First of all, please allow me on behalf of myself and my colleagues here at GHS Aviation Group to wish everyone the very best for the New Year!
I am certain that aviation professionals around the world will have noticed that media/social media has been virtually “lit up” with claims and counter-claims as to where accolades should be bestowed for making 2017 the air transportation industry’s safest year on record. It has been truly remarkable to see such uniformity in the responses to this question particularly during a time of national and global divisiveness on matters dealing with the economy, immigration, health care, and other significant national issues.
Aviation professionals with whom I have worked very closely during my extensive aviation career and for whom I have the deepest respect were virtually unanimous in their reluctance of having any one government, organization, or individual claim singular credit for the aviation safety results achieved during this past year.
I remember rather fondly many years ago walking into an airline’s operational headquarters to conduct an aviation audit and asking someone in the hallway “Where is Safety?” to which he replied “The small office down the hall on the left” while pointing to somewhere out in the dark abyss.
I compare that statement today with an airline’s Safety Review Board (SRB) Meeting which I recently attended where the Accountable Executive came into the room after everyone had been seated and asked where Safety was as he began the Meeting. Instead of pointing out the individual who was the Director of Safety (DOS), one of the SRB attendees blurted out quite matter of factly “We are seated all around you.” What an evolution/revolution in the way our industry views aviation safety today! “Safety” is no longer down the hall and to the left, but is each and every employee throughout the company.
As we move into the future, “Bye George” will always be a communication forum for aviation professionals to share information that will enable the global aviation industry to continue to be the safest form of transportation known to man. As we start the 2018 New Year in aviation, it may be a unique, appropriate opportunity for us to clearly communicate to others in the public, as well as private, sector exactly what does make our industry so safe. In addition, we may communicate the wide spectrum of individuals and organizations who should be recognized for this tremendous accomplishment!
Happy New Year!!