Event Aims To Reduce Pilot Mistakes

More than 420 pilots, crewmembers, safety specialists, industry officials and media representatives have gathered at Bombardier's 9th Annual Safety Standdown in Wichita, KS. The event, billed as the industry's foremost safety event, is being held Oct. 25-27.

The only safety seminar of its kind to be offered by a civil aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier’s Safety Standdown is taking clear aim at the cause of 78 percent of all accidents in aviation –- human error.

“The intent of Safety Standdown is to reduce accidents caused by human failure across the aviation industry as a whole, whether they occur during corporate, commercial or military missions,” stated Bob Agostino, director, flight operations, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “While we believe current training programs using simulators and other training devices are excellent, we also recognize that accident prevention requires more than simply perfecting technical skills.”

This year's event will focus on "Winning The War On Error," enabling aviation professionals to better understand why and how crucial mistakes occur by providing in-depth, knowledge-based training in areas such as fatigue, nutrition and psychological factors.

It is open to all pilots and crew and is unrestricted as to the type of aircraft operated. According to the company, almost half of the attendees at Safety Standdown 2005 operate non-Bombardier aircraft, so you will not be turned away just because you fly a Skyhawk and not a Global Express (below.)

Safety Standdown 2005 continues to attract many of the industry’s leading researchers, authors and medical authorities. Nicholas Sabatini, associate administrator for safety at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will deliver the seminar’s opening remarks.

Highlights of the 2005 agenda range from hands-on medical and emergency training to a panel discussion on professionalism and discipline with four living legends of aviation:

• Captain Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon
• General Joe Engle, X-15 test pilot
• Colonel Steve Nagel, Space Shuttle commander
• Bob Hoover, renowned air show pilot

The National Test Pilot School and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University have also endorsed Safety Standdown, even offering continuing education credits to all participants.

FMI: www.bombardier.com