It can’t be happening! Our flight department has never had an accident! What happened? Is anybody hurt? How bad is it?
As the details of your accident unfold, these and many other questions flood your mind. Disbelief gives way to the grim realization that there has been a major accident, and you must respond. Is your organization ready to do so?
The Reality of an Aviation Emergency
Because of the high volume of incoming calls, making phone calls becomes challenging, if not impossible. Managing the crisis quickly dissolves into addressing the most urgent issue immediately. The chaos and confusion are interwoven with gnawing fear of what you will face in the next few hours and days.
As details emerge, the tasks become more apparent. First, we must assist the victims. Where are they? What do they need? How can we help? We need to implement our Emergency Response Plan.
Is your ERP prepared for the challenge? Previous drills were so scripted and executed so smoothly that the chaos of an actual event overwhelms everyone involved.
This is the reality of an actual event. An aircraft accident can be so dynamic that it demands a multifaceted response. There are demands to deal with the victims, their families, the aircraft, damage to property from the accident, the media, and the need to brief the company leadership on events and your response. It is one of the most dynamic and demanding situations a flight department manager will face.
Planning for the Unthinkable: Is Your ERP Ready for Reality?
The key to effectively addressing this issue involves preparation, execution, and having the right resources. Is your ERP specifically tailored to your organization or merely a template? No two organizations are identical; their capabilities differ, and the ERP must reflect those distinctions. How will the parent company’s emergency plan interface with the flight departments? Have the company’s emergency response personnel previously collaborated on drills with the flight department? Do they know each other?
How well does your flight department understand the rules for aircraft accident investigations? Are there experts within your organization, or do you require external assistance? If you need external help, it should be arranged well in advance, not after the accident. You must plan for the unthinkable…an accident in your flight department.
The most effective emergency response plans begin with a thorough risk assessment, identifying the key individuals and resources needed to facilitate stakeholder communication and coordination.
One recommendation is to examine past emergency situations as case studies to help inform and learn how an effective plan can be used in your organization.
Navigating the Investigation: Understanding Rules, Protocols, and Risks
How your company interacts with the investigative agency is crucial. You should understand the agency’s rules, protocols, and limitations, which vary worldwide. Are your ERP participants aware of these rules, protocols, and limitations? Does your corporate communications group understand what they can, should, and must communicate in response to the incident? One mistake in communications can have you excluded from the investigative process.
An accident requires an appropriate response from the right people, in the right place, and at the right time. It calls for practice, planning, and expertise. Other participants in the investigation have professional investigators on their teams; they know the rules, protocols, and limitations. An operator enters the process at a disadvantage. This disadvantage can be minimized by having expertise from the outside be part of the response.
Being Prepared for the Unpredictable is Key
While we all hope accidents won’t occur, 32 business jet accidents occurred in 2023 and 21 in 2024; none of those operators anticipated being involved in an accident investigation. Effective participation in the investigation is the best way to protect the company and learn the causal and contributing factors.
Aviation remains the safest form of transportation ever designed by humankind. Comprehensive, accurate investigations are part of the reason for this remarkable safety record. If it happens to your flight department, “Who Ya Gonna Call?”
