As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has heightened its focus on elevating Part 135 safety, Chairman Robert Sumwalt acknowledged the efforts of attendees at the recent Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) 2020 Air Charter Safety Symposium to improve safety but warned that any accident segment reflects upon the industry.

“Thank you for what you are doing to raise the bar on aviation safety,” he told attendees, adding that while Part 135 is on the NTSB’s “Most Wanted” list of safety improvement, “The truth of the matter is…we are probably not targeting you.” He noted the varied operations in the category and the different levels and approaches within Part 135 to safety.

But Sumwalt added, “Unfortunately you get painted with a broader brush. Your neighbor’s accident is really your accident. That’s how the public sees it.”

He also pointed to the safety roundtable the NTSB held on Part 135 earlier last week, highlighting some of the key thoughts of industry to come out of it. Specifically, he noted concerns that some operators cannot gather enough data to have statistically relevant analysis. But Sumwalt asked, “Do you need to statistically analyze something before you say it’s a problem. How about a one-off event?”

Sumwalt also noted comments about the importance of having employee buy-in on safety management systems (SMS) and how some of the best intel is coming from the youngest pilots because they are learning SMS as part of their regular pilot training.

Some expressed thoughts about a potential mandate for flight data monitoring (FDM), and Sumwalt agreed that the NTSB has recommended it. “It does not necessarily have to be a full FOQA program, but FDM in some sort of fashion can enhance safety.”

He further noted efforts of some operators that do everything possible to enhance safety, while others are not as diligent. That’s why sometimes safety regulation is necessary, Sumwalt said. “From a safety perspective, we want you to be able to compete on a level playing field,” he told attendees and questioned whether passengers should be informed of what safety equipment is and is not on an airplane or helicopter.