen the charts. The ones that pop up in every safety briefing, every recurrent training module, every postmortem after a close call. Takeoff and landing eat up the lion’s share of accidents. Loss of control in flight. Weather. Mechanicals. The stats are clean, the bars are colorful and the takeaway is always the same: Pay attention during the critical phases and you’ll keep the shiny side up.
When Risk Becomes Routine: Normalization of Deviation in Your Operation
Let’s start with a simple question: What’s something in your operation that technically “works,” but doesn’t fully align with your standard operating procedures?
The Case for Better Standard Operating Procedures
In July 2008, a business jet operating under 14 CFR Part 135 touched down long on landing. In its analysis, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that, recognizing the deteriorating situation, the flight crew attempted a balked landing and initiated a go-around.
Taking Care of People: The Intersection of Humanitarian Training and Psychological Safety
Humanitarian training prepares organizations to care for people in the aftermath of tragedy. Yet even the most carefully crafted procedures cannot succeed if employees do not feel safe to speak, learn and act. To respond with compassion and competence, people must trust not only the process but also one another.
Unpacking In-Flight Medical Events: A Business Aviation Perspective
The skies present a complex environment where unforeseen medical events can occur at any moment. For business aviation operators who pride themselves on exclusivity, efficiency and safety, understanding these events and preparing accordingly is not optional.
Airline-Grade Insight, Business Aviation Agility
For many years, there was a noticeable divide in how operational data was used across the aviation industry. Large airlines generated vast volumes of flight data and employed dedicated teams to analyze trends across their fleets.
Does Banking Sleep Work?
Recall the last time you were on a flight or duty that cut into your natural daily sleep pattern. Chances are you were annoyed at the sleep deprivation but leaned in to combat the fatigue stress with a combination of operational risk controls, personal fatigue countermeasures and grit.
The Case for a Business Continuity Policy
Among the most devastating of events that could befall a flight department is an accident that results in the loss of life. A corporate flight department is a close-knit group of people that can almost be considered a family, and the impact of a fatal accident is profound.
“My Aircraft!”
No one wants to hear a crew member shout “My Aircraft!” when they are the pilot flying (PF). Although it only happens when things have gone astray, it is something…
Safety Intelligence Is Business Intelligence
Traditionally, when we think about safety, we think about compliance—adhering to regulations or audit standards. Spending money on formal safety systems is often viewed as an unnecessary expense. After all, the thinking goes, if we haven’t had a serious incident or accident, why spend the money?
Elevating Aviation Safety With CBTA
The aviation industry loves acronyms, so here’s another to add to your list: CBTA—competency-based training and assessment.
‘Tis the Season: The Importance of Assessing Your Safety Program’s Performance
As yet another year draws to a close, we turn our attention to planning for the new year. And to plan is to understand, clearly, where we started from, what is before us, and our ultimate destination or end goal.
The Real Crisis Test: When Your Contingency Plan Meets Reality
Business aviation departments excel at operational planning. They maintain detailed checklists, establish clear communication protocols and train teams for emergency scenarios. However, when real disruptions occur, many find that textbook preparedness and actual chaos follow very different rules.
Taking Care of People: Why Humanitarian Training Is Essential in Business Aviation
When tragedy strikes, an organization reveals its true character by supporting the people affected. In the days following a tragedy, families, employees and communities grapple with shock, grief and confusion. During these critical and sensitive moments, humanitarian training is not a “nice to have”—it is essential.
Arriving at Actionable Human Factors Metrics
Marketers use clever metrics to measure the size of their target audience or to gauge how well their advertising is performing. Want to know how many people are walking the streets of New York City? Look up subway ridership numbers. In aviation, we also collect data to quantify our understanding of performance.
