Yannick MALINGE
SVP & Chief Product Safety Officer
Dear Aviation colleagues,
I hope that the new year finds you, your families, friends, and colleagues well. The entire Airbus safety team and I pass on our best wishes for a brighter 2021. With the vaccine solutions now becoming available, it gives us hope that we will begin to emerge from this COVID-19 situation. However, we will still face some uncertainty, together with all of its associated challenges.
Seeing so many grounded and parked aircraft in 2020 was disheartening for everyone, especially in contrast to the normally dynamic operational environment of commercial aviation. In this context, there is also the heightened risk of falling into the complacency trap. It is why we must remain vigilant, and ensure we do everything that is required to safely return to the skies.
In response to the evolving circumstances of 2020, aviation actors had to adapt and develop risk management strategies, in particular to avoid this complacency trap. At Airbus, we launched our own task force, which included a dedicated focus on supporting Operators with storage, parking, maintenance practices, and preparing aircraft for their return to service including flight operations aspects. The significant work achieved by our colleagues in Airbus Customer Services and Engineering teams is reflected in the Safety first articles published throughout 2020.
These included Aircraft Parking and Storage (May), which was followed up by Preparing for a Safe Return to the Skies (June), and with further updates provided in the Parking and Storage / Return to Service Summary Letter. For flight crews who have recently flown much less than usual, there are articles on Prevention of Unstable Approaches (October), A Focus on the Landing Flare (September), and the latest article, A Focus on the Takeoff Rotation (January). Each article provides operational best practices and the key safety elements for pilots to recall during these critical flight phases.
Nevertheless, the aviation industry is not yet clear of the COVID-19 “wake vortex” effect. Therefore, we need to remain focussed on fully applying a risk management mindset and to implement all of the resulting risk mitigation strategies. It is why I strongly encourage every one of us to keep going, and for you to make full use of the above-mentioned Airbus safety information, which will support a safe return to flying.
Safety in aviation is a part of our professional DNA and our shared passion for aviation. It is why we are pleased to see the readership of the Airbus Safety first articles continue to grow, with over 500,000 visits to safetyfirst.airbus.com and the Safety first app in 2020. I want to thank all of you for engaging with the safety information that we are sharing and for continuing to connect your aviation colleagues with Airbus Safety first in 2021.
I look forward to seeing you in the safe skies ahead.