Safety Standdown Puts Focus on Distraction in Aviation

• Safety Standdown Program to focus on Practical Applications of Attention Control Techniques in 2015
• Captain Eugene Cernan to be honored at Safety Standdown U.S.A.

Bombardier Business Aircraft today announced that the 19th annual Safety Standdown U.S.A. will take place October 6-8, at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Wichita, KS.

The Safety Standdown program will continue to tackle the risk posed to aviation safety by everyday distractions. This year’s focus will be on the practical applications of attention control techniques, building on the theoretical human factors training provided at Safety Standdown seminars in 2014.

“Distraction is considered to be one of the most serious threats to aviation safety by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB),” said Safety Standdown expert, Captain Al Gorthy, United States Navy (Ret.). “This year, Safety Standdown will show aviation professionals how to recognize sources of distraction and ways of disconnecting from them to avoid negative impacts on safe operations,” he added.

“Bombardier’s commitment to aviation safety and the Safety Standdown program is unwavering,” said Andy Nurredin, Vice President & General Manager, Customer Services.  “As an experienced airman, I know first-hand the value of the human factors training provided at Safety Standdown.”

During this year’s seminar, we will pay special tribute to decorated United States Naval Aviator and former NASA Astronaut Captain Eugene A. Cernan, USN (Ret.), who has for more than a decade served on the Safety Standdown Advisory Council and as the program’s ambassador. Although Captain Cernan remains personally committed to the elimination of human errors that do emanate from the cockpit, the time has come for him to move on from his long tenure in support of Bombardier Aviation Safety Standdown and pursue other means of reminding all pilots that "good is never good enough in our world of aviation."

Captain Cernan’s presence at seminars around the world, where he has shared his experience and knowledge, has inspired participants to remain committed to the prevention of human errors in aviation. “I have enjoyed working with my colleagues on the Advisory Council and have benefitted enormously from an association with my peers who have attended Safety Standdown over the years. They are all dedicated professionals in their own right.”

Eugene Cernan Safety Award
One of the highlights of this year’s seminar will be the presentation of the last Eugene Cernan Safety Award. The 2015 recipient will be a peer-nominated professional who demonstrates steadfast commitment to aviation safety. Nominations will be accepted until July 21, 2015. Additional information on the criteria and process for nominations can be found at  www.safetystanddown.com.

About Safety Standdown
Originally conceived in 1996 as a human factors safety-training event for the Learjet flight demonstration team, the conference quickly garnered a reputation for excellence beyond Bombardier’s customer base. In 1999, in response to growing interest within the industry, Bombardier opened the seminar to all pilots. In 2010, Safety Standdown expanded beyond the seminars into a year-round global human factors program offering online and social media resources. As of November 2014, more than 8,000 corporate, commercial and military aviation professionals have attended Safety Standdown seminars around the world, including Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Switzerland and USA.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world’s leading manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, we posted revenues of $20.1 billion. News and information are available at  bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter  @Bombardier.

Notes to Editors

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For Information
Patrick Botter
Bombardier Business Aircraft
+1 514-241-3026
Patrick.botter@aero.bombardier.com