Safety Programs: The Good, The Bad & The Indifferent

Bob,

Here in Indiana our club the Central Indiana Soaring Society does use
a planned approach to promoting Safety. I believe you are probably
aware of the basics of the plan having attended as a guest presenter
on " Safety " to our members. To reiterate we continue to use the
approach of holding one formal safety meeting each year at the start
of the new soaring season. We have over the years invited different
presenters and have used the Soaring Safety Foundation to find or
provide a speaker for us with good success . A key presenter also at
the Spring meeting is the Chief Operations Officer of the club who
outlines any new procedures for the new season.
All club members are required to attend this early Spring meeting and
those that can't attend have to read and sign the club book of
procedures for field and flying operations for the new year before
taking a tow off the field in the new season.

The Crew Chiefs of our eight weekend crews, the Tow Pilots and the
Club Instructors also meet seperately after this meeting to discuss
and agree on safety related issues and procedures that they are most
involved with .

Inevitably some safety related issues arise during the season and the
basic responsibilty for addressing these issues on any flying day are
in the hands of a " Trio " - The duty Crew Chief , The duty Tow
Pilot , The duty Instructor " .

A couple of years back the club did request an "audit" of safety
procedures at the club . This was arranged through the Soaring Safety
Foundation if I recall correctly and it revealed some good issues to
be worked on .

That's a simplified outline of the system we've used in recent years.

Ron.