David Learmount's opening paragraph in "Taking control" (Flight International, 23-29 September) generated much crewroom discussion here at our primitive airfield where we fly our ancient operational hardware. Fast-jet maritime aviation is arguably the most taxing flying environment and the maintenance of an effective flight safety (FS) culture for operators and engineering personnel demands great efforts, given voluntarily, by Fleet Air Arm Squadron FS committees. In varied operational environments (homebase, embarked, overseas disembarked) prone to rapid change, the ability to predict and focus on key factors, including integration with host FS units, enables risk to be managed effectively.
Indigenous military assets (DASC, RNFSAIC) provide a credible range of information in a variety of media but we are keen to learn from other flying communities. We have been fortunate to receive presentations from the Air Accident Investigation Board and from the FS officer of a leading charter airline. We valued their input on overall FS management and procedures and they commented on our local safety management system and its potential applicability to their organisations.
I welcome the arrival of a UK military safety management system and agree that it will be a useful tool in the reduction of accidents and incidents. As a past chair of a RN Fast-jet FSC, I believe "FS posters in crewrooms" and "FOD-control programmes" are a key element in any SMS. We have benefited from the experience of our colleagues in civil aviation and I would urge those involved in FS in civil aviation to consider the possibility that the FS expertise of the military flying community could be of some value.
Tim Taylor Lt Cdr RNR
RNAS Yeovilton, UK
Source: Flight International
