Page 16 - Volume 11 Number 4

NBAA Yearly Top Safety Focus Areas and the Ongoing Threat of ATC Privatization
by Kim Blonigen
2T017 NBAA Top Safety Focus Areas
he National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently released its annual list of Top Safety Focus Areas, topics identified by the NBAA Safety
Committee as primary risk-mitigation targets for all business aircraft operators.
Each year during its annual risk assessment meeting, the NBAA Safety Committee reviews safety survey results, risk-based safety data, and qualitative input from industry and regulatory partners, other NBAA committees and association members. Following this data-driven review, the committee members deliberate and develop a list of safety focus areas for the year. The committee goal is to promote and stimulate safety- focused discussion and advocacy throughout the business aviation industry, as well as to help NBAA prioritize how it should focus its safety-improvement resources.
Below are the 2017 NBAA Top Safety Focus Areas and a summary of each.
Loss of control inflight (LOC-I) – LOC-I accidents result in more fatalities in business aviation than any other category of accident. The NTSB continues to target this issue in their “Most Wanted” list of safety improvements, as the “alarming consistency of catastrophic outcomes in this type of accident make this a targeting issue for safety improvement by the NBAA Safety Committee and aviation professional organizations across the globe.”
Runway excursions – Documented as the most common type of accident in business aviation, runway excursions account for nearly a third of all accidents. Most excursions are preventable by recognizing well-identified risk factors, adhering to stabilized approach and landing criteria and using accurate and timely runway condition data. The challenge seems to lie with adopting procedures and changing behaviors.
Single-pilot accident rate – Accident rates are consistently higher for single-pilot operated aircraft, being 30 percent more likely to be in an accident than a dual-pilot crew. As one might expect, single-pilot operations are more susceptible to task saturation, and when it increases, the number of errors also grows.
local regulations, as well as company policies and manufacturer procedures, yet it has been found that non-compliance is a significant contributing factor in aircraft accidents and incidents. Whether professional or not, causes for non-compliance need to be identified and solutions found.
Ground handling collisions – Collisions on the ground involving aircraft, vehicles and buildings result less in fatalities and more in costs associated with the incidents. Not only does it affect those involved monetarily with aircraft repairs, but time out of service and decrease in value are also significant.
Distractions – Disruptions and having too much to keep up with in the cockpit result in loss of situational awareness and continue to be the most prevalent human threat to safety. It is believed that proactive management of personal electronic devices, pressure and other stressors are needed to mitigate the hazard.
Scenario- and risk-based training and checking – It is believed that committing and receiving quality training will make the most positive impact in aviation safety. The new training and checking approach integrates Aeronautical Decision Making and problem solving via scenarios drawn from operator risk profiles. The key to this approach is the need to optimize the balance between learning and checking and refreshing it with the latest safety issues.
Airspace complexities – Overall demand for airspace continues to rise. Whether it be weather impacting traffic flow, NextGen technology integration, or the increase of small unmanned aircraft systems, continued vigilance is required for aviation safety.
When announcing the top safety focus areas for this year, Chairman of NBAA’s Safety Committee David Ryan said, “The safety focus areas identified by the Safety Committee underscore the most significant aircraft operations-related risks challenging our industry. Based on the NBAA’s Safety Policy, our team is committed to continue collaborating with regulators, members and other industry stakeholders to develop tools and best practices that address these challenges head-on.”
In addition to the 2017 list, the Safety Committee continues to promote and focus on its five “foundations of safety,” considered the heart of the committee’s messaging: professionalism, safety leadership, technical
Procedural non-compliance – Professionals are
duty bound to comply with federal, state and excellence, risk management and fitness for duty.
14 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
APRIL 2017
AVIATION ISSUES