The NBAA’s Safety Committee met in San Diego last week for its annual two-day conclave of working groups to identify initiatives for the next 12 to 18 months that will offer the greatest positive impact on business aviation safety. One issue that will see renewed emphasis is single-pilot safety, a mode the NTSB says produces many more accidents those aircraft piloted by a crew of two. Case in point was the recent crash of a Phenom 100 operated by just one pilot in Gaithersburg MD.
Single-pilot working group (SPWG) chairman Jim Lara said the team decided it was time to widen the group’s outreach as he detailed the new vision the team created in San Diego. “The single-pilot working group will focus on improving safety for single-pilot business aircraft operations.” The group hopes the new vision will make it easier to reach a wide range of single-pilot operated piston and turboprop aircraft, as well as single-pilot operated jets such as the Beech Premier, Citation CJ series and the Embraer Phenom 100.
Admitting that safety is never a sexy topic, Lara said the Spwg plans to use data-driven, engaging communications tools that apply to a broad audience of people involved in single-pilot business aviation operations. He said the Spwg also plans to create metrics to be sure their efforts are actually making a difference within the industry.
The entire NBAA Safety Committee is comprised of approximately 50 volunteers from business aviation operations, maintenance, schedulers and aeromedical disciplines.