Wed, Oct 24, 2007
Says Accidents Highlight Shortcomings Despite Enviable
Record
You're doing well... but you should be doing even better. That's
the message National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark V.
Rosenker had for pilots and mechanics of corporate aviation
departments Tuesday, telling them while they are maintaining an
enviable safety record, accidents in recent years have highlighted
shortcomings in several important elements of their industry.
Addressing the 2007 Bombardier Safety Standdown Seminar in
Wichita, KS, Rosenker said that corporate jet and turboprop
airplanes flown by professional crews under part 91 (non-commercial
aviation) have accident rates that are comparable to scheduled air
carriers.
"Some flight departments, however, operate aircraft on a
shoestring budget with inadequately experienced or trained crews or
shoddy maintenance practices," he said. "These types of operations
are typically the ones that garner the NTSB’s attention.
There is always room for improvement."
In his speech, Rosenker touched on flight crew and mechanic
training, preflight preparation, human fatigue, and maintenance
issues.
After recounting three accidents in which flight crews failed to
perform their duties to an acceptable level of professionalism, he
said pilots shouldn’t confuse getting paid to fly with the
concept of professionalism. There are many elements to being a
professional pilot that include preparation, team work, compliance
with regulations and constant vigilance.
Rosenker also said that "regulation is not the only way to
improve safety…Voluntary action by industry, in partnership
with government, is one of the most effective ways to decrease
accidents."
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