Safety Newsletter

Issue 3 | Spring 2025

Is Your Go Team Ready?

We all can agree that the loss of any human life is a tragedy, regardless of if they are an airline passenger, or flying on a privately owned airplane. Aircraft accident response requires a large amount of preparation to be ready for the unthinkable (NBAA). All organizations can understand the importance of having personnel prepared to handle an emergency, however the difference between resources available in-house for private operators compared to their airline counterparts with regard to response, is immense.

Safety Day 2025 at Atlantic Aviation PWK in Wheeling

Wednesday, April 9, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join us for keynote speakers (USAIG, Fireside Partners, and Aerospace Services and Products), safety demonstrations, and networking opportunities. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Safety-focused raffle prizes will also be up for grabs. Thanks to sponsor support of MedAire, Polaris Aero, Aircare International, LLJohns Aviation Insurance, and Nimbl, this event is free to attend.

Use 951 S Wolf Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090 for directions to Hangar 43. Parking is connected.

Safety First - Even On the Ground

Operators spend a lot of time and resources to fulfill audit standards measuring flight safety, while seeing insurance claims coming in year after year for hangar rash or FOD ingestion. Damage to aircraft on the ground is often seen from air bridges causing damage and towing, often affecting the landing gear, wings, or empennage. Read more about IS-BAH compliance.

AvMassi has led the charge with both consultation, and auditing ground handling services for operators. Lou Sorrentino is an experienced aviation safety professional, and has led many safety initiatives including consulting for NATA’s Ground Handler SMS. Read more about Lou Sorrentino.

Webinar Recap: Protecting Yourself Against Thermal Runaway

During our last webinar, Brian Hayvaz of Aircare International shared how a thermal runaway event presents and how you can best combat the fire. With the number of electronic devices onboard an average flight, preparation for such an event is critical. If you missed the webinar, view the recording here.

Normalization of Deviation in Business Aviation

Even well-intentioned pilots deviate from SOPs, due to lack of knowledge, training gaps, or from habit. A study conducted by United Airlines found that pilots average two unintentional deviations per flight (Flight Safety Foundation). In business aviation, these risks are heightened by operational pressures. Unlike the airlines, when flights do not go according to plan, writing up squawks, delaying or cancelling for weather, the crew is responsible for problem solving and breaking bad news to passengers. This puts a higher workload on the crew and may increase the temptation to bend the SOPs to make the flights happen, leading to increased risk for accidents.