News
Bell’s Sao Paulo Safety Symposium a big hit
August 12, 2014 By Carey Fredericks
Aug. 12, 2014, Sao Paulo, Brazil - Bell Helicopter has announced it held a regional Safety Symposium for rotorcraft pilots and technicians from across Brazil on Monday, August 11 at the Sao Paulo World Trade Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Introduced in 2013, the safety symposium educates pilots and maintainers on key safety practices and applications to implement into their daily operations. The effort is tied, in part, to Bell Helicopter’s participation in the International Helicopter Safety Team’s (IHST) mission to establish international partnerships in countries with significant helicopter operations and encourage development of safety interventions.
Presenters included Bell Helicopter Training Academy pilots, local Bell Helicopter Customer Service Engineers, regional safety experts and local government representatives. The team introduced the concept of a Safety Management System – a holistic approach to managing safety in an organization by implementing the necessary organizational structure, metrics, accountability, policies and procedures. Human Factors Awareness training, a growing topic of interest with Bell Helicopter’s regional customers, was also presented. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Sydney Velloso da Silva Junior, Chief 4th Regional District for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) welcomed the audience and spoke to the importance of such events to help increase the safety of flight. Army Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Queiro, IHST representative, Brazil, provided an update on the IHST’s progress towards improving rotorcraft safety worldwide.
“We were very pleased with the attendance at this event,” said Steve Woolston, director, Product Support for Bell Helicopter’s Customer Support and Services organization. “It‘s encouraging to see the message about the importance of safety being spread across the globe. Our collaboration with knowledgeable organizations such as the IHST, as well as the active participation and interest of the attendees, has allowed Bell Helicopter to make significant strides in our efforts to promote a culture of zero mishaps and zero accidents.”
More than 100 customers and safety advocates attended the event. An additional symposium is scheduled in Prague, Czech Republic on Sept. 17, to be held at the Bell Helicopter European Customization and Delivery Center.
