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For Immediate Release Talkeetna Gets a Flight Simulator
Prism Helicopters first to achieve Medallion Foundation safety award Anchorage, Alaska-Oct. 15, 2012— Recognizing excellence in aviation safety Prism Helicopters, Inc. was honored by Alaska Gov. Parnell as the first rotor wing commercial operator to achieve a Medallion Shield. “We are happy to have accomplished this hallmark in aviation safety,” said Mark Stigar, president of Prism Helicopters, Inc. “We’ve worked hard to achieve the Medallion Foundation Shield a goal we set our sights on a year ago.” Prism Helicopters, Inc. of Wasilla Alaska was awarded the Shield by Alaska Governor Sean Parnell and FAA Alaska Regional Administrator Bob Lewis at the Medallion Foundation Aviation Safety Dinner on Oct. 12 in Anchorage. “We are very proud and excited to be the first commercial rotor wing business in Alaska to have achieved the Shield,” said Dave Zall, Director of Operations. Located on Lake Wasilla, Alaska, Prism Helicopters a company that generates $10 million annually in revenue has 19 full time and 14 seasonal employees and has operated in Alaska for 13 years. Specializing in vertical reference long line slinging operations, Exploration in mineral and oil and gas; Forestry; Government work; Prism considers its greatest achievement as a company that has built its reputation on safe and efficient service. “This achievement was made possible through a team effort every day; ensuring a safe environment in the air and on the ground by pilots, mechanics, by every employee of Prism,” added Zall. Prism Helicopters entered into Medallion Foundation’s Star Program in 2005 when it achieved a Star for Controlled Flight Into Terrain Avoidance (CFIT-A). It later earned the Operational Control Star in 2006, Safety Star 2007, Maintenance and Ground Service and Internal Audit stars in 2009. Shields are awarded after all star programs are maintained and a carrier passes a thorough audit of all programs. The Medallion Foundation is a non-profit aviation safety organization formed in 2001 by the Alaska Air Carriers Association with a mission to modify Alaska aviation safety culture. Medallion has 34 voluntary member airlines that have achieved either a Star or Shield for aviation safety. Medallion has 16 flight simulators (ATDs) statewide and its CFIT-A program was credited for aiding in reducing fatal controlled flights into terrain over the past 10-years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. For information about these companies go to: www.medallionfoundation.org http://www.prismhelicopters.com/
New Part 135 Training Requirement Must Be Met By March 22, 2013 The Medallion Foundation is offering a new online Crew Resource Management e-learning course for Part 135 aviation operators to meet the deadline for a new federal requirement. Anchorage, Alaska (PRWEB) September 04, 2012 -- The Medallion Foundation announces the development of an online (e-learning) course to meet the demand for an upcoming federal aviation regulation requiring all FAR Part 135 certificate holders to show proof of crew resource management training. To meet the demand of a new training requirement that requires initial and recurrent Crew Resource Management under the certificate holder the Medallion Foundation is offering a new online training course that meets and exceeds the federal regulations. The new regulation states in part in FAR Part 135.330“After March 22, 2013, no certificate holder may use a person as a flight crew member or flight attendant unless that person has completed approved crew resource management initial training with that certificate holder.” The Medallion Foundation’s online computer training course (CTC) can be submitted for evaluation to FAA Principal Operations Inspectors (POI) for 135 operators as any other module of a 135 training program. The Medallion Foundation will provide a course curriculum to each operator that can be inserted in their training program. The POI evaluates the module to ensure it meets regulatory requirements. Approval may be granted as a stand-alone course or part of the operator’s existing CRM training. Each situation is unique and is evaluated in accordance with the operational environment of the operator. According to the users the course takes less than a half-day to complete and requires a minimum passing grade of 75%. Once completed, a course completion certificate will be printed which has the student’s name, operator’s name, and date of completion. This certificate can be included in the crewmembers records to show compliance with 135.330(b). “This course is designed for use with typical computer platforms and web browsers,” stated course developer Debora Walker, a Program Manager for the Medallion Foundation. “Our main focus is to provide the user with tools that facilitate the learning experience creating the foundation for understanding the human factors and physiological elements that affect our daily aviation activities and interactions. ” The Medallion CRM Initial Courseis similar to a tutorial with interactive navigation that covers eight (8) areas critical to understanding Crew Resource Management. The price of this course is $129 and it will be updated regularly to meet industry and regulatory demands. Medallion designed this affordable course so those needing the CRM training can do so without travelling out of town for a several day CRM seminar. This course eliminates travel and lodging and employee down time expenses for operators complying with the March 22, 2013 completion date. The course is also valuable for all aviation related positions such as, ground handlers, flight followers, dispatchers and any flight related operations to improve aviation safety through the use of CRM principles. The Medallion Foundation offers training in other areas such as Safety Management Systems, System Safety, TapRooT (R), and internal audit training. They also provide aviation consulting services to Part 135 operators. The Medallion Foundation’s Alaska CFIT Star and Shield program is credited with a 53 percent reduction in fatal controlled flight into terrain accidents from 2001-2009.
Medallion Foundation Program Credited for Reducing Aviation Accidents Fatal controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), accidents among commercial air carriers have been reduced 57 percent from 2000 to 2009, according to a newly released public health report. The Medallion Foundation’s CFIT program developed and used by its Star and Shield carriers was cited as a positive contributing factor to reducing crashes and saving lives. “This study found that after accounting for the type of flying, region of operations, and company size, companies with Medallion stars were more likely to have lower fatal crash rates than those without,” the report states. The reduction in CFIT related fatalities in Part 135 operation was the result of a multifaceted public health approach by using technology, providing education to pilots and consumers and by encouraging voluntary changes to improve safety within the aviation industry. The paper recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that the Alaska Internagency Aviation Safety Initiative a multi-disciplinary partnership of government and industry to focus on ways to improve commuter and air taxi flight safety. In the 1990s being an Alaskan pilot was listed as the most hazardous occupation in the U.S. Programs such as the Medallion Foundations CFIT have aided in the decrease in accidents. The non-profit Medallion Foundation was formed by the Alaska Air Carriers Association in 2001 and has over 40 voluntarily participating air carrier members. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Report on CFIT Accidents 2000-2009 http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/publications/callback.html For more Medallion Foundation information go to: www.medallionfoundation.org Medallion Foundation contact: Jerry Rock, Executive Director (907) 743-8050 http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/publications/callback.html
For more Medallion Foundation information go to: www.medallionfoundation.org Medallion Foundation contact: Jerry Rock, Executive Director (907) 743-8050 |
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