A lesson shared

“Did you see Air Crash Investigation?”

It’s one of the most commonly heard questions by any pilot. Non-aviators are drawn to the show for a myriad of reasons and consequently seek the opinion of someone that is supposedly ‘in the know’. Some viewers may have a morbid interest, while others are intrigued by the behind-thescenes look at an accident. Regardless of the reason, the program has been a tremendous success over the years and cracked open the firmly secured flightdeck door to the public.

These shows are beneficial when they are well produced and accurately portrayed. They offer a genuine insight into the industry to the travelling public and even respite for some fearful flyers. For, as horrendous as some outcomes may be, the viewer can see the number of safety filters that need to be breached for a major event to occur. It is a dynamic and entertaining lesson in James Reason’s ‘Swiss cheese’ model and reaffirms the rarity of accidents and highlights the industry’s ongoing commitment to improving processes.