Premium on Safety - Issue 32, 2019 - 1

PREMIUM ON SAFETY
ISSUE 32 SPRING 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

Best Practices: Passengers Behaving Badly 01
Lessons Learned: Two Strikes Too Many 04
ASI Message: Crew Resource Management 08
and Training Pays Off
Safety Spotlight: The Human-Machine Team 09
Quiz: Seeing Purple and Orange 11

A MESSAGE FROM USAIG

The NTSB's
Most-Wanted List
Improving the Safety of Part 135 Aircraft Flight
Operations is among the items on the NTSB's recently
released list of most-wanted transportation safety
improvements for 2019-20. It's worthwhile for any
General Aviation operator to consider the NTSB's
position (see it here).
Some might argue it's an unfair reach. Part 135
operations are often more diverse in operational risk
factors while at the same time less resourced in safety
budgets and staff expertise, as compared to Part 121
operations. Isn't expecting the same safety performance
from both just demanding more bricks from less straw?
After spending some time with the idea I've gotten over
my initial angst about the NTSB's narrative, and now
view as it was likely intended. The steps recommended
for Part 135 operations are the ones needed to further
improve on the safety performance being achieved,
pure and simple. Yes, there are economic realities to
deal with, but the NTSB is saying there's an underlying
axiomatic truth, nonetheless.
If these steps aren't taken, no systemic change to safety
performance can legitimately be expected. Conversely,
to make the next advances in safety performance,
action on these issues is needed. In other words,
if you don't yet have SMS protocols, FDM or a CFIT
risk management program in your operation (or they
need improving), then addressing those gaps is what's
required to make the next advance in safety. Fly smart,
and fly safe.

Paul Ratté
Director of Aviation Safety Programs, USAIG

BEST PRACTICES

Passengers Behaving Badly

If you haven't discussed how you'll manage
an unruly passenger, you haven't finished
your crew briefing.
BY PATRICIA LUEBKE
A pilot may have to deal with slow line service, low visibility, wind, rain,
and thunderstorms to stay on time and be safe, but if he or she does not
have a flight attendant onboard, then there are also the additional tasks
of dealing with difficult high net-worth individuals, demanding CEOs, or
rowdy members of a rock band. Corporate flight attendants prove their
worth repeatedly with challenging passengers, and the properly trained
ones can do it all while cheerfully maintaining the service and safety
standards your company prides itself in.
It may seem logical in this era of #MeToo that flight attendants and
even sometimes pilots, male or female, would be targets of unwelcome
attention. It does happen, but that's not typically what makes for the
definition of an unruly passenger. Disrespect is there, but it comes in
different forms.
Since we are talking about the cabin and passenger safety, let's assume
that your company invests in flight attendants (and if it doesn't, well, then
you pilots keep reading along, because these are your problems, too).
Some passengers don't respect the authority of the flight attendant as
the person in charge of cabin safety, with a role far beyond serving drinks
and snacks.
Jennifer Guthrie is CEO of In-Flight Crew Connections, an aviation staffing
company, which includes placing flight attendants. She relates the story
of a family whose teenage son said he wanted to stand up during takeoff.
The flight attendant told him he couldn't do that, that he needed to be
seated and seat belted. The parents disagreed and said if their son
wanted to stand, he could. The parents own the aircraft, now what?
https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl3-fsa.aspx
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Premium on Safety - Issue 32, 2019
