In 2019 one of the ERAU professors sat listening to my defense. With mouth open and eyes wide, he asked, “What do you think they will do now?” “They” being airline management and the FAA. He asked this question because we learned why planes crash and what we can to improve safety. The answer to his question, however, is that they did nothing. Planes are crashing and people are dying. Was this a prophecy? Of course not. This is becoming a reality based upon cause and effect, resulting from a negative safety culture and substandard training.
The accident and incident rates are increasing to a catastrophic level. From January 1, 2025 to June 24, 2025, in the first 6 months of this year, there have been 76 accidents, 507 incidents, and 5 crashes as identified on Aeroinside. The sixth accident was at the end of 2024.
Do you want to know why planes are crashing? Do you want to know what needs to be done to solve this problem? If you would like to download the dissertation, you can read that HERE. If you would like to listen to Normalization of Deviance, at Threat to Aviation Safety, it has just been published on audible. Or you can buy it in the bookstore with an autograph, or on Amazon. Regardless of how you acquire the book, this is a must read if you are concerned about the safety of our industry.
What I love the most are the comments from those who participated in this research. They are priceless and assist in a full understanding of what is happening in the real world. Around the world. And if you took my survey and left me a comment, it may be found within the pages. The last “anonymous pilot” comment in the book, priceless wisdom, says:
“A message I received from listening to Dr. Tony Kern speak, and is emphasized in his books, is one that I live by: Don’t worry about what your company might be pushing or the fact that you can get away with less that 100% effort much of the time. You owe it to yourself to always do your best, because today could be the day tat you need to fly to the limit of your ability.”
Authors Note Introduction: Please listen to the five minute and 38 second introduction that follows, and then decide if you want to download the book. I believe this will open your eyes to what is happening in the industry. Narration is by Retired Delta Captain Pam Almand, “The Captain’s Voice” and she is amazing.
These Accidents are No Surprise
December 29, 2024 Jeju crashes as a result of a bird strike because the pilots chose to go around instead of landing. Perhaps they did exactly as they were trained. And when everyone argued it must be something else, the truth was buried when they said the black box quit working.
January 29, 2025 A Blackhawk helicopter hits American Airlines. Did we see this coming? Most everyone can say yes. But nothing was done before it occurred. Yet there were multiple warnings this was about to happen.
February 27, 2025 Endeavor Air crashes and flips upside down because the pilots lacked understanding on how to land their aircraft with gusty winds. Perhaps the reason they didn’t go around was because they lacked understanding that they were about to crash, warnings be damned. The CEO had a history of safety complaints, he knew the deep rooted problems in training, and instead of investigating he chose to sweep the training problem under the rug when he was the SVP at Delta. Did he do the same at Endeavor?
June 12, 2025, We have the most perplexing accident with Air India 171. What happened? Why did the RAT deploy and the gear remain extended and flaps retract? Was the much needed power a little to late, with too much drag and not enough lift? Hopefully we’ll soon learn.
Is Aviation Travel Safe today?
You read the literature and then you decide. If you order the audible book, or buy on Amazon, paper or kindle, email me and let me know. I will enter your name in the drawing to win the car. Drawing is August 3`1, 2025. If you don’t want the car, or too far to collect it, I will sell it, and send you the funds.
