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Industry Focuses on Single Pilot Business Aircraft Operators

SRM | August 15, 2016

Author: Robert A. Wright

The business aviation community has increased its focus on single pilot operation of light business aircraft (LBA). This focus is a result of increasing numbers of single and multi-engine turboprops and turbojets categorized as LBA. These LBA generally include aircraft with a maximum take-off mass of less than 5,700 kilograms (12,500 pounds). In addition, a few highly visible fatal LBA accidents have further increased industry and government interest in this community.

The need for efficient on-demand air transportation by small businesses has propelled the demand for new-generation LBA. Most often, these aircraft are flown by non-professional pilots who are often the owners of these companies. Their flying duties are incidental to their main responsibilities as business owners or employees; as a result, activities such as recurrent training must be fit into already busy schedules that are not focused on aircraft operation and safety.

New rules by regulatory authorities only partially address this problem. For example, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has promulgated a new Non-Commercial Complex aircraft (NCC) rule that is taking effect in August 2016. However, the NCC rule only affects turbojets and multi-engine turboprops. It does not apply to the rapidly increasing fleet of single-engine turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12, Daher TBM series, Piper Meridian, and other similar aircraft. Furthermore, while the NCC rule has training requirements, these requirements do not necessarily reflect the safety and operational needs of LBA pilots.

In the U.S., the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is responding to the safety challenges of LBA. On October 31, 2016, the NBAA Safety Committee is sponsoring a Single Pilot Safety Standdown event in Orlando, the day before the start of the annual Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (NBAA-BACE). Specifically, this all-day event’s theme is focused on risk management and will include two panels representing the training community and aircraft owner organizations, as well as a discussion on the use of practical flight risk assessment tools (FRATs). More details on this event can be found on the NBAA website, www.nbaa.org.

As an LBA pilot, you can remain up-to-date on safety and flight operations by being proactive regarding your training regimen. Even if you can’t attend the Safety Standdown in Orlando, you will be able to access the details on the NBAA web site. Also, the online site will soon include a risk management guide for LBA pilots that will be previewed at the Standdown. You should also attempt to avail yourself of online training courses that deal with LBA operations and safety issues such as Single Pilot Resource Management (SRM).

TrainingPort.net, in cooperation with Crew Resource Management LLC, offers a complete online SRM course for business aviation (available for purchase through our storefront).

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Robert A. Wright is the president of Wright Aviation Solutions, LLC. He is a member of the leadership team of Crew Resource Management, LLC, which has been providing comprehensive CRM training to corporate flight departments for over four years.


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