ACSF Supports NTSB’s "Most Wanted List" of Safety Improvements

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Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced its 2021-22 “Most Wanted List” of transportation safety improvements that will prevent accidents, reduce injuries and save lives. Specifically, the Board adopted two safety improvements that will affect the Part 135 aviation industry, including the recommendation to 1) require and verify the effectiveness of Safety Management Systems (SMS), and 2) install crash-resistant recorders and establish Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) programs.

The Air Charter Safety Foundation (acsf.aero), a non-profit organization with more than 250 member companies, including Part 135 and Part 91 aviation operators, supports the NTSB’s recommendation in an effort to create a safer charter industry that will prevent accidents, reduce injuries and save lives.

Safety Management System

The Foundation currently offers its members these SMS and safety audit solutions:

  • The ACSF SMS Tool, an actively managed, web-based software tool to take aviation operators through the process of setting up an SMS and getting started with the Aviation Safety Action Program. Additionally, flight department staff can use this tool to document aviation safety data, perform risk assessments and assign corrective actions, among other functions.
  • The ACSF Industry Audit Standard aligns with the FAR Part 5 SMS voluntary program and ICAO Annex 19.

During its meeting, the NTSB discussed the fact that among the 1,900 Part 135 organizations, only 20 operators have had their SMS accepted into the FAA’s SMS for voluntary program (SMSVP). Another 213 operators have applied for the SMSVP, and are somewhere in the process for that acceptance.

Flight Data Monitoring

The ACSF will launch its new ACSF Flight Data Monitoring program to serve as a resource for member companies to learn “all things related to FDM,” including the implementation process and FDM’s program benefits. Specifically, ACSF members will benefit from the ACSF FDM through:

  • Expense reduction associated with acquiring hardware and software.
  • Educational opportunities, such as training for front-line employees, department management and the C-suite on the value that FDM can bring to the safety culture of an operation.

To learn more about the ACSF and its aviation-safety solutions, including SMS, ASAP and the Industry Audit Standard, visit acsf.aero.