Beyond Safety Management Systems Theory
The recent annual national safety seminar hosted by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) once again drove home the importance of safety and decision-making and the fact that the country's aviation safety oversight system was now exceeding minimum global standards. Delegates were told that the last ICAO audit had revealed the high level of SA compliance with international standards. A subsequent FAA assessment confirmed SA as a Category 1 country.
It was also pointed out that it was an indisputable fact that aviation was at the centre of the global economy. It was also a fact that safety was an inherent risk for this mode of transport.Moreover; reports of aircraft accidents were frequent.With close to 12000 aircraft registered in the country, South Africa is undoubtedly a powerhouse in terms aviation on the continent. Inevitably the growth of the industry also translates into an increase in the number of aircraft accidents. On the other hand, Africa's combined aviation safety leaves much to be desired.
Mindful of all the above, the SA Civil Aviation Authority hosted a seminar that discussed a relatively new concept-Safety Management System (SMS) –that is believed to be the ultimate solution to aviation safety. The seminar was attended by delegates from various sectors including airlines, aircraft maintenance organizations, aircraft accident investigation, aviation training organizations, etc.Among the critical questions was whether the new SMS can indeed help reduce the accident rate. In addition, experts detailed case studies that pinpointed challenges in addressing safety issues in the various sectors, be it maintenance organizations, airport or airlines.
All International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) member states and all aviation service providers within those states had to implement a safety management system in 2009 which identified safety hazards; ensured the implementation of remedial action necessary to maintain agreed safety performance; provided continuous monitoring and regular assessment of the safety performance and sought continuous improvement in the overall performance of safety management.
Going back to the question, can SMS indeed reduce the accident rate? The short answer to this is :"Yes it can," said Rennie Van Zyl, executive manager of the SACAAs accidents and incidents investigation department, in addressing the conference. He said that it was possible to reduce the accident rate and stressed the point that there were no new causes of accidents merely that the same causes kept recurring, the only significant fact was that there were more helicopters around today than there were 30 years ago.
Van Zyl said that the key was not only to look at trends, but at how a state managed risk in its aviation system. According to the latest statistics, South African-reported accidents were on the decline .In the period 1980 to 2010 there had been a significant reduction since 2008.Delegates were told that crew resource management programmes, quality assurance programmes, line operations safety audit and approach and landing accident reduction briefing notes had been factors that had resulted in this reduction.
"The problem that is rearing its head at the moment is the fact that the accident rate has flattened out and the industry needs to do something else, such as implementing SMS and ensuring that all industry players implement infrastructure to enhance aviation safety. After all, aviation safety is a shared responsibility," said Van Zyl.He also stressed that industry needed to continuously remain pro-active and look at ways in which to improve oversight."To reduce accidents, industry needs to identify hazards and implement mitigation to eliminate the causes, to block the holes.SMS can achieve all of this.SMS is recognized as the cornerstone of the next generation of safety practices to reduce the rate of occurrences," Van Zyl said.
New Training Centre
Claimed to, among the most modern in the world, Airbus Military has opened a new training centre in Seville, Spain, which will be equipped with up to six full-flight simulators and a range of other computer –based training devices.It will house Airbus Military's training provision for the A400M as well as its family of light and medium aircraft and military derivatives of commercial models.Two full-flight simulators, one for the C295 and the other for the CN 235 have already been installed.
An A400M simulator will be installed prior to the planned entry into service of the aircraft in 2012.A range of other devices for training on specific aircraft systems, including the fully integrated tactical system (FITS) at the heart of Airbus Military's surveillance aircraft , and in the classroom or over an intranet are also provided.Historic Aircraft Fly past Marks Opening Of 43 Air Schools "Wright Place".Two of South Africa's privately owned historic war birds ,a North American P-51 Mustang owned by Menno Parsons, and Stu Davidson's Hawker Sea Furry, were involved in a never-to-be –forgotten fly past recently when they swooped information low over 43 Air School ,Port Alfred, to ark the official opening of the institutions new entertainment centre-cum-aviation museum.
This fly past was followed later by a performance of the SAAFs Silver Falcons aerobatic team. All the aircraft were later to take part in the Port Elizabeth air show.Called the "Wright Place" in honour of the Wright Brothers who effectively launched aviation, the centre is seen by those at 43 Air School as being symbolic in many ways as it has had many students starting their flying careers there.Attie Niemann, 43 Air Schools CEO, said in his address to the opening ceremony: "43 Air School has always been at the forefront of flying training and more so now with the new entertainment centre enhancing the overall campus experience for students and staff. The Wright Place enables us to exceed our customer's expectations and sets 43 even further ahead as the leader in the aviation training arena.'
Niemann revealed that the school had thus far this year logged 56000 flying hours, over 3000 students had been successfully trained; its 63 "superbly maintained " aircraft had collectively spent the equivalent of 22 years in the air and the school had 230 highly motivate staff. Of these 76 were instructors, over 50 of them being Grade 11 or higher .The school also had ten simulators but, according to Niemann, only "one goal-Excellence in Aviation Training."
"Add to all this ," he continued ,"Our impeccable safety record and it becomes clear why 43 Air School remains the aviation training organization of choice, not only for clients from Africa, but also from much further afield."43 Air School was started by Britain's Royal Air Force which commissioned it as a training base in 1941 to train airmen for World War 11 operations."We cannot let this history merely be forgotten and the Museum will endeavor to preserve and build on this in collecting and researching more on the history of that period at 43. We encourage the general public and anyone who can contribute to help us achieve this goal," said Niemann.
