ERAU Risk Management Plan

RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN

July 2010

SFTY 409 Aviation Safety

Prepared by: Ryan Pugeda

ERAU Student

Reviewed by: Donna Chen

Proofreader

Approved by: Steve Lambert

Instructor

Introduction

This two-section plan serves as a guide and/or a template for creating an aviation risk management program that can be applied to the management of flying and non-flying segments of the aviation industry.

The two sections are as follows:

Section 1: Fixed and Rotary-wing Operations

Section 2: Other Aviation Operations

Section I — Fixed and Rotary-wing

Safety Defined

Safety: The top priority for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is safety. Safety awareness is a mental attitude and individual commitment fostered by proper management. Procedures and practices are intended to prevent aviation mishaps from occurring, as defined below.

Accident—an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and the time all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person (occupant or non-occupant) suffers a fatal or serious injury or the aircraft receives substantial damage.

Fatal Injury— any injury that results in death within 30 days of the accident.

Serious injury— any injury that requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, results in a bone fracture, or involves internal organs or burns.

Substantial damage—damage or failure that adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft and that would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component.

Aviation safety cannot be legislated or mandated; it can only be successfully accomplished by fostering and inspiring an attitude in which aviation safety is the foremost priority. An undeviating and persistent commitment to professional conduct by everyone involved in the aviation program is paramount to achieving mishap prevention and successful risk management.

All ERAU students involved in the aviation program play a role in the successful and safe outcome of aviation activities. However, management is responsible for achieving safety goals. This can only be accomplished through awareness and uncompromising support of management.

Training

The Department of the Interior Office of Aircraft Services and the U.S. Forest Services has provided online Interagency Aviation Training courses applicable to aerial survey at http://iat.nifc.gov.

The following courses are required to be completed by all ERAU students to obtain a SFTY 409 certificate:

A-101: Aviation Safety

A-105: Aviation Life Support and Equipment

A-108: Preflight Checklist Briefing and Debriefing

A-109: Aviation Radio Use

A-112: Mission Planning and Flight Request Process

A-113: Crash Survival

Aircraft and Pilots

All ERAU aircraft used for training will carry an aircraft Data Card and must be shown to FAA authorities upon request. Aircraft must have a high wing, large windows for visibility, and adequate engine power. Suitable airplanes include Cessna models 182, 182RG, 206, 206 Turbo, and 210. Other acceptable single engine aircraft include the Cessna 185.

Unacceptable single engine, fixed-wing aircraft include Cessna models 152, 170, and 172 due to their lack of power necessary for mountain flight.

Requirements—The aircraft must have an internal intercom system equipped with noise-cancelling technology, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, seat belts, FM programmable radio, and a global positioning unit.

Light helicopters may also be used to cover a smaller area more intensely, following the same requirements listed above.

Federal Aviation Regulations require that passengers be provided with supplemental oxygen when cabin pressure is above 15,000 feet and pilots are required to have oxygen if cabin pressure reached 12,500 feet for 30 minutes or more.

Section II — Other Aviation Operations

AVIONICS/ELECTRICAL

The Aviation maintenance officer ensures the following avionics and/or electrical requirements are met:

Training:

• Does the unit have a training program to educate personnel in safety procedures and lifesaving techniques appropriate to the work being per-formed?
• Have electrical technicians completed initial training in CPR with annual refresher updates annotated by installation safety officer?
• Are calibration requirements for test equipment kept up-to-date?
• Are all test equipment properly grounded? Safety. How does the commander ensure knowledge of and compliance with the following:

• Does the unit have an adequate avionics maintenance SOP?
• A mounted safety board is present in the shop. Rubber floor mats or similar insulating materials are provided for repair positions.
• All power attachment plugs and connectors are serviceable with no exposed current-carrying parts except the prongs.
• Is the operational readiness float program established and maintained?
• Are unserviceable and non-repairable items being turned in promptly.
• Are technical inspections of repairable equipment being accomplished?
• Are necessary technical publications on hand and current?

Foreign object damage prevention:

• Is the FOD prevention annex to the ERAU SOP adequate?
• Is a specified time established for policing aircraft parking areas, run-up areas, exhaust areas, runways, and taxiways?
• Are there enough FOD receptacles in all work areas for trash, ferrous and nonferrous scrap, safety wire, and so forth?
• Is a checklist of all maintenance areas completed?

Fire prevention:

• Are smoking and no-smoking areas designated, and are no-smoking signs posted?
• Are the required number and types of fire extinguishers available in the shops and hangar?
• Are shop and hangar fire extinguishers inspected as required?
• Are shop and hangar personnel trained in the use of fire-fighting equipment?
• Are there enough grounding points to adequately support the unit’s aircraft parking areas and maintenance facility?
• Is the entire grounding system for which the unit is responsible inspected annually?
• Are all ground rods for which the unit is responsible tested every 2 years or when there is a possibility of mechanical damage?
• Does the unit keep a log that identities each rod the date tested, and the reading in ohms?

Sources:

Aviation Management Plan; Wyoming State Forestry Division, 2005

Commercial Aviation Safety, 4^th Edition

Alexander T. Wells, Ed.D. & Clarence C. Rodrigues, Ph.D., P.E.

3rd Squadron, 17^th U.S. Cavalry, U.S. Army

Aviation Ground Support Procedures