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, like many organizations, set our strategic course for the year ahead.
This season is also when ACSF publishes the annual ASAP Annual Overview, highlighting trends in ASAP reporting, key industry developments you may have missed, and data that helps you reflect on your organization’s safety performance. Yet, as with any data analysis, there are always additional insights waiting to be uncovered. Let’s explore a few ways companies can ensure that in 2026, data becomes a meaningful driver of progress, not just another abandoned resolution.
Look at your data landscape
Knowing what data exists in your organization is an important piece of any successful data plan. What data are you not tapping into? What information do you need that simply isn’t being captured anywhere? Is there information that’s housed in PDFs, spreadsheets, or on the backs of napkins that can be collected, warehoused, and mined? These are key questions to understanding what’s possible for your company.
Start with the end in mind
A new year isn’t just when organizations start tackling safety projects. It’s when companies start tackling all projects. Talk to fellow leaders. Ask them what their roadmap for 2026 looks like. Encourage them to consider building data collection into their projects where it makes sense. In 2026, no matter what department or project, companies should be asking “how does data collection and analysis factor in?”
The closer to the ground floor you get involved, the more likely you are to build the answer to that question into project plans.
Consider unlikely sources
Safety data doesn’t just exist in safety or operations. Actionable safety insights exist all across the organization. If you find yourself in a data-light environment, open the aperture a little and see what’s out there. Maybe Human Resources has exit interview data that can shed light on cultural issues, or maybe Finance has claims data from safety events that just never bubbled up to the surface. Ask around, you could be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
Create new pathways
“We don’t currently track that” are the words no safety professional wants to say, and no operations professional wants to hear. Unfortunately, they are nearly inevitable. You can lessen the chances of this uncomfortable conversation by simply asking the question: “what safety information do you not currently have that would make it easier for you to make decisions?”
Take those answers and discuss ways to start collecting and analyzing the information. Maybe you can build it into an existing process, or you may have to create a new process. Either way, don’t be afraid to ask what’s missing and create it.
The power of networking
It seems we never have all of the information that we wish we had. That’s where the power of the collective comes in. Industry organizations, like ACSF, certainly have resources to help, but sometimes a well-placed note to a counterpart at another organization can yield incredible results. No one individual has experienced everything, but the more contacts you have in your Rolodex, the better your chances are of finding someone who has seen it before. Build relationships, and don’t be afraid to leverage them when you’re in a bind. And of course, don’t forget to return the favor!
What next?
Okay, so, the dog caught the car…now what? Having data is the first step in the process, but once you have it, be sure you have a plan to analyze it. Have a plan that fits your resources, time, and budget. Use automation wherever possible to visualize and summarize the information. Try to avoid creating manual processes that are resource dependent and can become abandoned over time as priorities change.
Working through the year without meaningful data is like setting out on a road trip without a map. It’s possible but makes the trek frustrating and slow. As we enter a season of renewal, make it a priority to equip yourself with the insights and analysis needed for a clear path forward. Let your data be the atlas that guides every step.
