Operators Set The Standard For Improving Safety
More than 100 aircraft are now enrolled in Gulfstream's Flight
Operations Risk Management Service (FORMS), the largest base of
business aircraft participating in any Flight Operations Quality
Assurance/Flight Data Monitoring (FOQA/FDM) program. "We've reached
a critical mass of aircraft to provide valuable data to those
flight departments interested in using FOQA procedures to reduce
risk in their flight operations," said Randy Gaston, vice
president, Flight Operations, Gulfstream. "Many airlines use
FOQA technology to improve consistency and safety in operations,
and Gulfstream is at the forefront of bringing this discipline to
business aviation."
FORMS collects data from a Quick Access Recorder (QAR),
processes defined parameters for takeoff, climb, cruise, descent,
approach and landing, and identifies when certain criteria have
been exceeded. When this occurs, the system identifies and analyzes
the conditions present and provides a summary to the operator.
Gulfstream also receives consolidated fleet data, which is used to
enhance pilot training. The program also increases operational
safety by objectively and accurately measuring exposure to known
risks, such as unstable approaches, system operating limits and
adverse runway conditions.
Operators enrolled in the program receive quarterly reports on
performance and the potential for risks. Every operator in the
Gulfstream fleet has access to the annual fleet report, which
consolidates all the results from FORMS-enrolled aircraft. The
consolidated data contains no operator-specific information such as
an aircraft tail or serial number. This data can be used to target
relevant areas for recurrent training, even for operators not
enrolled in the FORMS program.
"We have had several operators come to us with their quarterly
FORMS reports asking for help in tailoring their pilots' training
to focus on specific needs," said David Davenport, center manager,
FlightSafety International, Savannah. "Having worked with
Gulfstream since the inception of the program, we were prepared for
these specific types of requests. Not only does the FORMS program
provide a means to reduce risk in flight operations, it can also
improve focus during training, even for experienced pilots."
"The data and feedback from operators using the service indicate
a quick improvement in their operations and significant reductions
in the quantity of unstable approaches," Gaston said.
FORMS is available through an aircraft service change for the
Gulfstream G550, G500, G450, G350, G400, G300, GV and GIV.