A message from David Anderson

Independent, Impartial and International – this is the underlying motto for how Flight Safety Foundation approaches all work and has done so for nearly 75 years. Jerome Lederer established the Foundation in 1947 with these principles at the heart of what we do. Over the past decades, the Foundation was a strong advocate for safety initiatives such as the worldwide exchange of safety information, development of a Just Culture in organizations, medical standards for pilots, wide adoption of flight data recorders, and anti-collision lights, to name a few. In recent years, the Approach and Landing Accident Reduction (ALAR) Tool Kit with the now-famous Stabilized Approach Criteria have been instrumental in making a difference in aviation safety globally. Building on this work, the Go Around Decision Making and Execution is a must-read document for every fixed-wing pilot and airline manager. It shows how the effective implementation of the stabilized approach policy needs constant monitoring and follow-up. For a current read, there is a wealth of material generated by FSF in support of countering the safety impacts of the COVID pandemic, which has been well-received globally. 

The international aspect of FSF is readily apparent within the cross-section of Foundation membership. Members are from more than 150 countries, a number, I suspect, surpassed only by ICAO for representation on safety matters. Members include airline representatives as well as RPAS/UAV operators, aircraft and equipment manufacturers, national regulators, training institutions, and end-users, such as resource companies and humanitarian organizations, and individuals. This not only demonstrates a wide diversity but is genuinely representative of all parties who have a combined interest in aviation safety.

As a safety organization, we work across sector and industry boundaries to deliver impartiality in the representation and recommendations we make. The BARS Program exemplifies impartiality by having representatives from multiple sectors of the Aviation Industry able to participate, provide input and voice their own needs in order to keep their people safe.

The development of the safety standards is a key output of the BARS Program and is a unique collaborative process between our key stakeholders. The process allows our aircraft operators and audit companies to work with the resource companies, humanitarian organizations like World Food Program (WFP), and industry bodies such as IAGSA and HeliOffshore, and provide back to the industry, the safety standards and the rigorous audit program that supports them. FSF acts as the impartial administrator of the audit program, providing BARS Member Organizations the comfort of independence away from the audit process while maintaining the high-quality standards required on an ongoing basis - this process has become embedded over the years with proven results.  

Thank you to all the supporters of the BARS Program. By remaining international, independent and impartial, the Program can continue to strengthen and uphold the primary mission of FSF. 
 

David Anderson
Managing Director
BARS Program