Atlantic Aviation has launched a "tow certified" program designed to reduce the number of aircraft towing-related accidents and incidents. It began in September and will be fully implemented at all Atlantic facilities by January 2010.
"Towing is involved in 70% of incidents and personnel with less than six months of experience cause 56% of the incidents," says Todd Smith, director of risk management for Plano, Texas-based Atlantic Aviation. "This program is designed to reduce that number by improving training. It's an investment in safety."
Atlantic conducts scheduled management meetings consisting of fixed-base operation general managers and their teams to assess line service technicians. Managers nominate employees who have demonstrated "continued progress, attitude and aptitude to become tow certificated". Once nominated, employees will be observed towing different types of aircraft under different weather conditions to ensure they are displaying appropriate skills to be tow certificated.
Source: Flight Daily News
