Bombardier Aerospace today kicked off its 10th annual Safety Standdown at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Wichita. This milestone year for the pioneering safety seminar also marks the first time the event is fully endorsed by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
“In its first decade, Safety Standdown has evolved into one of the largest and most comprehensive safety conferences in the industry,” stated Bob Agostino, director, flight operations, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The participation of the FAA, NTSB and NBAA demonstrates the importance of this type of knowledge-based training. At the end of the day,
we are all just trying to save lives.”
Renowned throughout the business aviation industry, the four-day seminar continues to attract pilots and flight crews in droves. Attendance was fully booked at 450 participants by early August, with over 300 people on the waiting list. The event continues to be offered free of charge to all business jet operators.
Intensive four-day program
The workshops offered this year encompass medical and emergency training -- CPR, in-flight fire fighting, and water and land evacuation -- advanced psychology behavior modification, international operations recurrent training, and the return of high altitude hypoxia training, which proved very popular last year.
Opening remarks were delivered by several safety and aviation industry leaders including:
• Nick Sabatini, associate administrator for aviation safety, Federal Aviation Administration;
• Ed Bolen, president and CEO, National Business Aircraft Association;
• Joseph Osterman, managing director, National Transport Safety Board and;
• James Hoblyn, senior vice-president, customer experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft.
The seminars feature the return of subject matter experts Dr. Mark Rosekind on fatigue countermeasures, Dr. Jerome Berlin on applied aviation psychology, and the legendary
Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon. This year also includes some new additions to the roster, including Dr. Kathleen Sutcliffe from the University of Michigan Business School and co-author of Managing the Unexpected.
“Safety Standdown is important for our customers and aircraft operators industry wide,” said Pierre Gabriel Côté, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “I am delighted with the growing interest and continued support it receives from governing safety agencies, as it underlines the wide ranging impact of the program and emphasizes that this is much more than a company event. Bombardier is proud to be forging this path towards safer flight for everyone.”
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2006 were $14.7 billion US and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchanges (BBD).
News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
For information
Leo Knaapen
Manager, communications
Bombardier Business Aircraft
514-969-5181
leo.knaapen@aero.bombardier.com