Page 55 - World Airnews Magazine May 2021 Edition

CHARTER

SAFETY AUDITS SPOT PROBLEMS
Among other things, Part 121 calls for shorter flight duty times Many charter operators subscribe to safety audits that several
combined with longer crew rest periods; additional operational independent companies and associations offer. In an audit, experts
constraints when flying in inclement weather; extended aircraft examine accident/incident history, pilot and support staff hiring
downtimes due to expanded maintenance requirements; practices, flying and maintenance procedures, safety and risk
more frequent pilot training; extensive manual upgrades; and management policies, and more.
having an SMS, CVR, and FDR. Part 121 also requires two-pilot Afterwards, the auditor usually presents the operator with
crews, though virtually all turbine charter aircraft (except some a report that rates the findings and suggests improvements.
helicopters) are flown with two pilots as well. Auditors typically reinspect operators at specified intervals
Based on its analysis of on-demand air-taxi operator accidents, to verify continued compliance with standards and
the NTSB has for more than 20 years recommended that the recommendations. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
FARs for charter operations of airplanes and helicopters be made Administration also provides non-punitive audits covering its
to more closely resemble those for the airlines, the undisputed required employee working conditions, fire prevention, hangar
safest segment of civilian flying. operations, and maintenance equipment.
However, NTSB recommendations are just that - As a customer, you can play an important role in charter
recommendations. The FAA doesn't adopt all suggestions, but it operator safety by giving your business only to companies that
must provide reasons for rejecting them in part or in full. have evidence of complying with the minimum requirements
High on the NTSB's wish list is a requirement that operators or that—as the NTSB suggests—go beyond the minimum. You
have safety management systems, but the FAA doesn’t mandate can obtain safety and regulatory compliance information from
them for all air taxi or on-demand flight operators, as it does for such organizations as the National Business Aviation Association,
Part 121 carriers. National Air Transportation Association, Helicopter Association
An SMS is a formal, top-down, organization-wide approach to International, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Air Charter
managing and tracking safety practices to minimize accidents, Safety Foundation, and Flight Safety Foundation.
incidents, and regulatory violations. The NTSB suggests that before you book a flight, you should ask
Such systems help to instil a strong safety culture within these questions:
operations. The FAA has a detailed SMS template available, and • Can I see a copy of the operator's Part 135 certificate?
several independent companies and member organizations • Will the company share its audit results?
develop custom SMSs to fit an operator's size and complexity. • What is its accident or regulatory violation history?
Safety equipment is another key factor in accident prevention.
The FAA requires flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders • Does the operator have an SMS program?
(the so-called “black boxes” that actually are painted orange) only • Do its aircraft have FDRs and CVRs?
on larger charter aircraft - multi engine turbine airplanes and • To what safety organizations does the operator belong?
helicopters with 10 or more passenger seats - and airliners. • Can these organizations provide a safety review of their
The agency mandates CVRs for multiengine turbine airplanes members?
and helicopters with six or more passenger seats and when two You should be able to answer some of these questions by
pilots are required. visiting the websites of the organizations mentioned above. NATA
FDRs continuously preserve nearly 100 aircraft performance and also educates the flying public about illegal charters, which the
system parameters. NTSB says represent "an increasing safety concern.” In addition,
CVRs catch not only communications between the crew and the FAA has a website that can help you identify safe air charter
air traffic controllers but also aural alerts and other sounds operations as well as unsafe carriers.
emanating from the instrument panel. Investigators use these “By doing a little homework, you can make an informed decision
recorders to help them determine the cause of mishaps and to about boarding a Part 135 flight,” advises the NTSB. “You might
make recommendations intended to aid in preventing similar also be making these flights more secure for other passengers by
accidents. ensuring operators are aware that their customers are demanding
safer operations." Q

World Airnews | May Extra 2021
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