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Bombardier has announced that the winner of the 2016 Safety Standdown Award is Robert Sumwalt III, member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The award was presented at the 20th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown USA, held from Sept. 27 to 29, 2016, in Wichita, Kan.
Sumwalt was nominated by his peers for his outstanding commitment to aviation safety and his continuous efforts to develop more robust safety programs within the aviation industry. Sumwalt was appointed as the 37th member of the NTSB in August 2006, whereupon President George W. Bush designated him as vice chairman of the board for a two-year term.
In November 2011, Sumwalt was reappointed to an additional five-year term as board member.
“Robert L. Sumwalt is one of the most inspiring safety leaders in his generation. His high standing in aviation safety has been well earned through decades of highly visible advocacy and personal example,” said James Schultz, president, Jim Schultz Group. “From flying commercial airliners, to managing a diverse corporate aviation department, to guiding major accident investigations, Robert is one of the most respected thought leaders in aviation safety today.”
This year’s 20th anniversary edition was a great success with approximately 475 aviation professionals attending the workshops and general sessions, demonstrating the growing interest within the industry to empower and inspire a community of aviation professionals to continuously seek knowledge, integrate new information in everyday practice, and share new aviation safety findings with others in the industry.
“We are very proud to celebrate this great milestone. Since its inception, more than 9,000 people have benefited from the training offered through the Safety Standdown program,” said Andy Nureddin, vice-president, customer support and training, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Our ongoing contribution to the betterment of the industry for the past 20 years is especially close to the hearts of everyone at Bombardier and we will continue to promote knowledge-based pilot safety training along with personal discipline and responsibility as essential elements of aviation safety and professionalism.”
Next year’s Safety Standdown seminar will be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2017, in Wichita.
