Crewmember, Private Pilot, Cargo Operator, Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Flight Training Provider, Blog | January 31, 2017
Webcam Hacking is a Real Threat
The threat of cybercrime is growing rapidly. Now that smart phones, tablets and laptops are a fundamental part of our lives, the threat of webcam hacking is more real than ever, especially as more people use video apps such as Hangout, Skype, Zoom and Blue Jeans. With sophisticated malware, cybercriminals can easily hack your computer and gain access to your webcam. Not only is the webcam on your smart devices an easy target but the security systems and monitors on your home network are also vulnerable. Read about protecting your home network.
Private Pilot, Cargo Operator, Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Flight Training Provider, Blog | December 30, 2016
4 Ways to Ensure Employee Retention
Pilot recruitment and retention are hot topics that continues to challenge an industry facing a pilot shortage.
It's simple. Provide your employees with the benefits and treatment they expect, the golden rule is: treat others how you wish to be treated. As an employee I value a number of things, but here's a list of my top 4 non-negotiables
Cargo Operator, Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Flight Training Provider, Blog | December 16, 2016
Important Guidance For Employers Conducting Internal Form I-9 Audits
To ensure ongoing compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), employers are voluntarily conducting internal audits of Forms I-9 though they are not required by law.
Cargo Operator, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Aircraft Repair, Flight Training Provider, Blog | November 23, 2016
When does a threat become an Insider Threat?
When you feel threatened right?
Wrong. Just because you don't feel threatened, doesn't mean there isn't a threat around. The truth is, insider threats are becoming more common and happening more frequently than anyone would like to admit.
What do I mean by "insider threat"? A person, or persons, that have access and insider knowledge that allows them to impose danger on others by exploiting vulnerabilities within a system and/or organization.
There is no way to be completely safe and guarded from insider threats but, being aware of your surroundings and strange behavior gives you the advantage to react accordingly and minimize opportunity.
Cargo Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Blog | November 20, 2015
Join ASAP to Enhance Safety Culture within your Company
Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) - Why you need to know about it
Have you ever made a mistake?...The odds are you probably have but, that's okay!
ASAP is a program that gives the Aviation Community a safe place to report inadvertent errors, without singling out or placing blame on any one individual. ASAP's mission is to develop the best processes possible, and that can only be done with the help of the individuals within the Aviation Community. The goal of ASAP is to share information, so the Aviation Industry can learn from one another instead of pointing fingers.
Joining ASAP gives companies the chance to make safety a culture, not a chore.
Cargo Operator, Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Flight Training Provider, Blog, Other Background Checks | March 16, 2015
The Biggest Threat To Your Business May Be Working For You!
In September 2013, a TSA screener at Los Angeles International Airport was arrested a few hours after resigning for making threats against the airport on the anniversary of 9/11. In December of that year, the FBI arrested an avionic technician at Wichita Airport for plotting a suicide attack using an improvised explosive device.
These are just a couple of examples of employees who became a significant threat in the workplace. However, workplace threats are not limited to “home-grown” terrorists, radicalized by Islamic militarism. It also includes the careless employee, who unintentionally downloads a virus that infects your company’s computer network, or the disgruntled employee who acts unprofessionally with a customer. You may remember the JetBlue Flight Attendant, who became a YouTube sensation, when he quit his job by yelling a few choice words to passengers, grabbing some beers for the road and using the plane's emergency chute to exit the aircraft.
Cargo Operator, Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Flight Training Provider, Blog | January 22, 2015
4 Things To Do To Prep For Your Hiring Needs
Updated November 9, 2021 - It is always exciting, and a little intimidating, to grow your operation. However, with careful assessment, you can put together a plan that will enable your operation to attract candidates who fit your current and future needs. Let’s look at four things you can do now to prepare you for your hiring needs.
Crewmember, Cargo Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Blog | January 15, 2015
What the Air Transportation Industry Can Learn from the Galactic Crash
On Halloween, the Virgin Galactic SpaceShip Two broke apart over the Mojave Desert, killing co-pilot Michael Alsbury. Alsbury, along with pilot Peter Siebold, who survived the crash, were performing a test flight when something went wrong. While the exact cause of the crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), early findings reveal some sobering lessons that the air transportation industry can learn from.
Even Experienced Crew Make Mistakes
Humans are fallible, even those who have undergone the best training and have the most experience. Alsbury had 15 years of flight experience, and the Halloween flight was his ninth trip in SpaceShipTwo; Siebold got his pilot’s license when he was 12. Just a week after the crash, NTSB revealed that the 39 year old co-pilot changed the spacecraft’s aerodynamic controls prematurely, causing the tail to rise and create drag, essentially hitting the brakes early. NTSB Chairman, Christopher Hart, cautioned this “feathering” error should not have caused the crash on its own, and is only one of several possibilities the organization was exploring as the cause of the crash.
Cargo Operator, Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Flight Training Provider, Blog | December 4, 2014
Lessons from the Chicago Air Traffic Control Tower Fire
On September 26, all air traffic in and out of Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway international airports were grounded due to a fire in the basement of the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZAU) in Aurora, IL. The center covers 91,000 square miles, and its closure resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights to and from Chicago area airports over several weeks, causing a ripple effect felt throughout the nation.
The fire is being blamed on a contract employee, Brian Howard, who is facing multiple charges and is currently awaiting trial. The damage caused when Howard cut cables; early reports suggest that nearly $123 million in economic activity was lost as a result of the cancelled flights.
“This is one of the most challenging situations that air traffic controllers and other FAA employees have faced since 9/11,” NATCA President Paul Rinaldi said. Rinaldi went on to say that it was almost impossible to overestimate the damage Howard caused.
Cargo Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Blog, CrewID | November 6, 2014
Pilots Found To Be Using More Drugs
Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a study that found drug use among pilots had increased substantially since 1990. Using data collected from 6,700 pilots killed in plane crashes between 1990 and 2012, the NTSB found pilots’ use of over-the-counter, prescription, and illegal drugs all increased. While the rate crashes due to pilot impairment as a result of drug use remained steady at about 3%, the increased use of all drugs has prompted warnings about the implications and need for further study.