A spate of business aviation accidents has discussion boards and Facebook pilot groups asking the question: why have there been so many in recent months, a notable turnabout from last year’s far better record? It’s not uncommon in the military for organizations to take a break when safety issues rise to a high level, called a “safety standdown.” Bombardier’s annual Safety Standdown sort-of replicates that concept.
During my career, there have been a few instances where, in retrospect, I should have applied more consideration toward the safety of what I was doing. In thinking about that, I came up with a concept that I named “Time Out for Safety.” The idea is that anyone involved in the operation can at any time raise a hand and say, “Time Out!” This stops the clock, halts whatever steps are underway, and forces those involved to rethink the plan.
Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.
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