Importance of an Aviation Safety Program - Essay Example

Introduction Preparing the correct type of aviation safety program makes a difference in the responses from s as well as from the internal environment. To ensure that there are no complications or difficulties, as well as preventative measures for flights, is also the need to create programs that are conducive to specific needs. When looking at commercial airlines, there is the need to develop specific aviation programs that ensure that the correct preventative measures are taken. More importantly, the program needs to define actions that can immediately be taken in case of a hazard or emergency that takes place. Defining these and how they can work within a commercial flight can then provide different alternatives for flight. Importance of an Aviation Safety Program There are many that believe that aviation safety is currently a part of most commercial and government systems with flight. The systems that have been implemented from the beginning of most companies have to meet specific standards with the build and make of the airplane as well as through safety regulations that are required by most airports. More importantly, there is a constant that is always met with the training of pilots, flight decks and others that are in the crew. Since the standards and the consistency is based on the flights, many believe that new safety aviation programs are no longer required and are based on the implementation of marginal standards that have to be reached. Instead of focusing on the basic platforms, it has become a requirement for safety programs to be based on creating and implementing newer methods for safety. Using technology and improving the margins of safety have become the main consistencies for those that are in an aviation safety program (Young, Quon, 2007). The importance of aviation safety, since there are several standards and compliances that have to be matched, is now based on improvement of the various systems that have been used. There are two main components that are considered for those that are working within the aviation field. The first is training that is required for extra safety measures that need to be taken, such as improvements to the initial standards that have been implemented. The second area of training and implementation is based on newer technologies that are now being used to provide individuals with new compliances and standards. Each of the technologies is being used to provide more conducive results to safety while allowing communication and delivery within aviation to excel to new levels. The improvement of systems through technology is then being used for concepts such as communication, navigation and air traffic management. These are being furthered by safety that is needed for current problems within aviation, such as security of various systems from flight members. When focusing on commercial flights, these specific details and changes of standards are the most pertinent to those that are in flight (Young, Quon, 2007). Technology Standards and Aviation Safety Programs Since technology is one of the areas in which improvement is being made, it is essential to provide aviation safety programs that promote the development of new technology. More importantly, there is the need to assess and use the technology to meet new standards and compliances within the aviation field. To do this effectively, different areas and individuals are required to match the standards with the new technology. Piecing together the current standards and ensuring that the technology is able to provide the correct support through communication and navigation becomes the main priority of those that are in aviation training programs. The technology that is used also needs to be complied with other regulations that provide ease of use and the ability to make flight easier for crews and for pilots. The main concept that is used with technological standards and the implementation of new technology is to ensure that management and understanding is understood. When technology is used with pilots or staff, it has to have a level of insight for the management of the newer equipment. If this is not understood, then it can lead to danger and will not work effectively to improve the communication and navigation within a pilot crew. More importantly, the technology can become a hindrance to those that are on flight. If an emergency situation arises and the pilot and crew have to rely on the technology to meet safety standards, then the problems can reverse without understanding. The most important focus when implementing new technologies is to have a sense of error management that allows the individuals to use the piece of equipment to comply with standards without leading to damage. More importantly, counter measures need to be involved when looking at the technology. Understanding the piece of equipment and making sure that there is a different way to comply with the errors can prevent further damage from occurring (Helmreich et al, 1999). The main approach that needs to be used when focusing on technologies that can improve the marginalization of safety measures is not only based on an understanding of the technology and the management that is required for this. A program that is implemented for aviation safety also has to focus on error management. Placing potential errors that could occur with the piece of equipment, calculating the risk and understanding the environment are all different concepts that need to be applied when looking at the different technologies and the focus that occurs with the safety. The prevention of errors and compensation that can apply to different managerial levels is the first step to ensuring that safety is taken with the regulations that are currently in place. Furthermore, there is the need to compensate with accidents that may occur so the least damage is done, not only by using the technology that is in place, but also through the other standards that are designed to prevent several of the hazards that are in aviation (Helmreich, 2000). Implementing General Safety Programs for Aviation The structure that has to be used for a commercial airline for safety is one that is defined first by offering education and training. This has to be available not only for the technology that can be implemented and the basic standards