Aviation’s landscape is constantly evolving, so safety should always be the top priority. Emerging technology advances, turnover due to mandatory retirement limits, and increasing post-pandemic air traffic are just a few reasons to be more vigilant as an industry in all matters concerning safety.
With all of the growth trends in the industry, safety culture and the management of that culture are hot topics. The Department of Transportation is committed to the safety of all modes of transportation, and aviation is no exception.
The Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) has provided a customizable training solution for federal, state, and local governmental, private sector, and foreign transportation professionals in aviation, highway traffic, transit, motor carriers, and hazardous materials since 1971. These training solutions are on a fee-for-service basis for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). TSI is the DOT’s sole training provider, and since its conception, the transportation industry has improved drastically.
While TSI is a household name to many in aviation and all modes of transportation logistics, many newcomers to the aviation industry are just getting acquainted. Located in Oklahoma City at the FAA building, over the past 19 years, the DOT/TSI has held live, virtual, domestic, and international training courses in aviation safety.
Aviation industry leaders provide the training with FAA-approved textbooks, interactive presentations, and other resources. These well-designed courses are attended by members of Parts 91, 121, 135, and even Part 141 operations.
With clever and innovative ways to capture and maintain the attention of adult learners, these courses are not only educational but also fun and exciting. The curriculum includes a wide range of courses for General Aviation related to Senior Manager SMS training. The classes are not only economical, but they also come with DOT certifications upon successful completion.
D. Smith, United States Department of Transportation; Transportation Safety Institute; Aviation Safety Division Manager; Senior Air Safety Investigator; Certified International Safety Manager.
Mr. Smith leads a highly qualified team with over 37 years of experience in aviation safety. He has assisted over 1,000 organizations in implementing safety and human factor programs, including U.S. and international government and private industry. He is considered a leading expert and forward thinker in aviation safety and related topics. He served 29 years as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, earning the designation Master Army Aviator. For the past 18 years, he served as a Senior Air Safety Investigator and Division Manager, President of the International Society of Safety Professionals (ISSP), a Certified International Safety Manager (CISM), a Certified Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) professional, and an author of “Quantum Safety Metrics”; a methodology used by over 650 organizations to quantify their safety status, and contributing author to the book ‘Implementing Safety Management Systems in Aviation’, Ashgate Publishing. He holds an MBA with an emphasis on Occupational Safety and Health.
The training manager is a critical part of the TSI/DOT team. Roger A. Hood Jr., Senior Air Safety Investigator, has over 18 years of experience in aviation safety management and occupational safety and health. He is a retired Army aviator with over 20 years of service, including combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of his qualifications include a United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) Advanced Aviation Safety Officer and an Advanced Air Safety Investigator certificate. He also possesses a Department of Defense Safety and Occupational Health Professional and FEMA Emergency Management qualification. Mr. Hood holds an FAA Certified Flight Instructor Instrument and Commercial Pilot certificate. He is an IBAC/IS-BAO accredited auditor in Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, and Operations Management and a Federal Aviation Safety Audit team member. He has extensive training from The U.S. Department of Transportation, The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and The U.S. Department of Defense.
These highly qualified individuals work with other leaders of the industry to provide a variety of courses. National Air Transportation Association (NATA) currently offers training to its members in conjunction with TSI.
Steve Berry, NATA Managing Director of Safety & Training says, “The NATA Air Transport Safety Management Certification Course is a must-attend for anyone seeking to implement, mature, or improve their organization’s safety management system (SMS) by expanding their professional skill set. The DOT Transportation Safety Institute team blends in-depth classroom instruction with practical exercises, providing a fresh look at safety management and preparing attendees for success throughout all phases of the SMS journey. As more aviation business sectors move toward SMS, NATA is pleased to bring this invaluable training to the industry and exclusive certification to our members.”
Obtaining proper training conducive to building and preserving the best Aviation Safety Culture possible should be on everyone’s 2023 resolution list.
Learn More About the TSI/DOT Safety Training Catalog
Transportation Safety Institute
6500 South MacArthur Blvd,
Oklahoma City, OK, 73169, USA
tsi@dot.gov
Tel: 1-800-858-2107
