A single message

This is just as true on the aviation side of businesses as it is in the supporting logistics, human resources and management components. As aviation businesses in aerial application continue to progress on the safety maturity curve, useful concepts and practices from aviation are now being applied in other areas.

A company’s ability to identify shortcomings and potential problems – as well as incidents and accidents – is critical to developing a safety system that adds to the company’s value. Having a system that allows all staff to report issues, to have those issues discussed, actions identified and executed, is a strong indicator of management commitment to safety.

Interestingly, both the Australian and New Zealand responses toimproving safety and providing greater certainty for members involves an independently audited accreditation program based on solid training to develop a company’s own safety management system.

In New Zealand that program is called AIRCARE and in Australia it is AIMS – the Aerial Improvement Management System.

Both of these programs provide a framework for safety and productivity. Both of these programs seamlessly package risk management into system-based approaches that satisfy minimum regulatory standards and drive people in the company towards continuous improvement. Both of these programs fundamentally improve the business owners’ knowledge of and control over their company – and provide a better place to work.

Both of these industry-driven programs are gathering recognition from regulators, insurers and clients that they can deliver benefits – for safety, for quality and for the environment – that are simply not available through more traditional approaches.

QBE Aviation Insurance already recognises the AIMS program and provides a rebate for participation. Various agricultural chemical companies now recognise AIMS‑accredited companies on labelling as preferred applicators.

AIMS is recognised as meeting the quality and safety assurance requirements of fire agency

How exposed will you feel when the chips are down?

contracts and AAAA is continuing to work with CASA through the aerial application sector risk profile to encourage more companies to take up the AIMS program and its inherent SMS.

The joint convention identified a range of other challenges facing industry and individuals – ranging from aviation regulations through to preparing for retirement – and in many cases it appears that government is simply not keeping up with the economic integration that is happening between the two countries at the grass roots level.

The cross-recognition of qualifications makes sense, but there still appear to be many impediments in aviation and other sectors that should be removed or reformed under the Closer Economic Relationship Trade Agreement.

The differences in aviation regulation have clear potential for improvement, especially where there is acknowledgementthat neither the NZ nor the Australian regulations reflect the needs of industry or meet the various government standards for best practice regulation. CASR Part 61, CASR Part 137 and the various Australian maintenance regulations are good examples of where Australia could perhaps look towards NZ for inspiration on how to construct simpler rule sets that meet both safety and flexibility goals.

Despite the worthy presentations and discussions on mutual recognition at the convention, the clear stand-out session was from Dr Tony Kern – one of the world’s leading writers and lecturers on applied safety that is relevant to mission-focused businesses and operations such as aerial application.

Dr Kern’s presentation would not have been possible without the generous and very welcome support of CASA, the NZ CAA, QBE Aviation and Air New Zealand. A key challenge from Tony was that if at any time your aviation operation demands on you performing at 99 per cent of your potential or better, how capable are you of delivering that level of performance? If you go through life practising the ‘close enough is good enough’ culture – how exposed will you feel when the chips are down? How often do you practise performance at perfect or near perfect standards? This challenge – and the subsequent guidance from Tony on how to improve your own standards and performance – resonated with every application pilot in the room.

Regardless of whether your origins are Kiwi, Aussie or ‘other’, that single message made the joint convention a truly valuable learning experience.