NTSB Provides Unique Safety Training at PSA Airlines

Safety at PSA was taken to a new level Wednesday when Daniel Bower, Ph.D., a Senior Aviation Accident Investigator (Investigator in Charge) with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a training session at the PSA Training Center in Dayton, OH.

Almost 100 people, including representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Wisconsin Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, AFA (Association of Flight Attendants) and ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association), learned about the NTSB Investigative process, procedures and expectations during an emergency situation.

“The turnout was really impressive and I’m excited that so many volunteered to be involved,” said Vice President of Safety, Security and Compliance Randy Fusi.

The purpose of the training was to better prepare everyone at PSA in case of an accident or incident and specifically for employees that could potentially participate on a Go Team deployment, according to Manager of the Safety Department Chris Sailer. The Go Team is a group called into action immediately following an incident/accident to go to the scene and help assist with the investigation.

Several PSA managers, directors, all of the vice presidents and the president were trained as well. “This is the first time PSA has had the NTSB come to our headquarters and actually do the training here,” Fusi said. “It’s important in the unlikely event that we have an incident or an accident that we are prepared to assist in the investigation and support our involved crew members.”

Bower brought a wealth of knowledge to the training from his 20 years of NTSB experience, where he has led investigations of numerous major accidents and dozens of smaller ones in his career. He featured one investigation in particular, the fatal UPS 1354 crash in Birmingham, AL, in 2013, as one the NTSB is using as a training tool for airlines and pilots. This video shows what happened.

The training shows PSA’s continued drive for the highest level of safety and is grateful to everyone that was involved. “This training will help PSA better prepare for an emergency situation if one ever arises,” said Sailer. “We would like to thank the NTSB for this excellent opportunity!”