According to IATA, risks emerging from the pandemic “could be considered as significant.” These risks include, but are not limited to:
- Organisational and human factors, such as distractions and anxiety.
- Operational, such as repatriation flights to unfamiliar destinations.
- Engineering and maintenance, such as the storage and return to service of aircraft.
- Training, such as lapses in qualifications due to reduced flying.
The above risks are not unique in themselves; indeed, they can exist at any time. Instead, the significance of these risks alludes to further operational complexities derived from the COVID-19 environment. These operational complexities require mitigation on several levels to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers and staff.
IOSA released their latest IOSA Guidance for Safety Monitoring under COVID-19 in May 2021.
JetBlue used Occurrence reports as an interim COVID-19 reporting solution prior to establishing specific eReports. Reporting COVID-19 Occurrences directed reporting to a central place for quick and efficient management.
Establishing the ‘new normal’ has allowed JetBlue to refine its management of the situation with eReports. This data is used to create dashboards and charts via Spotfire, a BI interface. This interface has assisted Jet Blue in analysing trends in scheduling, shared hotels, and aircraft tail numbers.
It is a good time to review and update existing Risk Management procedures in preparation for a return to full capacity. We won’t know the full effects of the pandemic on the aviation sector for some time, but we can be sure that the landscape will be markedly different when we do.
An Enterprise Risk Management review should:
- Consider existing system benefits and potential enhancements.
- Look to build flexibility into existing and new frameworks.
- Establish context, and a firm monitoring and review process.
- Incorporate current and projected risks relating to COVID-19.
The experienced team at Rolls-Royce SMS Solution can work with you to find an enhancement that fits your needs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the aviation industry’s ability to respond quickly to changing risk levels of “significance.” Operational complexities require a robust Risk Management framework, such as communicable disease controls and anti-viral processes. Some existing frameworks will require updating in the future, while most have already undergone several ad hoc changes. Certainly, standardised Risk Management processes and greater COVID-19 reporting capabilities will help airlines soar once again.