committees and attending safety meetings, often presenting human-factors training at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s conferences. Now rebranded as the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), the organization provided me the opportunity to bring training resources to the public safety sector, which was the motivation for me to take my current posi- tion with APSA as its training program manager.
What are your career goals? In many ways, I have met and exceeded my career goals. My goal now is to con- tinue to bring training and safety resources to aviation. I just want my tombstone to say “I made a difference.”
What advice would you give someone pursuing your path? Never give up. You can do anything you set your mind to. I didn’t know where my career path would take me. I believe it’s important not to focus on a narrow path, but to open your mind to all the career paths available and recognize that your vision and goals may change.
Who inspires or has inspired you? There are so many people and organiza- tions that have inspired me that I couldn’t possibly name them all.
HAI, the International Helicopter Safety
Team, CAMTS [the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems], and FlightSafety International inspired me to pursue a goal focused on safety and training. Robert Sumwalt, for- mer chair of the NTSB [US National Transportation Safety Board], inspired me to continue to make a difference. Eileen Frazer, CAMTS’s executive director, taught me the value of accreditation. Larry Mattiello [director of aviation at The Loomis Co.] showed me how the insurance indus- try can support training. Dennis Pierce, pilot and founder of Colorado Heli-Ops, inspired me to work with flight schools to mentor students and help them define a career path. John Frasca, CEO of Frasca
International, showed me that the simula- tor providers can develop resources for the small operator. The most inspiring was my late husband, Juan Serrato. He was a heli- copter pilot in Vietnam and spent his career flying in many types of operations. He was a wealth of knowledge and encouraged me every day to continue to search for solu- tions to challenges.
What still excites you about helicopter aviation? What excites me most about helicopter avi- ation are the people who will continue to make the industry safer. The volunteers who serve on industry committees and working groups are a good example. They develop resources and identify solutions that improve both operations and safety. I’m encouraged that industry associations and their staff place a high priority on train- ing and provide training resources and events. The aircraft and technology
manufacturers, as well, have embraced training and simulation.
What challenges you about helicopter aviation? There are still accidents that could be pre- vented. Training to proficiency and under- standing the importance of preflight planning to include good decisions are criti- cal to preventing accidents. The shortage of pilots, mechanics, and instructors is also critical. It directly affects both operations and training.
Complete this sentence: I know I picked the right career when … … I started to see the significant changes in the industry that embraced training. When I started my aviation career, there were only a few helicopter simulators. Now, the use of technology in training including simulation, spatial disorientation, and Web-based resources is standard.
BY
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