Benjamin J. Goodheart, Ph.D. n Goodheart is an aviation professional with Safety Data: Signal and Noise Continued from page 53 20 years of experience in the field. His diverse began in aviation line service and has expanded in aviation safety and loss control, training, fessional flying. He has worked in and with a of aviation organizations, including flight organizations, business and general aviation rs, and major airlines, and his varied nce affords him a wide variety of opportunities tice within his passion. Benjamin is an active and researcher focused on novel applications within aviation safety manage we face some challenges. Whereas airline safety data is often considered protected—and only discoverable under special circumstances—general aviation operators and ground service providers are not generally afforded such protection. In some cases, sun- shine laws or contractual obligations can further complicate confidentiality of data. Outside potential legal con- cerns, operators often express angst that sharing data means publicly airing their mistakes. In most cases of data sharing, governing agreements determine how data are handled and how identity is protected. In reality, evidence of any substantial incident has likely reached the far corners of the internet long before any analysis or aggregation is underway, making these concerns a bit of a “paper tiger.” To the subject of whether data and analyses are protected from eventual discovery, should a lawsuit arise, the danger appears largely imagined. Few instances of discoverable safety reports or data analysis exist, and even in the absence of examples, an organization that believes it will be vindicated because it didn’t treat safety with all the tools it should have known were available has issues well beyond safety data. Far better might be to explain the many proac- tive tools in place, and demonstrate that the system may be imperfect, but is actively seeking improvement. Paraphrasing Einstein, it is not reasonable to expect to solve prob- lems with the same sort of thinking that created them. Assuming that front-line workers are the problem— as is often done in practice—ignores the reality that front-line employees are also the folks who create success by adapting to performance demands and creatively solving problems. Making smarter use of information about how normal work is done is key to advancing or understand- ing safety, as well as organizational performance. Data acts as a sort of experience in aviation safety manage- ment, planning, and accident investiga- tion. He is an ATP-rated pilot and flight instructor, and he holds a Ph.D. with a research focus on general aviation safety and organizational performance. To learn more about how Versant can help you manage risk, call 833-VERSANT or visit Versant on the web at versantrisk.com. ganizational climate and culture. He holds an undergraduate degree in Aerona a Master of Science in Safety Science, and a Ph.D. from Embry-Riddle Aerona ty with a specialization in applied aviation safety. Dr. Goodheart also holds se onal aviation certifications, as well as Airline Transport Pilot and flight instr tes. Benjamin manages aviation claims and safety programs for an internat client base at AirSure Limited, and he serves as President of an aviation non It is not reasonable to expect to solve problems with the same sort of thinking that created them. Aviation Business Journal | 3rd Quarter 2017 55 way-finding tool to help navigate complex decisions in an industry that is often fraught with uncertainty and is always dynamic. Gut-driven leadership is important, but using data to create actionable intelligence and support risk-based decisions can help us to make the right decision, at the right time, more often. Dr. Benjamin Goodheart is the Managing Director of Versant, an international safety and risk management firm based in Colorado. Benjamin has extensive
