FROM THE DESK OF THE PUBLISHER
Very recently Matt Zuccaro, President of the Helicopter Association International released a Presidential Message entitled “Do we have the collec- tive will”? These messages do not come out very reg- ularly, but when they do I make it a point to read them very closely. Matt has a wonderful tendency to deliver his message in a manner, which leaves very lit- tle room for misunderstanding. He tells it like it is. No beating around the bush, any purposeful sublim- inal intent, just plain old logic and sound judgment. I like that. His recent message is quite simple in context,
but makes me wonder if in fact we, as an industry, are capable of accomplishing? The question is this; can we fully shift our focus to safety first and put profitability second? Great goal, looks good on the surface, but is it truly achievable? Sadly, I am afraid it is not. There are a great number of resources available today which enhance safety. Modern equipment with all the newest technologies built right in, improved weather tools smack dab in the middle of the instru- ment panel, even voices going off in your headset warning of obstacles and terrain. Great tools if you’ve got them. But nothing can match the effec- tiveness of the one tool we all too often learn was lacking, or impeded, good judgment. It is never too late to exercise good judgment.
No doubt there have been times when good judgment was not exercised prior to, or at the beginning of a flight, but managed to pop up at some critical point moment and alter the outcome of the flight, pre- venting a mishap.
Every pilot who has been around for a while has been faced with hard choices when making the deci- sion to accept a flight, or turn it down. I clearly remember, back in the day, having a base manager state, “Weatherman says it’s VFR, you go. Every time you pull pitch you are earning revenue. That’s a Commercial Pilot Certificate you’ve got in your pocket, use it. And if you won’t go, I’ll find someone who will”. Ugly statement, but true. The frightening part about that statement is that the management culture in that particular company, at that time, condoned it. Good judgment prevailed in that case, but imagine how often a pilot may feel his employment status may hang in the balance with these types of pressures? No one is born with inherently good judgment. This has to be learned through experience, good training, in an environment, which truly supports a “Safety First” culture.
In my opinion, Mr. Zuccaro has take a very bold step in a new direction by tossing the “profitability motive” onto the table in the context of safety. Initially, this will become a tough pill to swallow because it causes the benefactors of profit to shift their gaze from operations to the mirror.
Best Regards,
RON WHITNEY PUBLISHER
PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Ron Whitney
ron@rotorcraftpro.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Darian Weaver
darian@rotorcraftpro.com
DIR. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Butch Cole
butch@rotorcraftpro.com
ONLINE EDITOR Lyn Burks
lyn.burks@rotorcraftpro.com
VICE PRESIDENT/CFO Clay Branum
clay@rotorcraftpro.com
VICE PRESIDENT/CAO Rick Weatherford
rick@rotorcraftpro.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mickey Walker
mickey@rotorcraftpro.com
MANAGER, ONLINE ACCOUNTS Lynette Burks
lynette@rotorcraftpro.com
COPY EDITOR Ashley Dempsey
ashley@rotorcraftpro.com
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Pam Fulmer
pam@rotorcraftpro.com
LEGAL COUNCIL Casey Duncan
casey@rotorcraftpro.com
RISK MANAGEMENT Steve Lawrence
steve@rotorcraftpro.com 3 ROTORCRAFTPRO.COM
Rotorcraft Professional®
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