SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE

1. Safety Policy

Everyone participates in safety—students, renters, instructors.

• Any person may initiate a safety stop at any time
• Open reporting: concerns go directly to management
• Weather minimums published for each experience level
• Training standards: checklists, procedures, memory items, decision making
• Instructor oversight: rigorous hiring, evaluations, and continuous training
• Quality tracking: digital records monitor safety trends and performance
• Example safety policy: towbar pins attached to aircraft keys; remove towbar immediately after use

2. Safety Risk Management

We take a proactive approach to identifying and controlling risk before it affects a flight.

• Before every flight, instructors identify potential risks and plan mitigations
• During the flight, they actively reassess conditions and adjust the plan as needed
• Threats are handled early—before they can grow into errors or undesirable aircraft states.
• Operational trends are reviewed so we can address issues long before they affect safety
• Any new risk or concern is shared immediately with the team

The goal is constant: stay ahead of hazards, make smart decisions early, and keep every flight safe.

3. Safety Assurance

We verify safety through:

• Regular audits
• Ride-alongs
• Policy reviews

Any issue triggers immediate correction and follow-up.

4. Safety Promotion

Safety is part of daily culture:

• Briefings and instructor meetings
• The chief instructor attends monthly Hicks Airport safety meetings
• A strong Just Culture where anyone can raise concerns without retaliation