Archive for the ‘Aviation Leadership’ Category
ALPA RUnway Safety Newsletter #2
Here’s newsletter #2 on the ALPA site. There are lots of valuable lessons to be learned here, ones that others have learned for you and are now sharing.
Fly (and Taxi) Smart
Kent
Mastery Flight Training Safety Info
Check out the great info on Tom Turner’s site Mastery Flight Training and sign up for his newsletter.
Fly Smart
Kent
Identifying and Mitigating the Hazards Associated with Runway Incursions
AFS Roadshow Presentation Jan 2008: Identifying and Mitigating the Hazards Associated with Runway Incursions
There has been an significant increase of runway incursions lately. In fact
it is so serious that Jim Ballough (AFS-1) and John Allen (AFS-2) traveled
around the country to meet with key management officials from Part 121 carriers to focus on reducing pilot deviations. This issue affects everyone who operates on the protected area of an airport intended for takeoff or landing.
The consequences of a runway collision are severe and it usually results in fatalities to pilots and passengers. As utilization of the National Airspace System (NAS) increases, there will be more exposure to this hazard. That is not a good combination. The key for operators to defend against it today is the use of good judgment and sound operating procedures. There are technological mitigations being developed for tomorrow, but they are not keeping pace with the growth of the NAS. We also need to ensure steps are taken at the Regulatory, Organizational and Supervisory level to ensure that no additional exposure is allowed within the system until the necessary defenses are in place. In other words, let’s not pour any more fuel on this fire. As pilots, it is not our job to fix the problems that production goals create, but many times we are left to deal with it as best we can. It is our job to operate professionally and safely. A valid assessment of the system state coupled with seasoned, conservative judgment leads to efficient decision making. We get one shot at this one, and we have to do it right every time.
This presentation provides educational re-creations of air traffic work.The FAA has provided it to safety professionals for education and awareness. Take a look at it and become part of the solution by sharing your thoughts with your FSDO’s Safety Program Manager. Or post them here and I’ll share them for you.
Fly (and Taxi) Smart
Kent
Runway Safety Recurrent Training
From the FSDO Safety Program Manager and myself; Our goal is to increase awareness and education about Runway Safety. Take 20 minutes and look it over.
“Hello everyone,
There has been an significant increase of runway incursions lately. In fact
it is so serious that Jim Ballough (AFS-1) and John Allen (AFS-2) traveled
to the Eastern Region and Southern Region to meet with key management
officials from Part 121 carriers to focus on reducing pilot deviations.
This week, Ballough has been holding similar meetings in the Central, Great
Lakes, and Southwestern Regions, while Allen has West Coast duty in the
Alaska, Northwest Mountain, and Western Pacific Regions. You can view the
presentation on
http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs%5Finitiatives/pilot%5Fsafety/deviations/ReducingPDs/
Within it is a reference to the ALPA/AOPA/FAA Runway Safety Program, an on-line, interactive course. You can complete it in 30-45 minutes and get a completion certificate. Armed with this certificate, you can request credit for a portion of the new Wings pilot proficiency program, which may help lower your insurance rate if you fly GA on the side. To check out the course, go to http://flash.aopa.org/asf/runway_safety_alpa/
Don’t be fool that the above message addresses the 121 arena only . We are
experiencing the same problem in the GA world as well!”
Things you can do:
1. Identify airport surface operational hazards to NASA ASRS, the FAA Safety Hotline and airport management.
2. Review cockpit procedures to identify elements that may contribute to pilot distraction during taxi and develop a TEAM approach to Transfer, Eliminate, Accept or Mitigate those hazards.
3. Use an airport diagram, free from airnav.
If you have questions about the new Wings program, give me a holler, I am a Lead Rep for the FAASTeam at the Ft Worth FSDO.
Fly (and Taxi) Smart
Clark
Flight Thru Instruments
“Published as a pilot-training manual by the US Navy in 1945, “Flight
thru Instruments” teaches proper aeronautical navigation techniques
through the use of elaborate illustrations — the kind of stuff that
today might be called “info-graphics.”
Produced entirely by hand, the illustrations in “Flight thru Instruments” possess a richness and accuracy of detail that — if we may say so — puts the majority of
today’s graphic artists to shame.”
http://telstarlogistics.typepad.com/telstarlogistics/2007/11/flight-t…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/sets/72157603240365315/
Fly Smart
Clark
Blackbird Rising
Great picture of an SR-71 by Gary Jones of Clovis, New Mexico. I found this photo on avweb, a great independent website for the aviation community. Avweb also has an e-newsletter
Fly Smart
Clark
2006 Safer than 2005
From AOPA’s e-pilot…
“GA ACCIDENT TREND CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
The downward trend continues for general aviation accidents. The number of accidents per 100,000 flight hours decreased from 7.19 in 1997 to an all-time low of 6.32 in 2006, while the fatal accident rate dropped 7.4 percent during the same time frame, according to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s just-released 2007 Joseph T. Nall Report. The report provides an overview of the GA accident statistics, trends, and contributing factors from the previous year. “Even with a slight uptick in the number of hours flown in 2006 as compared to 2005, pilots are flying fewer hours than they did five years ago,” said Bruce Landsberg, AOPA Air Safety Foundation executive director. “But the accident rate shows pilots are flying safer.” Read more on AOPA Online.”
Thanks to all who work every day to continuously improve aviation safety. You are making a difference and will help sheperd in the next era of cooperation and communication.
FLy Smart and Happy Holidays!
Clark
Air Force Museum
Just visited the Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH, it is a fantastic facility. The have added many more aircraft to the third hangar since I was there about 4 years ago. My favorite area is still the Presidential aircraft hangar, and the test aircraft that are on display.
National Museum of the US Air Force
Fly Smart
Clark
UND Aerospace
Spending a few days at the University of North Dakota Aerospace facilities in Grand Forks for an accident investigation course. They have an awesome program here, and are working to provide a world class product to the aerospace community.
UND’s mission: “Working together, we will be leaders in creating, preserving, and delivering the highest quality education, research, and services in aerospace and related sciences for our university, our state, and the worldwide aerospace community.”
Check out the UND website. And my thanks to them for being great hosts.
Fly Smart
Clark
Signal Charlie 