Anoop Kishore Bhatnagar’s Post

As a follow up to my post earlier on the use of the concept of privilege in aviation safety investigations, what do we do when ‘culture’ is a major contributing cause of a military aviation mishap? The recent report from the USAF on the January B-1 mishap in Ellsworth, ND is a quite blunt and straightforward, and I commend the board for writing it, and frankly the Air Force for releasing it. I have seen too many mishaps of this sort, where culture played a strong role, where the reports never see the light. And the issues never change because of this opacity. This report may not bring a broader change either, because as others have mentioned there are even bigger problems outside the unit level. Issues like pilot manning shortfalls, training changes that take away flight time, reduced flight hours limiting proficiency, etc.—problems not limited to the USAF. But it honestly lays bare the many factors that played into the incident, called out all the ways this could have been prevented, and highlighted the fact that there is far more depth than simply pilot error. As an aviator, I have seen safety reports that were painful to read, because as a reader you could feel the cultural cringe. It is bad to put yourself in the shoes of fellow aviators, and can be even worse when you know the folks involved in the incident, you have flown with them—and you can empathize how they be came to be caught in in a culture that encouraged unsafe actions. What I find most troubling about this B-1 report is that it reflected a broader trend that I have seen in my own community, as mentioned above. And it is the type of incident I think that we will see more and more of. Aviator staffing shortfalls and the attempts to compensate for these shortfalls are creating unforeseen cultural consequences. I saw similar incidents in my last years of active duty, where on an approach ‘lack of a composite crosscheck’ created an unsafe situation, but the damaging effect was compounded by a lack of proficiency and experience from the senior member of the crew.  If you have seen this too, or are curious to know more, keep an eye out for future posts, as I don't have room to write it all here. Here is the link to the report, I recommend any platform aviator take a look and read it, beyond just the recent headlines, and consider what you can take away from it to make your next approach safer. https://lnkd.in/ghZ6X7RB (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Corey Hook)

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced the SUBARU Bell 412EPX has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification and can begin flight operations throughout the European Union. Bell secured multiple orders for the SUBARU Bell 412EPX platform in Europe, including one aircraft to Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior. The aircraft will be used for civil protection, firefighting, medical transport and natural disaster support. On a global scale, Bell recently announced signed purchase agreements for the SUBARU Bell 412EPXs to San Diego Fire-Rescue, the Japan Coast Guard, and Japan’s Nara and Miyazaki Prefectures. https://lnkd.in/gQVXBjqy

There is an old aviation adage that all its safety rules were written in blood. Additionally, in any situation, keeping safe is dependent on situational awareness. And of course there is the enemy of safety, complacency. You can cheat safety, shortcut it, with luck some of the time, but as we were reminded Wednesday night, not all of the time. The NTSB report will conclude the above truths, again. With the exception of the pilots who complained about the crowded airspace at DCA, the report will likely highlight the very people who should have known better, ignored their own situational awareness while enjoying the convenience of complacency. That includes me and other passengers who flew in and out of DCA regularly, closely along side military aircraft, enjoying our convenience of complacency. It includes all those lawmakers who did the same and also worked to have more flights added to the crowded airspace. My questions about aviation safety here? Why did we let the defining event occur to address what was right before our eyes all along? Will we honor the souls lost this week by not letting that happen again, ever? Two planes aborted landings at DCA due to helicopters in flight path in week before crash: report https://lnkd.in/eZGawf_w

Less than 3% of budget is spent on the absolute weakest defense against cyberattacks. Would you knowing fly with an airline that spent less than 3% of their training budget on the pilots? Probably not. You CAN do more to protect your business, and you can do it within budget. Suffering is Optional.

By partnering with West Gate Security, airlines and other aviation operators can enhance their security posture, protect their assets, and provide a safe and secure environment for passengers and crew.

Fires can occur unexpectedly in airports and aircraft, emphasizing the critical need for preparation to manage such situations effectively. Therefore, it is paramount to establish efficient fire prevention measures both at airports and within aircraft. Every airport should have a proficient Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team that is adequately trained and equipped to handle emergencies. Especially for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) services and cabin crew, we have created four training packages that respond to different aircraft training scenarios, such as engine fire, cabin fire, cockpit fire or cargo fire. Click on the link for references, product information and more: https://lnkd.in/gf9TeEhj #firetraining #airport #aviation #aircraft #readyforaction

Top Reasons Airfields Enforce Prior Permission Requirements (PPR) In the United Kingdom, many airfields operate with a “Prior Permission Required” (PPR) policy. PPR helps airfields manage traffic, coordinate safety protocols, and maintain security. For pilots and operators, understanding why PPR exists can streamline operations and prevent last-minute surprises. In our latest article, we take a closer look at the top reasons airfields enforce PPR requirements. https://lnkd.in/eAWVYbAB

Electronic Warfare Spooks Airlines, Pilots and Air-Safety Officials: GPS spoofing attacks are increasingly disrupting commercial flights worldwide, with over 1,100 daily incidents reported in August, up from dozens in February. The false signals, primarily originating from Russia, Ukraine, and Israel, confuse cockpit navigation systems, triggering false alarms and misdirecting flight paths, WSJ reports. Pilots report clocks resetting, erroneous warnings, and navigation errors lasting minutes to entire flights. While no major safety incidents have occurred, aviation officials warn that managing these disruptions could overburden crews during emergencies. Airlines, manufacturers, and regulators are scrambling for solutions, but new equipment standards to combat spoofing won't be ready until next year at the earliest. In the meantime, pilots receive briefings on identifying and responding to potential attacks, sometimes instructed to ignore safety system warnings. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

It's remarkable to witness the evolution of aviation security throughout my 38-year tenure in the aviation sector. Beginning with simple tarmac access and metal detector screenings, progressing through the introduction of contract screening, and culminating in the federalization of U.S. airports post-9/11, the transformation has been profound. As one of the pioneering employees to undergo Ground Security Coordinator training at Air Wisconsin and later joining the TSA as an original plank holder in 2002, reflecting on these years underscores the dynamic and fulfilling nature of this profession. How have you seen the role and responsibilities of aviation security professionals change over the past years? *Bonus points if you can name this aircraft? #Aviation #AviationSecurity #InternationalAviation