NTSB Unveils its 2021 – 2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements

 19 Apr 21:

WASHINGTON (April 6, 2021) — The National Transportation Safety Board finalized its 2021 – 2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements during a board meeting held Tuesday.

The five-member board voted to include 10 items in the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements:

• Require and Verify the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems in All Revenue Passenger Carrying Aviation Operations
• Prevent Alcohol and other Drug Impaired Driving
• Require Collision Avoidance and Connected Vehicle Technologies on All Vehicles
• Eliminate Distracted Driving
• Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes
• Install Crash Resistant Recorders and Establish Flight Data Monitoring Programs
• Protect Vulnerable Road Users through a Safe System Approach
• Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation
• Improve Rail Worker Safety (page/content under development)
• Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety (page/content under development)

Since 1990 the NTSB has used its Most Wanted List as the principal advocacy tool to build support for the implementation of NTSB-issued safety recommendations associated with the list.

“Board members of the NTSB and our advocacy team continuously seek opportunities to communicate about items on our Most Wanted List,” said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. “As we begin advocacy efforts for the 2021 – 2022 MWL, we call upon our advocacy partners to amplify our safety messages and help us bring about the safety improvements that will make transportation safer for us all.

The 2021 – 2022 MWL draws attention to more than 100 safety recommendations associated with the 10 items on the list. These recommendations, if implemented, can save lives, reduce the number and severity of injuries and prevent transportation accidents and crashes. The 2021-2022 MWL features 10 mode-specific safety improvements, unlike previous lists that featured 10 broad, multi-modal safety issues tied to hundreds of recommendations.

Contact: NTSB Media Relations
490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20594
Phone Number
(202) 314-6100

Robust risk management and system safety programs are key foundations of improving safety, along with personal and professional leadership. Let's continue the march towards a smarter tomorrow.

As one of my old bosses used to say, "You can't go on liberty if you're dead.

Be Smart,

"Clark" Kent Lewis :)

FMI: Practical Risk Management

Procedural Compliance

 16 Mar 21:

Great video from the NTSB on Procedural Compliance, and the risks associated with noncompliance. Checklists are a critical component of safe operations, and one of Herb's Top Three Rules to Live By.

1. Look Outside.

2. Use the Checklist.

3. Don't fly hard IFR in a single engine aircraft.

NTSB Video: https://youtu.be/M4NL4m5cnhs

Fly Smart!

Clark

23 Feb 20:

King Schools have been very supportive of human factors and safety management systems seminars that I produced in the past, they offered free courses as door prizes. John and Martha have been at this for 45 years now, and they have a few stories to tell that share important information. I do my Flight Instructor Refresher with them every 2 years and while there are cheaper ways to do it, it feels like a fun reunion to go through the modules. They have some Risk Management modules that would be good for pilots to look through, Single Pilot IFR, Takeoffs and Landings and Weather. In addition to certificate and rating courses they offer a variety of single subject courses, and also free courses. I consider King Schools a valuable safety resource, easily accessible from whatever platform you are using right now. Check it out!

FMI: King Schools

(Image: King Schools)

NTSB Open Safety Recommendations 2020 - Most Wanted List

27 Jan 20:

From the National Transportation Safety Board, the 2020 List of Open Safety Recommendations. These are areas the we can look at in our professional organizations and adapt to the professional part of our personal lives:

"This document provides a listing of open NTSB safety recommendations associated with the 2019–2020 NTSB Most Wanted List (MWL) of Transportation Safety Improvements. The recommendations are grouped by each MWL topic area and include the recommendation number, classification status, and recommendation text.
Implementation of NTSB safety recommendations will help prevent accidents, save lives and reduce the number
of people injured each year in transportation accidents.

FMI: NTSB Most Wanted 2020

Risk Management by Martha and John

10 Mar 19:

I am renewing my Flight Instructor certificate with the King's online course and there is a good article on learning risk management by Martha King. It is a good hangar flying topic and brings to light why telling someone to "fly safe" isn't sufficient. From Martha...