The recent annual national safety seminar hosted by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) once again drove home the importance of safety and decision-making and the fact that the country's aviation safety oversight system was now exceeding minimum global standards. Delegates were told that the last ICAO audit had revealed the high level of SA compliance with international standards. A subsequent FAA assessment confirmed SA as a Category 1 country.
It was also pointed out that it was an indisputable fact that aviation was at the centre of the global economy. It was also a fact that safety was an inherent risk for this mode of transport.Moreover; reports of aircraft accidents were frequent.With close to 12000 aircraft registered in the country, South Africa is undoubtedly a powerhouse in terms aviation on the continent. Inevitably the growth of the industry also translates into an increase in the number of aircraft accidents. On the other hand, Africa's combined aviation safety leaves much to be desired.
Mindful of all the above, the SA Civil Aviation Authority hosted a seminar that discussed a relatively new concept-Safety Management System (SMS) –that is believed to be the ultimate solution to aviation safety. The seminar was attended by delegates from various sectors including airlines, aircraft maintenance organizations, aircraft accident investigation, aviation training organizations, etc.Among the critical questions was whether the new SMS can indeed help reduce the accident rate. In addition, experts detailed case studies that pinpointed challenges in addressing safety issues in the various sectors, be it maintenance organizations, airport or airlines.
All International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) member states and all aviation service providers within those states had to implement a safety management system in 2009 which identified safety hazards; ensured the implementation of remedial action necessary to maintain agreed safety performance; provided continuous monitoring and regular assessment of the safety performance and sought continuous improvement in the overall performance of safety management.
Going back to the question, can SMS indeed reduce the accident rate? The short answer to this is :"Yes it can," said Rennie Van Zyl, executive manager of the SACAAs accidents and incidents investigation department, in addressing the conference. He said that it was possible to reduce the accident rate and stressed the point that there were no new causes of accidents merely that the same causes kept recurring, the only significant fact was that there were more helicopters around today than there were 30 years ago.
Van Zyl said that the key was not only to look at trends, but at how a state managed risk in its aviation system. According to the latest statistics, South African-reported accidents were on the decline .In the period 1980 to 2010 there had been a significant reduction since 2008.Delegates were told that crew resource management programmes, quality assurance programmes, line operations safety audit and approach and landing accident reduction briefing notes had been factors that had resulted in this reduction.
"The problem that is rearing its head at the moment is the fact that the accident rate has flattened out and the industry needs to do something else, such as implementing SMS and ensuring that all industry players implement infrastructure to enhance aviation safety. After all, aviation safety is a shared responsibility," said Van Zyl.He also stressed that industry needed to continuously remain pro-active and look at ways in which to improve oversight."To reduce accidents, industry needs to identify hazards and implement mitigation to eliminate the causes, to block the holes.SMS can achieve all of this.SMS is recognized as the cornerstone of the next generation of safety practices to reduce the rate of occurrences," Van Zyl said.
New Training Centre
Claimed to, among the most modern in the world, Airbus Military has opened a new training centre in Seville, Spain, which will be equipped with up to six full-flight simulators and a range of other computer –based training devices.It will house Airbus Military's training provision for the A400M as well as its family of light and medium aircraft and military derivatives of commercial models.Two full-flight simulators, one for the C295 and the other for the CN 235 have already been installed.
An A400M simulator will be installed prior to the planned entry into service of the aircraft in 2012.A range of other devices for training on specific aircraft systems, including the fully integrated tactical system (FITS) at the heart of Airbus Military's surveillance aircraft , and in the classroom or over an intranet are also provided.Historic Aircraft Fly past Marks Opening Of 43 Air Schools "Wright Place".Two of South Africa's privately owned historic war birds ,a North American P-51 Mustang owned by Menno Parsons, and Stu Davidson's Hawker Sea Furry, were involved in a never-to-be –forgotten fly past recently when they swooped information low over 43 Air School ,Port Alfred, to ark the official opening of the institutions new entertainment centre-cum-aviation museum.
This fly past was followed later by a performance of the SAAFs Silver Falcons aerobatic team. All the aircraft were later to take part in the Port Elizabeth air show.Called the "Wright Place" in honour of the Wright Brothers who effectively launched aviation, the centre is seen by those at 43 Air School as being symbolic in many ways as it has had many students starting their flying careers there.Attie Niemann, 43 Air Schools CEO, said in his address to the opening ceremony: "43 Air School has always been at the forefront of flying training and more so now with the new entertainment centre enhancing the overall campus experience for students and staff. The Wright Place enables us to exceed our customer's expectations and sets 43 even further ahead as the leader in the aviation training arena.'
Niemann revealed that the school had thus far this year logged 56000 flying hours, over 3000 students had been successfully trained; its 63 "superbly maintained " aircraft had collectively spent the equivalent of 22 years in the air and the school had 230 highly motivate staff. Of these 76 were instructors, over 50 of them being Grade 11 or higher .The school also had ten simulators but, according to Niemann, only "one goal-Excellence in Aviation Training."
"Add to all this ," he continued ,"Our impeccable safety record and it becomes clear why 43 Air School remains the aviation training organization of choice, not only for clients from Africa, but also from much further afield."43 Air School was started by Britain's Royal Air Force which commissioned it as a training base in 1941 to train airmen for World War 11 operations."We cannot let this history merely be forgotten and the Museum will endeavor to preserve and build on this in collecting and researching more on the history of that period at 43. We encourage the general public and anyone who can contribute to help us achieve this goal," said Niemann.
