Page 1CONFIDENTIAL GO FURTHER. DO MORE. COME HOME SAFELY.CONFIDENTIAL
Pro-active safety tool
Line Operations Safety Audits
Jon Hopkinson
CHC Flight and Airworthiness Standards
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LOSA - a proactive Safety tool
• Proactive as defined by ICAO
• LOSA uses trained line pilots to systematically collect data on routine commercial flights. This is analysed for areas of strength and weakness.
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Program run with The LOSA Collaborative
• The University of Texas – LOSA/TEM Research
– Human Factors Research Project 1990s
– FAA funded (AAR-100) (presentations and publications)
Co-Authored the ICAO Document 9803 and LOSA Advisory Circular 120.90
• The LOSA Collaborative – LOSA Implementation Services
– Dr James Klinect: Founder and CEO (2001 to Present)
– LOSA Registry of Operators (consistent standard across implementations)
– LOSA Archive (benchmarking)
– TEM Training with LOSA results: Managers, Evaluators, and Instructors
• Endorsed by:– ICAO, FAA, IATA, IFALPA
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The LOSA Collaborative Archive
AeroMexico
Air Canada
Air Methods (HEMS) # 3
Asiana
Alaska
Air France
Air Hong Kong
Air New Zealand
Air Nelson
Air Nuigini
Air Transat
ANA
ANA Network
Avianca
Air Freight New Zealand
Frontier
Hawaiian
HNZ Group NZ
Horizon Air
IndiGo
Japan Airlines
JetBlue
QANTAS
Qatar Airways
Malaysia Airlines
Mexicana
REX Australia
Republic
Saudia
Shuttle America
Cathay Pacific
Chautauqua
China Airlines
Click Mexicana
COPA
Continental
Continental Express
Continental Micronesia
Delta
DHL Air
Dragonair
FedEx
Emirates
ExpressJet
25,000+ observations / 18,000+ flight crews / 130+ projects
Silk Air
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Cargo
Southwest
TACA
TACA Peru
TAP Portugal
Thomas Cook
United
Metro Aviation
USAF C17, C130, KC-10,
KC-135, C5, C21
Virgin Australia
Volaris
WestJet
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Line Pilots - Threat and Error Management
Pilots in everyday routine operations:
Manage operational complexity
Manage their own errors
Manage aircraft deviations
Threat management
Error Management
Undesired Aircraft StateManagement
LOSA “proactively” identifies system safety and flight crew performance strengths and weaknesses using TEM as its safety measure.
LOSAMeasures
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LOSA and TEM Philosophy
• LOSA is purely diagnostic – No solutions are provided but provides empirical justification for solutions
• Aim of results: anticipate, recognize, and recover from threats, errors, and undesired aircraft states.
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The Key to LOSA Success
Angel
Pilot
Performance
Natural
Pilot
Performance
Regulator NobodyInstructors
LOSA Observer
LOSA data quality- +
Pilot trust- +
LOSA data quality is dependent on methodology AND execution
Low pilot trust = Low quality LOSA data
• LOSA needs to get as close as possible to collecting
natural flight crew performance data
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The 10 vital characteristics defining a LOSA
program
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LOSA Operating Characteristics
1. Jumpseat observations during normal operations– No line checks or training flights
– No debriefings or post-flight interviews about what happened
2. Anonymous, confidential, non-punitive data collection– No names, flight numbers, or other identifying information
– Observer identity kept anonymous
3. Voluntary crew participation– Flight crews have the right to decline a LOSA observation
– Typical denial rate is very low – Approx: 1 in 100 observations
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LOSA Operating Characteristics (continued)
4. Trusted and trained observers
– Observer selection – management/union review list of candidates
– Diverse observer team – Captains, First Officers, high/low experience
– Not trainers or managers
5. Joint management / union sponsorship
– Symbolized with a signed agreement that is sent to all pilots
– Steering committee with wide participation
(Managers, Trainers, Unions, S and Q)
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LOSA Operating Characteristics (continued)
• 6. Systematic observation instrument based on TEM
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LOSA Operating Characteristics (continued)
7. Secure data collection repository - confidence– Third party or pilot association gate keeper
8. Data verification roundtables– TEM data checked for accuracy and consistency with SOP
9. Data-derived targets for enhancement
– LOSA adopts a “Measure, change, measure again” approach
10. Feedback of results to line pilots
– LOSA findings and information on how operational management intends to respond to the findings with procedural/organisational change
Page 13CONFIDENTIAL GO FURTHER. DO MORE. COME HOME SAFELY.
LOSA Operating Characteristics
1. Jumpseat observations during normal
operations
2. Anonymous, confidential, and non-
punitive data collection
3. Voluntary crew participation
4. Trusted and trained observers
5. Joint management / union sponsorship
6. Systematic observation instrument
7. Secure data collection repository
8. Data verification roundtables
9. Data-derived targets for enhancement
10. Feedback of results to line pilots