Press Release

Issued by National Business Aviation Association.

February 16, 2018

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today released its annual list of top safety focus areas, topics identified by the NBAA Safety Committee as primary risk-mitigation targets for all business aircraft operators.

The 2018 NBAA top safety focus areas are: 

- Loss of Control Inflight (LOC-I)

- Runway Excursions

- Single-Pilot Operation Safety

- Procedural Compliance

- Ground Handling and Taxi Incidents

- Distraction Management

- Scenario- and Risk-Based Training and Checking

- Positive Safety Culture Promotion

- Inflight Aircraft Collision Risk

- Workforce Competency and Staffing

- Safety Data Sharing and Utilization

“The identified focus areas represent the most critical safety-related risks facing business aircraft operators in 2018,” said David Ryan, chairman of NBAA's Safety Committee. "This list is the result of spirited collaboration between the dedicated men and women on the Safety Committee, who are committed to not only identifying potential hazards, but also through working with regulators, member companies and other industry stakeholders, to provide the business aviation community with the most effective mitigation tools and strategies.”

The Safety Committee's goal is to promote safety-focused discussion and advocacy throughout business aviation, as well as to help NBAA prioritize how it should focus its safety-enhancement efforts.

Each year, during its annual risk-assessment meeting, the committee reviews safety survey results; risk-based safety data; and qualitative input from industry and regulatory partners, other NBAA committees and association members. Following this data-driven review, committee members deliberate and develop a list of safety focus areas for the year.

“NBAA relies on the expertise of its Safety Committee to guide our safety-related programming and resources throughout the year,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Business aviation safety is a cooperative, ongoing effort that demands a daily commitment to the highest levels of professionalism, and the committee's vital work has continually proven to be an asset in this pursuit.”

In addition to the 2018 list, the Safety Committee continues to promote and focus on its five “foundations of safety,” considered the heart of the committee's messaging. They are: 

- Professionalism

- Safety Leadership

- Technical Excellence

- Risk Management

- Fitness for Duty 

“These core values – the foundational elements of an effective safety operation – form the basis of our committee's work,” said Ryan. “We encourage all business aircraft operators to adopt these tenets as part of their organizational culture.”