FDM/FOQA for rotary-wing vs fixed-wing: what's the difference?

President Pete Henrickson, Senior Safety Consultant Jeff Curran, VP of International David Geil, and VP of Sales & Marketing Tom Need discuss the state of flight data monitoring (FDM) and flight operations quality assurance (FOQA).

Key takeaways include:

• The Mission of Brazos Safety Systems: A commitment to improving flight safety through tailored data solutions, with a strong focus on building close relationships with clients and deeply understanding their unique operational needs.
• Differences Between Helicopter and Fixed-Wing FDM: The team explains why off-the-shelf FDM tools are often insufficient for helicopters and smaller aircraft, emphasizing the need for customized solutions that account for low-altitude, mission-specific flight profiles.
• Why Helicopter Operations Require Unique Approaches: Unlike commercial airlines that follow predictable patterns, rotary-wing operations are inherently variable. Effective FDM in this space requires contextual awareness of operator SOPs, environments, and industry sectors (e.g., HEMS, oil & gas, VIP transport).
• Trends in the Industry: A significant movement toward data sharing is highlighted, with Brazos playing a key role in initiatives like the FAA’s Safety Analysis and Information Sharing (SAIS) program. Collaborative safety data exchange is becoming a critical component of proactive risk management.
• Global Expansion and Client Adaptation: The team touches on the company’s international reach, including operations in the U.S. and Australia, and discusses how operators in diverse regions are adopting advanced safety programs.

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