that have to be complied with for aviation management. More importantly, the focus will need to be on finding error prevention and ways to counteract with problems that may arise with aviation risks. As new technology is implemented, there will need to be other countermeasures that are taken in relation to the aviation management and the way in which pilots and other crew respond to specific situations. The safety program that is designed for a commercial airline will need to respond to several dimensions of training to ensure that the technology is implemented correctly, standards continue to be met and that the information available continues to result in high end opportunities for those that are working within aviation. The first dimension that will need to be complied with is the general safety that is continuously a part of the program. Focusing on error reduction and the ability to build up the amount of safety offered can continuously assist those that are in aviation. It has been found that the best way to implement an aviation safety program for basic standards and newer technologies is to provide higher levels of education to those that are working with commercial flights. The focus that is involved in several general training programs includes proficiency that is needed for flights that are in commercial airlines. This is followed by procedures that are needed for the basic standards that have to be met. Specific procedures used for newer technologies should also be implemented to those that are looking into flight. The last component of this is the implementation of unique requirements that counteract against difficulties, hazards and other safety problems that may occur. Teaching pilots and the crew to manage safety hazards in a more conducive manner can provide more alternatives to those that are looking into aviation. Allowing pilots and other managers to have more information will then work as a preventative measure against those that are in flight and using new technologies (FAA, 2010). Since there is a focus on communication, navigation and preventative measures when implementing new technologies, these will be one of the focal points for those that are in aviation. Currently, there is a focus on communication as a main measure that allows new technologies to work effectively and to prevent error. However, for this to be effective, an environment and culture has to be established among groups that will provide levels of safety to the new technology that is used. Developing communication that s expected among the groups and pilots is one of the ways to ensure that there will be a stronger elimination of errors and opportunities with the standards for aviation as well as the need for prevention with newer technologies. It has been found that, without the correct type of communication, pressure begins to move to higher levels, such as stress and the inability to compensate for errors that may occur. To do this, the training programs implemented will need to assist with employee assistance and counseling programs for groups. More importantly, these would focus on how to communicate in case of error and as a way for prevention to occur (Wells, Rodrigues, 2004). The communication and navigation that is applied at this level can provide employees and groups with a better alternative for flight. More importantly, the programs with counseling can continuously assist those that are in flight. Having a mediator and individual to monitor the internal environment and culture can provide individuals with a different and effective method for working together. Using this as a basic component to the training and having it available on a continuous basis can then provide the flight program and other individuals with more opportunities in terms of navigation, communication and safe flights. The mediation and ability to build group communication can be followed by specific management measures that can be taken to ensure that those working within the environment can respond effectively to both errors and to the different concepts that are used within flight. The main concept is to build an airline culture through communication and resources. Using behaviors and resources as the foundational focus of this can then assist in implementing stronger safety measures that are more specific to the aviation needs (Wells, Rodrigues, 2004). Specific Implementation Plans for Aviation Safety There are two components that are used when planning out aviation safety programs. The first are the general needs that are required for those that are in aviation and working within a crew. The general aviation safety that will be used in this instance is based on mediation and training for communication and navigation. This is followed by the regulations and standards of flight crews that will continuously be implemented, as stated above. The second component used for aviation safety is specific to the new components that are continuously added into airlines. The technology that is added in is a primary concern for most as it requires new understanding and levels of training to ensure that the management and error reduction is a part of the technology. To do this, there needs to be different levels of implementation for the safety and for the direct training that is required for this aspect of aviation (Wells, Rodrigues, 2004). The main component that has to be considered in terms of aviation safety programs when implementing new technologies is continuously based on performance and error management. The more knowledge that can be managed from those that are working with new technologies, the more likely that error reduction is possible. More importantly, those that are working with the newer technologies are required to have more options in terms of communication and understanding of how to control and reduce errors with the technology. The first level of training that needs to be available for those that are working with aviation safety needs to be on the ability to alter the technology and to understand how the various components work. The more that the managerial staff and the pilots can understand this, the more likely that error can be reduced. There also needs to be an understanding of how the technology can support or not support the crew and what else needs to be done in terms of assisting those that are working with the