2014 AIR CHARTER SAFETY SYMPOSIUM A SUCCESS DESPITE WEATHER
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) just completed its seventh annual Air Charter Safety Symposium at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia. The symposium provided two days of presentations and discussions on topics, such as, quality performance, safety leadership, and managing cockpit automation.
“We are extremely pleased with everyone’s efforts to attend the symposium despite the late winter storm that affected the East Coast,” says ACSF President Bryan Burns. “The attendees were rewarded with a range of information that they could use in their daily operations. It was an extremely successful event.”
The theme for this year’s symposium was, “Safety is: Actively Managing Risk,” which drew representatives from the on-demand air charter and fractional aircraft ownership community, as well as various aviation industry experts.
“This was an outstanding program,” said ACSF Chairman Jeff Baum. “Attendees benefited from National Transportation Safety Board officials and industry experts. We’re very pleased that the ACSF continues to gain momentum and the validity of the foundation’s mission – to raise the level of safety within air charter and fractional ownership operations – continues to be confirmed through operator and industry participation in ACSF activities.”
Some highlights from the symposium included:
• Keynote Speaker Dr. Tony Kern, Founding Partner and CEO of Convergent Performance LLC, discussed how human error becomes far less complex when we make the time and effort to view it through the lens of the individual. “Error becomes manageable and eventually controllable when we learn the distinguishable features of our personal performance and the risks of human error,” said Dr. Kern.
• The Honorable Robert Sumwalt, Member, National Transportation Safety Board, provided practical and useful information to assist leaders and ensure high safety levels, while meeting other company goals and objectives. “Air charter leaders have the critical role of ensuring the highest levels of safety, noted Sumwalt. “That said, what does strong safety leadership look like?”
• Mr. James Lara, Founder and Principal of Gray Stone Advisors discussed the eight innovation breakthroughs in modern-day avionics and their implications for operations in today’s complex airspace operating environment.
• Mr. Paul Ratte’, Director of Safety Programs with United States Aircraft Insurance Group highlighted cultural and organizational leadership challenges that both charter and corporate operators need to address to boost safety through optimized pilot monitoring.
• Mr. Gary Grass, President of Abante Intelligent Solutions, discussed quality performance beyond regulatory compliance, and how to ensure SMS systems are working across an organization. “We’ve created elegant policy, process and procedures, but where is the proof that they’re being used,” asked Mr. Grass.