News
Grant available to students: CHC Safety & Quality Summit

The Dr. Peter Gardiner student grant, worth more than $4,000, covers
admission to the summit, a choice of one of the pre-event courses, as
well as $1,500 in hotel and travel reimbursement.

This year’s pre-event training courses will be “Human Factors Analysis
Classification System,” taught by Dr. Douglas A. Wiegmann and Dr. Scott
A. Shappell, and “Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance,” taught by a
team from University of Southern California.

Drs. Wiegmann and Shappell of HFACS Inc, will once again sponsor one
student to participate in the summit.  In recognition of a continuing
connection with the CHC event, the Westin Bayshore Vancouver – the host
hotel – has very generously matched the grant, enabling a second student
to attend this year.

The summit is recognized as perhaps the most important helicopter safety
conference in the world.  This year’s event will be March 31 to April
2, with pre-summit courses starting March 27.

The late Dr. Gardiner, after whom the annual grant is named, was
president and chief executive officer of the Southern California Safety
Institute (SCSI).  His objective for SCSI was to provide people in
aviation with the best possible tools and training to reduce accident
rates and ultimately increase the safety of those that fly.

The focus on the human side of aviation safety and the development of
safety management systems attracted Dr. Gardiner to the CHC event, where
each year he brought his unique blend of professionalism and humour to
the sessions he taught.  The student grant is a tribute to Dr.
Gardiner’s commitment to aviation safety, and is intended to help
inspire excellence in aviation students.

Students interested in this year’s grants must apply and submit a
500-word essay prior by the Feb. 26 deadline.  More information about
the grants and access to the application are available at www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com.