Cluelessness or Complacency
06.14.2013 | Post
Intuitively, most true professionals are predisposed to wanting to do the right thing, although the path may not always be abundantly clear. Occasionally aviation experiences a significant event which serves as a reminder of how little margin of error exists. … (more…)
DO BIRDS HAVE SAFETY STANDDOWNS?
05.13.2013 | Knowledge Ace
It was a curious sight to behold at the beach. A young osprey hovered approximately 30 feet above and just offshore. Raptors are among the supreme hunters of the avian world. Scanning the water below for fish, its head tracking back and … (more…)
Icing: Loss of Control In-Flight
05.01.2013 | Knowledge Ace
Icing Discussion Associated with Loss of Control In-Flight As a professional flight instructor with the opportunity of witnessing the baseline skill set of thousands of fellow airmen in countering loss of control in-flight events first hand, I welcome all opportunities … (more…)
WINDEX as a Flight Briefing Tool
04.12.2013 | Post
From the 1960’s to the mid-1980’s thunderstorm-related wind shear in the form of downbursts was the leading cause of commercial airline crashes. Through the work of Dr. Ted Fujita, Dr. John McCarthy, and others, those crashes have been eliminated. The … (more…)
Empowered Accountability
02.15.2013 | Post
Empowered Accountability is an Expectation to Detect and Act. The literature of aviation safety is peppered with references to the percentage of aircraft accidents that result from so called “human error,” that is unsafe acts committed by humans. Some studies … (more…)
Quieting the Carnival in Your Head
11.19.2012 | Post
Comedian Doug Stanhope has a bit about the time he tried to go to sleep sober. If you Google it, make sure there aren’t any sensitive ears around, as it’s definitely not family friendly entertainment. His point was that the … (more…)
Now Where Did I Put My Keys?
08.16.2012 | Post
Technology is dramatically changing the face of aviation; whether it’s NextGen or tablets in the cockpit we now have access to information that wasn’t even available 5 years ago. This information has the potential to dramatically increase the safety of … (more…)
No More ‘Safety First’
07.25.2012 | Post
By Tony Kern IS IT TIME TO SAY goodbye to safety first? Okay, before you break out the pitchforks and torches, let me explain. I believe that, in order to improve our industry, we need to change the way we … (more…)
What Have We Learned?
07.18.2012 | Post
Over July 4, my family and I visited some good friends in North Carolina with whom I worked very closely with during my airline days. While our wives and my daughter were catching up on the latest, the guys were … (more…)
Managing Fatigue: Make It Personal
06.18.2012 | Post
Last year, the annual Bombardier Safety Standdown (SSD) passed a significant milestone: 15 years providing a state-of-the-knowledge safety event that has raised the bar for individuals, flight departments, and the aviation industry. For a decade, I have participated as both … (more…)
