RCP0110_028-029_Feature 2/9/10 4:53 AM Page 28
FEATURE
Helicopter Pilots
The Final Safety Gate
By: Matt Zuccaro - President of HAI
Generally, accidents are not the result
of any one single event, but the product
of several. My view is that every flight
must pass through several gates in se-
quential order for the accident to happen ˜
the final gate being the pilot. Logically,
we as pilots have the final opportunity to
prevent an accident.
A flight cannot occur or continue with-
out the pilot. Last time I checked, pilots
are the ones that push the start button and
lift the collective. Like it or not, in all ma-
terial respects, the pilot shoulders the final
responsibility and authority for each flight.
Of course, pilots do not operate in a
sterile vacuum, and there are outside in-
fluences. Some are positive, such as risk
assessment/ decision-making procedures,
safety management systems, technology,
and equipment to name a few. Some are
negative, such as real or perceived com-
pany/ customer pressures, economic fac-
tors, competition, or self induced fears of
job loss, self-image, critical mission focus,
and all the things we humans think about.
So what are we to do when the realities
of life are upon us? Consider this, if we
as pilots truly want to positively affect our
environment and ensure safety of flight,
we must never forget a flight cannot start,
or continue, without passing through us,
the final safety gate.
On a daily basis it means pilots must
make safety decisions upon aeronautical
factors and the current operational situa-
tion only, absent other influences. Do you
really want to say, I had an accident or in-
cident because the boss or customer made
me do it, or the company should have pro-
vided me with the proper aircraft and
equipment? I hope this is not the case and
you fully accept the responsibility and
obligation you assume as pilot in com-
mand, and not look to blame others or the
lack of equipment. If you cannot do it
safely, do not fly.
Having flown varied missions and man-
aged numerous operations over the past
40 years I know what it is like to have
28 ROTORCRAFT PROFESSIONAL • January 2010
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