NTSB addresses aviation safety in rough terrain areas, distracted driving
Aviation safety, cell phone use by motorists and a progress report on “most wanted” items kept the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) busy in recent months.
On September 6, in Anchorage, Alaska, the NTSB facilitated a roundtable of industry operators, government officials, educators, and aviation associations to discuss ways to improve the safety of Part 135 flight operations in Alaska. (Part 135 includes air medical service, air taxi, air tours, charter, and on-demand flights.) Twenty-nine panelists provided valuable insight into the unique challenges of flying in Alaska and offered strategies for preventing controlled flight into terrain—a prevalent issue in Alaska—loss of control in flight, midair collisions, and unintended instrument meteorological conditions. Chairman Robert Sumwalt moderated the event. More than 200 attended the roundtable and nearly 2,000 others watched the broadcast and recorded video. “Improve the Safety of Part 135 Aircraft Flight Operations” is on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List (MWL). Read a blog post to learn about some of the key takeaways.