Adopting a Data-Driven Approach to Business Aviation Safety

June 10, 2019

Every year, NBAA issues an updated list of Top Safety Focus Areas to help promote safety-enhancing initiatives within flight departments and among owner-flown operations. “We try to be data-driven. We can look at things that have happened in business aviation mishaps and incidents and start there,” said Paul Ratte, a long-time NBAA Safety Committee member involved in developing this year’s safety priorities. “We get a room of 50-plus experts in business aviation and get their collective wisdom on what is the real root of risk today and moving forward.”

This week, NBAA Flight Plan host Pete Combs speaks with:

  • Tom Huff, Gulfstream aviation safety officer, NBAA Safety Committee chair
  • Paul Ratte, USAIG director of safety programs, NBAA Safety Committee member
  • Mark Larsen, NBAA senior manager of safety and flight operations
Podcast Episode
The NBAA Flight Plan podcast, which ran from 2009 to 2025, provided an overview of important developments affecting NBAA members, and the association’s work to advocate for their interest. The archive of past episodes will remain available for your enjoyment. Please note that no new episodes will be released.

July/August 2025

Bizav Pilots Share Tips for Safer Go-Arounds

Seasoned pilots share safety tips for go-arounds initiated by flight crews as well as ATC.
Read More

June 30, 2025

NBAA’s New Video Safety Series Offers Practical Guidance for SMS Implementation

NBAA’s Safety Committee has unveiled the first video in a three-part series detailing practical steps for compliance with a safety management system requirement for certain business aircraft operations that was released last year. 
Read More

June 17, 2025

NBAA Applauds Aviation Safety Champion Michael Graham’s Selection for Second NTSB Term

NBAA welcomes President Trump's nomination of Michael Graham to serve another five-year term on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Read More

June 2, 2025

NBAA Flight Plan Podcast Signs Off: Recapping 15 Years of Aviation Insights, Industry Updates

As the NBAA Flight Plan podcast comes to an end, host Rob Finfrock looks back on some of the most popular topics featured over hundreds of episodes.
Listen Now