Author: Randy Mains
Last July of 2019, the United States Helicopter Safety team, (USHST) put out a press release stating: Helicopter industry headed for highest fatal accidents in more than a decade. To stem the surge of fatal accidents, the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team called on helicopter operators, pilots, instructors and mechanics to rely on safety basics and place a priority on them. The safety organization called for pilots, instructors and others with a stake in helicopter safety to focus on SEVEN key actions that will save lives based on past accident reports. Here are the seven key actions that are worth remembering:
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My Two Cents Worth
Two of my readers offered their unique views regarding the last column I wrote for the April/May 2020 issue of Rotorcraft Pro entitled Honoring that Sacred Trust. In the article I talked about the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash addressing some of the facts taken from the preliminary NTSB report, one of those facts being the accident pilot had over 8,000 flight hours and held an instrument instructor certificate.
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My Two Cents Worth
During this time of social distancing and staying in place and away from people as much as possible, I find it’s also a time of reflection on my career so far. An incident in my garden recently reminded me of an occurrence that took place when I was flying in Papua New Guinea.
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My Two Cents Worth
“Sacred trust.” That is what your passengers give you every time they get into your helicopter to go on a flight. By their very actions they are saying to you, “I am literally placing my life in your hands.”
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My Two Cents Worth
Randy, I concur with all your points you bring up about the Ohio Survival Flight 14 accident that you detailed in your January / February 2020 column entitled “Case Study.” I flew for Survival Flight 4 base out if Batesville Arkansas next to their HQ for 9 months. During my time there, I experienced pressure to fly; I was admonished for bringing up maintenance issues as well as questioning the crew endurance policies that were routinely violated by the Lead Pilot. I retired from the Army as CW4 IP, ASO in 2009.
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My Two Cents Worth
As helicopter pilots we often never know the impact we can make on a person’s life. That thought came to mind when I read my good friend’s excellent book, The Sky Behind Me written by Byron Edgington, which I can recommend without reservation.
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My Two Cents Worth
When I teach and facilitate my one-day crew resource management (CRM) course or my five-day CRM train-the-trainer course, attendees often find it difficult to bridge the gap between the human factors they learn to recognize in the course and actually putting their knowledge into practice in the real world to prevent an accident.
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My Two Cents Worth
I recently read a troubling story on the Facebook page titled When Seconds Count. It was written by a concerned air medical pilot who recounted something the lead pilot had said in their weekly safety meeting. In regard to newly arrived uniform ball caps embroidered with the words “FLIGHT CREW” on the back strap, the lead pilot said, "You may be the medical crew, but according to the FAA, because you are not directly involved with the operation or safety of flight, you are not considered part of the flight crew."
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My Two Cents Worth
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your article in the May/June 2018 issue of Rotorcraft Pro entitled You are Safety’s Gatekeeper where you talk about the Liberty Helicopters’ FlyNYON aircraft that crashed in New York’s East River causing five people to lose their lives. This article struck home with me because I could personally relate as I am sure it did with many of my colleagues.
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My Two Cents Worth
“Where’s management?” is a question I’m often asked whenever I have been invited (ironically, by an organization’s management) to give a CRM or air medical resource management (AMRM) course. It’s a valid question because I’m not sure management appreciates the vital role they play in the flight safety of their organization.
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Categories:
My Two Cents Worth