To wrap up our series dedicated to pilots and unions, we’re now speaking with another key stakeholder in the world of aviation: Airline Leadership. For this interview, we had the opportunity to speak with Jamie Ainsworth, Head of Safety at Virgin Atlantic Airways, who is familiar with the Signol system but has not used it. Jamie has worked within commercial aviation operations for the last 20 years, spending the last 10 years in management roles.
In part 1 of the interview, we explored the risks of fuel league tables and an overreliance on statistical recommendations for fuel, Signol’s positive recognition of pilot performance, and how we protect pilot data privacy. In part 2, we dive into the myriad of variables pilots must consider, concerns about management oversight, and how Andy and Al felt using the Signol system - as well as where they see future potential for Signol.
As the aviation industry progresses toward crucial climate crisis targets, Signol joins in by helping airlines cut their carbon emissions. Specifically, Signol’s app and messages positively reinforce pilots’ implementation of fuel efficient and eco-friendly practices such as Reduced Engine Taxi In, Continuous Descent, and Idle Reverse Thrust. So, where do pilot unions - a key stakeholder in the industry - stand on sustainability and the role of such fuel saving procedures?
Signol is fully aligned with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Association (IFALPA) requirements for self-assessment software tools and is based on behavioral science best practices. For instance, we too share concerns about (and have designed the app to completely avoid) “[c]omparisons between pilots and/or the establishment of a 'ranking system' that would evaluate pilots based on fuel use” given that such practices can be demotivating and could backfire. As a result, Signol is a personalized experience for each pilot rather than a competition or ranking system among a group of pilots.
The aviation industry, accounting for 2.5% of global carbon emissions, has a crucial part to play in reducing our Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization acknowledged this responsibility by adopting plans for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Learn more about CORSIA in this article: the program and its phases, the challenges and the opportunities.
In December 2020, Signol participated in #rebootaviation’s roundtable discussion: Was 2020 a lost year for aviation or an accelerator for innovation? The panel explored COVID-19’s influence across all areas of airline operations. In such times of austerity, marginal gains can create the most impact, and so Signol presented the opportunity of a behavior change technology focused on stacking up little improvements in efficiency.
Uniting different sides of the same challenges in aviation has been the demand- and goal of Signol. To explore this, we discussed how behavioral science can address modern aviation problems from the perspective of aviation management, safety, and unions. Our participants reviewed how utilizing nudges and small behavioral interventions is a realistic way for management and pilots to achieve better outcomes in day to day work.
Covid-19 has forced industries of all kinds to adapt and rethink their ways of doing business, and we can only continue to learn from this experience. In this article, we demonstrate how cutting operating costs while maintaining high standards of service is essential for the aviation industry to go forward.
Hear from our CEO about the most effective and urgently needed actions that can be taken now in order to save fuel and carbon in aviation. Catch him speaking on the Air Operations panel, part of the ICAO's Stocktaking Seminar taking place on 9th September.
Noise is defined as “unwanted sound”, and, around airports, there’s a lot of it. Airplane engines and fans cause significant noise disturbance during takeoff and landing and easily disrupt daily routines, including sleep and conversation. Read more about the way technical and operational solutions can reduce the negative impact of aircraft noise in and around airports.