Safety Results from the Concurrence of Several Factors
Safety is the result of combining different factors in
conscientious and active manner.
Whenever we talk of accidents, we talk of a “chain of events”. These are the result
of different factors combining each other in an exact temporal sequence.
An accident is not ‘accidental’
–it could be casual or fortuitous, even, it could be unintentional or unplanned–
is the result of the concurrence of different factors.
Hence, to prevent accidents to happen, it is also necessary
to accomplish the combination of several factors.
These in the aviation world can be grouped as:
- Pilot/person: Aptitude, as fitness and/or ability and/or competence and qualification; Attitude, as disposition, mindset, posture.
- Aircraft: Condition, available fuel, capacities/performance.
- Environment: Weather, airport/airstrip conditions, time of the day, terrain, other aircraft/traffic.
- Procedures: intended mission, planning, preparedness.
As obvious it may seem, accident reports tell otherwise. But, why is that happening?
Safety doesn’t happen. Safety is made happen.
Whenever in search of safety:
Have to combine factors – In a consistent way or
manner. It is following a procedure.
Consciously – Being aware of what the situation is,
what could happen and what could be done.
It means to take deliberate actions to make safety
happen. Whenever actions are not deliberately taken, there’s not safety, there's
only the fortune wheel spinning.
Safety is the result of the conscious actions taken to
break the chain of events that evolve into an accident.