"Risk management involves anticipating risks, assessing them, and developing an ongoing strategy for mitigating them. And that is exactly what we need to do to get better outcomes."

Check out the article Why Didn't We Listen and check out the great library of resources at King Schools.

Fly Smart!

Clark

FMI: FAA Risk Management Handbook

Introduction to Safety Risk Management

16 Feb 19:

The FAA has some excellent resources on the components of a personal Safety Management System, the latest discusses Risk Management, one of the 4 pillars.

(Author assessing risk on an Alcort Super Sailfish 2019).

Risk management is a structured way of dealing with hazards. It is a logical process of evaluation where you weigh the potential costs of a risk against the potential benefits you might receive, if you allowed that risk to stand uncontrolled. In order to better understand risk management, the terms “hazard” and “risk” need to be understood.
A hazard is a present condition, event, object, or circumstance that could lead to or contribute to an unplanned or undesired event such as injury to people or or damage to property. It is a source of danger. Examples of common aviation hazards include a nick in the propeller blade, a nick from a propeller blade, improper refueling of an aircraft, pilot fatigue, and the use of unapproved hardware on the aircraft.
If pilots do not recognize a hazard and choose to continue, the involved risk is not managed.
Risk management is a three-step process that people use to:
-identify hazards,
-express how likely those hazards are to negatively impact their operations. This involves classification of hazards using a risk assessment tool that properly identifies frequency and severity of an occurrence. A hazard that presents low risk and occurs infrequently may only require awareness of the risk, whereas a hazard that occurs frequently and results in loss of life and/or property must be eliminated or avoided.
-reduce the chances that those hazards will cause an accident.

FAA Safety Risk Management Brief

(Author on right, HMLA-369, Desert Shield 1990).

I wrote a chapter on Practical Risk Management for the book Implementing Safety Management Systems in Aviation, the chapter is available separately through Kindle or Amazon.

Here's a note about Practical Risk Management:
"Risk management is one of the 4 pillars of a safety management system: Policy, Risk Management, Assurance and Promotion. Practical risk management is about realizing that tragic mishaps lay in our future, unless the multiple hazards that combine to create risk are identified and controlled. The risk management process is the “engine” that drives a generative safety management system (FAA 2008). As part of this system, hazards are proactively identified by systems experts prior to mishaps in order to create information about risk. “Information is best understood within the context where the individuals make choices, i.e. utilize the information” (Leng, 2009). Armed with this unique perspective, better strategic risk decisions can be made, reducing the need for risky and reactive tactical risk decisions. Through valid risk analysis and assessment, preventative measures are crafted and implemented that eliminate or reduce the severity and frequency of mishaps."

You could also buy the entire book

If you have questions, please leave a comment below.

Fly Smart
"Clark"

What Is A Safety Management System (SMS)

21 Oct 18:

A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic approach to manage the risks associated with aviation throught the use of policies, procedures and best practices. Big businesses, regulators and governments use a SMS to ensure protection of people and property, while also ensuring production goals. Everyone involved in aviation can develop their own personal SMS.

The 4 Pillars of SMS. But first a gratuitous aviation photo...

Policy - is about generating a positive, collaborative safety culture. Example: Open, non-puntive reporting system.
Example: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)

Risk Management - is about realizing that tragic mishaps lay in our future, unless the multiple hazards that combine to create risk are identified and controlled. Example: Use of John and Martha Kings Personal Minimums PAVE Checklist.

Safety Assurance - is about checking to see if our risk mitigations are having the desired effect, continuously. Example: Debrief, did the flight go as planned?

Safety Promotion - is about sharing best practices with in and outside of our aviation community. Example: Host or attend a Wings Seminar. Sign up for the NASA ASRS newsletter CALLBACK.

Fly Smart!
Clark

FMI: FAA Risk Management Handbook by Signal Charlie
Practical Risk Management Handbook
Implementing SMS In Aviation