Safety Spotlight: From Checklist to Capability: Rethinking Emergency Response Plans
Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) are like insurance: you have them, but hope you never need to use them. Unlike insurance, though, they are not “set and forget” documents. ERPs should be all-encompassing, heavily trained, regularly reviewed, and routinely exercised. You don’t want the first live event to be the first time your ERP has been […]
ASAP Case Studies for April 2026
Security Issue – Customs Upon arrival in Las Vegas at [FBO name], the flight was required to clear Customs. The crew was supposed to keep the aircraft door closed until a customs officer arrived and granted permission to open it. The captain, [name], unintentionally opened the aircraft door, treating the arrival as a normal domestic […]
Ground Ops Safety Series: Inside ACSF’s Ground Operations Working Group
In the summer of 2025, what started as a small, informal conversation between a few carriers has become a groundbreaking working group powered by the Air Charter Safety Foundation. At the beginning of 2026, ACSF formed the Ground Operations Working Group, designed to compare data, incident rates, and ground operations procedures to build recommendations that […]
ASAP Case Studies for March 2026
Aircraft Damage/Encounter – Aircraft Configuration After completing the oral knowledge evaluation of [name] under observation by FAA POI, we notified line service at KTEB that we were ready to depart. They informed us that they needed to move the aircraft to a different location due to the new procedures on the ramp. Once the aircraft […]
ASAP Case Studies for February 2026
Icing & Speed Deviation On flight from EGSS to KTEB a possible altitude and airspeed violation may have occurred. Approximately 280 miles from destination IAW flight plan, ATC instructed descent to FL340. Subsequently, FL240 and 14000ft. To preserve fuel due to minimum fuel requirements, I maintained 250 – 260 speed. ATC instructed airspeed 300kts or […]
The Seven Safety Attributes: Is Your SMS Built to Last?
As the industry approaches the milestone deadline for SMS in May 2027 (458 days as of this writing, but who’s counting?), organizations far and wide are deep in conversations around how to build a proactive, structured, and reliable safety program within their organization. Even if your organization isn’t subject to the new requirements, or already […]
Strategic Use of Safety Data: What Safety Leaders Should Be Asking in 2026
The new year often gives us a sense of fresh starts, new beginnings, and meaningful change. It is a time of unparalleled optimism and excitement for what lies ahead. At the Air Charter Safety Foundation, this sense of renewal is no different. It marks the period when we gear up for our annual Symposium and, […]
ASAP Case Studies for December 2025
Airspace Deviation Descending into [airport] we were talking with Fort Worth Center waiting to be cleared for a visual approach. The airport ATIS was advertising to expect a visual approach for runway 17; we were planning to request visual runway 13 due to the runway length being longer and the avionics being already set up […]
Preparing Your Safety Program for the Year Ahead
As the end of 2025 nears, it is a perfect calendar-driven reminder to look back at the year that was. For organizations of any size or mission, this reflection should include a thoughtful review of safety performance. While year-end efforts may focus on reviewing incidents that have occurred during the past year, or closing out projects […]
Safety Spotlight: The Inside Story Behind the Brand You Build
Building Safety from the Inside Out For charter operators, safety culture is more than a compliance requirement. It’s critical to the success of the organization and the foundation of how customers evaluate you. Inside your operation, safety culture shapes how teams communicate, make decisions, react to and solve problems. Outside, it defines how clients, regulators, […]