More than 420 registrants crowded into Bombardier's Safety
Standdown seminar, held in late October in Wichita. And there were 120-plus
people wait-listed on standby. Now in its ninth year, the Safety Standdown is
open to all business aircraft pilots, not just folks who operate Bombardier
aircraft. More than four out of 10 people in attendance this year, for example,
operate other brands of aircraft. Fortune 500 companies sent representatives, as
did the FAA, the NTSB, several branches of the U.S. military, NASA, RCMP and
Transport Canada.
The Standdown focuses on knowledge-based training, rather
than conventional pilot proficiency skills practiced during recurrent training.
"Simulator-based training is essential, but it's not in
itself sufficient," explained Robert Agostino, director of Bombardier's Wichita
flight ops department and founder of the Safety Standdown. "Standards for
building aircraft have become much tougher during the past 30 years, but the
standards for pilot training have remained virtually unchanged. So, the
proportion of accidents caused by aircraft failures has gone down, while the
proportion of pilot-related accidents has increased." Agostino hinted that the
FAA might want to consider tougher pilot training standards.
The Standdown's knowledge-based training is structured
around Anthony Kern's Airmanship Model that emphasizes discipline, skill and
proficiency as bedrock principles that support seven "pillars of knowledge." The
pillars include knowledge of one's own limitations and condition, team
dynamics, broad-based aircraft performance capabilities, outside pressures and
factors, risk management and mission priorities.
On the eve of the program, B/CA moderated a panel discussion
called "Disciples of Discipline" in which Capt. Gene Cernan, last man on the
moon; Lt. Gen. Joe Engle, pioneering X-15 test pilot; Bob Hoover, arguably the
world's best pilot; and Col. Steve Nagel, space shuttle astronaut, provided
insights into their experiences and fielded questions from the audience.
Nicholas Sabatini, AFS-2, the highest ranking career
executive at the FAA, helped open the formal training portion of the program.
He pointed out that the emergence of the new class of VLJs will put added
demand on the air space system. Industry/government partnerships must be
developed to help keep skies safe as they become more crowded. Sabatini noted
that 78% of all aircraft accidents involve human error. He believes in
developing a culture of safety among pilots and organizations that employ them.
The Safety Standdown is one way to accomplish this goal. FAA officials hinted
at the possibility of more direct involvement in future Standdowns.
The NBAA's Doug Carr was also one of those in attendance. He
said he's very impressed with the program, calling it the finest such seminar
currently offered. Yet, it's free to all those who attend. The NBAA also is
exploring ways to support Standdown.
"We have watched the Safety Standdown grow, and the NBAA wants
to encourage such programs," NBAA president Ed Bolen told Show News. "In
aviation, good safety practices should be shared. One thing that's remarkable
is that Bombardier views this program as a safety exercise and not a branding
exercise. And if there's a way to broaden the scope and outreach of such
programs, we want to help. Safety is one of the reasons the NBAA was founded."
Learning modules during the formal training sessions
included flight crew resource management, emphasizing effective leadership
styles and promotion of participation by all crew members; awareness of the
causes of fatigue and solutions to counter its effects; high altitude
aerodynamics; Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device hypoxia awareness training;
elements of professionalism; and organizational factors that promote or
diminish safety margins, among several other topics.
The program also included extensive first aid, emergency
egress, water survival and firefighting training.
For more information on how to enroll in the 2006 Safety
Standdown, visit Bombardier's chalet at the static display, drop by Booth 3197,
or call Dawn Pepper in Bob Agostino's office at (316) 946-7240.
