Story ID: 
2018 Bombardier Safety Standdown Takes Off
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: In-person event is at capacity, but interested aviation professionals can still virtually attend the event via webcast.
Word Count: 226
Bombardier’s annual Safety Standdown opened this morning to a full-capacity crowd at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita, but interested aviation professionals can still virtually attend the event via webcast. “Staying connected to Bombardier Safety Standdown’s network of professionals—whether through participation in person or via the webcast—will help refocus participants on safety in an ever more complex and fast-paced aviation environment,” said Chris Lutat, author of “Automation Airmanship” and member of the Bombardier Safety Standdown Advisory Council.

Open to all aviation professionals, the webcast will cover the three-day event’s general sessions and select workshops, including “Just Culture,” upset prevention and recovery aerodynamics, and bird/wildlife strikes. “With this year’s theme of ‘Normalizing Excellence,’ workshops and seminars will highlight the importance of defining an elevated standard for aviation safety,” said Bombardier Business Aircraft v-p of customer support and training Andy Nureddin.

This year’s Safety Standdown also features 24 new workshops and 14 new presenters. These include Global Jet Services’ J.D. McHenry, who will cover leadership skills required for higher safety standards. Returning speakers include Dr. Antonio Cortes, associate dean and associate professor of school of graduate studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, who will delve into the importance of algorithms and also discuss leading safety culture.

At press time, there were 314 webcast viewers from 13 countries.