The FAA has released a Safety Alert for Operators aimed at making ground operations safer. [Credit: Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) to address recent severe injuries and fatalities among airport ground personnel during aircraft towing and engine operations.
This alert reinforces the critical role of existing Safety Management Systems (SMS) in identifying and mitigating operational hazards, with the FAA expanding SMS requirements to more operators.
New recommendations in the SAFO include mandatory use of chocks when aircraft towing stops, and ensuring all personnel remain clear of moving aircraft and operating engines until they are shut down.
The FAA is taking a closer look at preventing injuries to ground personnel at airports, releasing a Safety Alert for Operators aimed at making ground operations safer.
According to the FAA, the safety alert was prompted by recent injuries and fatalities that occurred during aircraft towing or ground handling operations.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