technology. The more that this is understood by the different human resources, the more likely that error reduction will occur with the specific technologies (Wells, Rodrigues, 2004). The second step of implementation that has to take place with the aviation safety program for technology is based on modules that can be followed for the crew. A specific module that can be used is known as INDICATE or identifying needed defenses in the civil aviation transport environment. In this specific module, individuals are trained to respond to specific situations by first evaluating and analyzing exactly what is occurring in a hazardous situation. The more that pilots and the crew are able to do this, the more likely they will be able to provide a conducive strategy to reduce the error. Instead of responding to the specific situation, there is the ability to understand exactly what has occurred with the technology as well as how to respond. For this to work correctly, several basic concepts have to be applied. Communication and the culture that is created through the program is the first step to ensuring that there is a stronger basis for those that are working within the program. This should be combined with an understanding of the technology and the way that it can reduce error and implement more safety among the crew (Edkins, 1998). For the safety strategy to work with INDICATE, there is the need to combine both the basic training and culture of the aviation crew with the specific needs for the technology that is implemented. The first part to this is an evaluation of the perception from the staff as well as what they believe should be the specific measures for safety prevention. The perception of the staff is often related to culture, global expectations and the hierarchy that is a part of each culture. For aviation safety programs to work and for communication to be effective, this culture has to be rebuilt. The staff, management and the pilots should all have the option of being trained with the same programs and working toward group communication within safety and aviation. More importantly, there needs to be a deeper understanding of flight culture, as opposed to global culture, when working in aviation. For most staff, this will offer the ability to prevent errors based on knowledge of technology as well as group understanding of what is occurring in a specific situation (Edkins, 1998). Another component that will need to be a part of an aviation safety training program is based on the trained responses that most include within a program. Typically, safety performance has lower measures because staff and management may respond with panic or by drawing into a personal culture. This doesn’t implement solutions with the new technology that is incorporated and may be developed specifically because of the standards and expectations of a group or crew. To work with this, the training program will need to build a safety culture that reduces staff perception and the likelihood of disasters that may occur. The INDICATE safety program is one that has been able to do this by combining the general communication needs with staff with the specific training. Offering the same training to all levels of staff, providing information on specific technologies and changing the group culture are all implemented to change the level of safety hazards that are within a specific environment (Edkins, 1998). The different levels that are used for a commercial airline have to implement basic training with specific programs that are needed to change the way that an airline functions. As can be seen in the example of technology, there is the need for all management levels to have a basic understanding of the technology as well as how it works. Once this level of knowledge is developed, there is the need to create an understanding of how to respond in case of error or in case the technology doesn’t work in the appropriate manner. As staff builds this level of knowledge they will be able to respond in the correct manner. More importantly, there is the need to combine this specific training with technology and the needs of the staff with communication toward the technology and the expectations that are a part of the safety hazards and prevention. The group training toward the specific technology will help to raise the standards that are expected within aviation and among the staff that work with technology and as the part of a commercial airline. Conclusion The safety hazards that are currently a part of commercial airlines are considered mainstream and comply with specific standards. Even though these standards have been met in terms of safety, there are newer components that continue to be added into flights and the needs of those that work within aviation. For newer safety measures to be implemented, even as a marginalized component, there is the need to offer continuous training and programs to staff. The first level of this training is one that will continue to implement a group culture and higher levels of communication and navigation among all staff. This is followed by creating specific understandings to the technology that is being used and how to respond to errors that may occur within flight. As this is implemented with training among all staff it will reduce the safety hazards that are within flight. This includes the reduction of not only basic safety problems but also errors that may result from the standards that have to be matched. The result of implementing the correct aviation safety program will be preventative measures and the correct responses and reactions to given situations. References Edkins, GD. (1998). “the INDICATE Safety Program: Evaluation of a Method to Proactively Improve Airline Safety Performance.” Safety Science (30), (3). FAA. (2010). “FAA Safety Team: Safer Skies Through Education.” Retrieved from: http://www.faasafety.gov/. Helmreich, Robert. (2000). “On Error Management: Lessons from Aviation.” BMJ (320). Helmreich, Robert, Ashleigh Merritt, John Wilhelm. (1999). “The Evolution of Crew Resource Management Training in Commercial Aviation.” The International Journal of Aviation Psychology (9), (1). Wells, Alexander, Clarence Rodrigues. (2004). Commercial Aviation Safety. New York: Mcgraw Hill. Young, Steven, Leighton Quon. (2007). “Aviation Safety Program: Integrated Intelligent Flight Deck.” NASA. Read More