“Our Safety Management System (SMS) is not a collection of boxes to be checked off,” explains CAS President Michael Hutchins.
“It is a culture change.”
Coastal Air Strike prioritizes safety.
“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.” – Captain Alfred G. Lamplaugh
Safety has always been – and will always be – Coastal Air Strike’s first priority. The safety of our pilots, clients, and the environment drive our Mission.
CAS regularly audits the SMS. “The audit is the foundation of what we’re doing on the safety side, it drives the train,” says Hutchins. “During the ‘off-season’ the CAS team rigorously trains to get ready for the year ahead. This is standard operating procedure for us, so everybody gets educated. The SMS then serves as a checks and balances system, it takes over during the active season.”
CAS has taken several other steps to enhance safety in the workplace
(on the ground and in the air) and to mitigate risk to the extent possible.
COMPLIANCE.
We ensure compliance with all relative laws and regulations, and we adopt procedures identified as industry best practices.
CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.
Fighting wildfires is a seasonal business. That’s because environmental conditions play a major role in causing or aiding in the growth of wildfires. During those months when the wildland fire scene is relatively quiet, we keep our pilots in the air, honing their flight skills and gaining valuable flight time experience by providing them with the opportunity to fly agricultural missions.
IMPLEMENTATION
of a voluntary, non-punitive reporting system and database using Vocus SMS.
EMPLOYMENT
of the Mission Flight Risk Assessment Tool (MFRAT), an operational risk assessment tool designed to predict and remove potential threats to crew safety on a mission-by-mission basis. The MFRAT is implemented electronically, through the MyFirePlane app.
USE
of an electronic document binder through Microsoft Office 365 SharePoint Application. Having all the company’s policies and procedures at their fingertips electronically, in a searchable database, allows employees immediate access to critical safety information 24/7/365 from any device.
UPHOLDING
high standards when considering pilots for hire and ensuring their ongoing proficiency through the use of regular in-flight performance evaluations and the solicitation of feedback from air attack personnel to be incorporated into their annual performance review.