The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee has released its third annual list of Top Safety Focus Areas, highlighting two primary safety issues – loss of control in flight (LOCI) and runway excursions – which, according to the committee’s research, shows should be primary risk-mitigation targets for all operators.
The committee also identified the following safety hazards:
• Airspace Complexities
• Birds and Wildlife
• Distraction and Technology Management
• Fatigue
• Ground Handling Collisions
• Procedural Non-Compliance
• Single-Pilot Task Saturation
The list is intended to promote safety-focused discussion and advocacy throughout the business aviation industry, as well as to help the Safety Committee prioritize how NBAA’s resources should be used to help improve safety industry-wide. In developing the 2015 list, the committee expanded upon past efforts by incorporating a rigorous, data-driven approach to help determine the biggest risks. The top safety priorities were identified based on an objective analysis that combined data trends, survey results and qualitative input from other NBAA committees, industry and regulatory partners, and members.
The seven safety hazards were identified as significant risks that affect many business aviation operations. Along with the two top safety issues, the hazards will help guide the Safety Committee’s work in support of safety advocacy this year.
In developing its 2015 safety advocacy strategy, the Safety Committee identified five basic elements that operators need to support safety efforts going forward. The so-called “Foundations for Safety” include safety leadership, risk management, fitness for duty and technical excellence, all of which come under the umbrella of professionalism in business aviation. The committee said that each of these areas is critically important to address the complex business aviation environment and should form part of an overall systematic approach to safety risk management.