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The Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) has awarded Bombardier Aerospace the Master’s North American Award for its industry contributions to air and ground safety practices.
“Following a comprehensive review of several strong candidates, we are delighted to recognize Bombardier Aerospace for its impressive Safety Management System (SMS): a systematic, explicit and comprehensive lifelong process for managing safety risks beyond regulatory compliance,” said His Honour Tudor Owen, Master.
“Bombardier’s SMS encompasses all aspects of the product lifecycle from design, manufacture and maintenance to flight operations, airport operations, training and parts distribution, and after-life through a centralized Employee Safety Reporting System and seven SMS Standards,” he added.
Founded in London in 1929, the Guild aims to promote the highest standards of flight safety, training and education. Recognition of achievements in aviation is an important aspect of the Guild’s role, each year it presents a number of awards to those who have made a significant contribution to the aviation industry.
“This is a tribute to all our employees who play such a leading role in the advancement of our safety culture with customers, throughout our industry, and across all of Bombardier Aerospace,” said Stephen Orr, Vice President, Quality and Safety Office, Bombardier Aerospace. “Earning this special recognition represents a noteworthy accomplishment.”
Bombardier SMS central themes involve active hazard identification, risk management and performance measurement. To ensure a common standard for safety, all employees in Bombardier Aerospace across the globe undergo a Safety Program either individually with SMS Awareness Training, or collectively via “Aviation Safety Weeks”. To further promote safety culture, individuals and groups are regularly recognized for their contributions to this critically important mission.
This award also marks the second major safety award for Bombardier Aerospace in as many years. In 2011, Flight Safety Foundation awarded the Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award to Bombardier Aerospace for Safety Standdown, staged annually in Wichita, Geneva, Sao Paulo and Shanghai, which typically draws more than 450 corporate, commercial and military attendees.
GAPAN is a collaborative international repository of experienced aviation professionals. Its mission includes the relentless pursuit of the highest standards of airmanship and aviation safety. In addition to the many historic Trophies and Awards in a variety of areas from which the GAPAN executive can draw, regional awards were instituted to ensure each of GAPAN’s five international regions (Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the Unites States and New Zealand) has its own trophy, to be awarded annually and entirely at the discretion of the Regional Executive, to recognize worthy achievement by any individual or group in the Region.
