Fatigue

Fatigue

We’ve all felt tired, we’ve all had a long day and felt weary, looking forward to getting some rest.  Fatigue can be acute, prolonged, or chronic.  Both are major considerations for the safety of aviation operations.  All personnel can suffer from fatigue, not just...
To err is human…

To err is human…

This popular saying is an old one. It comes from the 18th century English poet Alexander Pope. “Err” comes from the Latin word “errare,” meaning “to stray or wander.” Related words, such as errant and erroneous, have the same Latin origin.  But the...
What is a SAFA?

What is a SAFA?

The EU Ramp Inspection Programme is a European Programme regarding the performance of ramp inspections on aircraft used by third country operators (SAFA) or used by operators under the regulatory oversight of another EU Member State (SACA). If an operator has...
What is a VSO?

What is a VSO?

 A VSO is a Virtual Safety Office. This is the short answer to the question. While this is the short answer, it doesn’t really define what a VSO is. A small business owner will possibly use accountancy software to manage the financial side of the business. This as...
Why SMS Consulting?

Why SMS Consulting?

Safety…This is a principle that aviation has cherished in the last eight decades or so. At aviation’s birth and initial development, flying was considered a dangerous activity, and so it was. The forefathers of the airline industry saw that while an aircraft had many...
Low Visibility Operations (LVOs) and Safety

Low Visibility Operations (LVOs) and Safety

 The traveler has demanded for years that meteorological conditions should not impede their travel plans. The aviation industry has evolved from basic instrument flying, from point A to point B, to where now landing in category 3B, or extremely low vis and zero cloud...