Safety Training - SM4 Safety Articles & Resources

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business people meeting pilots outside private jet

Honest Mistakes, Fair Consequences: Unleashing the Power of Just Culture

In today’s complex business environment, organizations face pressure to uphold high standards of safety and compliance while fostering efficiency and innovation. A key question emerges: How do we encourage transparency and learning while maintaining accountability and fairness? The answer lies in building justness within organizational culture.

Posted on September 26, 2025
instructing student on recovery techniques

Training Transfer From Small Airplanes to Big Airplanes

Does on-aircraft Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) in a small aerobatic airplane translate to big aircraft flying? In a word, absolutely. Learn why it does from a pilot with extensive experience flying F-14s, commercial airliners and Extra 300 series aircraft.

Posted on August 21, 2025
female pilot beside a private jet

Empowered Pilots, Safer Flights: Closing the Feedback Loop

In business aviation, data has never been more abundant, from FOQA programs and onboard sensors to operational dashboards and automated alerts. But for years, one critical link in the safety chain has been missing: getting that information directly into the hands of the people who fly the airplane.

Posted on August 21, 2025
pilot laughing

Is Aviation Safety Funny Business? A Serious Look Behind the Comedy.

Those of us who fly commercially are familiar with the trend adopted by seemingly all major airlines of adding a dose of humor to the pre-flight safety video to grab your attention about a serious topic.

Posted on July 7, 2025
airport security guard listening to earpiece

Emerging Security Threats in Business Aviation: Activism and Down-Route Risks

Security incidents affecting business aviation do not need to involve violence to have an operational impact. A protest delaying crew movements, blocking access to a hangar or resulting in an unauthorized photograph of a sensitive client can all trigger reputational, financial or compliance concerns for operators.

Posted on June 3, 2025
Airplane Hangar With Private Jets Parked Inside

Navigating Geopolitical Uncertainty Using Business Aviation

Bigger business jets mean bigger fuel tanks, longer trips, more border crossings, and bigger wallets! With an equipment upgrade also comes the requirement for a knowledge upgrade.

Posted on May 1, 2025
Airport control tower at sunset

Leadership, Accountability and Your Organization’s Risk Profile

Recent media attention has cast light on the unusual number of aviation system-related accidents, incidents and near-misses that have plagued our industry over the past several months.

Posted on March 31, 2025
mechanic working on aircraft in hangar

Aviation Safety—Grounded!

When we talk about aviation safety, our attention often goes to aircraft operational concerns. They are important, but by no means do they represent all the risks in a flight department. So, what’s “the rest of the story”?

Posted on March 5, 2025
ground crew signaling the pilot with marshalling wands at airport

The Insidious Nature of the Routine

When routine tasks become familiar and are no longer actively assessed for threats, they often are the first link in an error chain that results in a serious mishap. It is natural for crews to become comfortable with seemingly low-risk tasks, allowing complacency and distractions to permeate their focused attention.

Posted on February 7, 2025