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Reachout Workshops

The International Society of Air Safety Investigators
Reachout Workshop Program

Background
The International Society of Air Safety Investigators is a non-profit organization comprising individual and corporate members dedicated to improving air safety through accident investigation. Based in the United States but having a truly international membership, the Society is dedicated to improving international accident investigation and sharing knowledge and information on air safety. Individual and corporate members represent major aircraft manufacturers, government investigation agencies, military organizations, safety organizations and private industry.

For many years, one of the main activities of the Society has been its annual Seminar held in various locations around the world and attended by about 300 experts annually. The seminar provides a forum to update one's knowledge while sharing experiences with international colleagues. However, for many years, the Society was concerned that the opportunity to reach a broader community and provide support in other areas of the world was being missed. To fill this void, ISASI initiated the "Reachout Workshop Program".

The Reachout Concept
The Reachout concept is simple - to provide high quality, inexpensive training opportunities to individuals and organizations that may be unable to attend more expensive seminars and to introduce ISASI in areas of the world where gains in accident prevention may be achieved. The program is designed to attract aviation professionals who may not be able to access formal training courses because of the cost and location of those courses.

The underlying principle of ISASI Reachout is to respond to the needs of the particular location of the workshop. ISASI advertises the availability of the Reachout program through a variety of means. The program is developed following a specific request from local organizers and presented by volunteer staff. The workshop is designed to be a structured training workshop.

Unlike a typical seminar program, ISASI does not include a call for papers and an agenda filled with a variety of speakers. The workshop is developed following a specific request from local organizers and presented by ISASI volunteer staff. It is designed to be a structured training workshop. The workshops are supported by ISASI corporate members who provide air travel for the instructing staff and some funding for the program. There usually are no registration fees, no social program to add cost and instructors are not paid for their time. Instructors are responsible for preparing their own lesson plans, their own handout material and providing a full range of services to those attending the workshops.

The Training Staff
With over 1500 individual members representing the world's top experts in accident investigation and aviation safety, ISASI has no shortage of experienced instructors. The Society believes it can provide expertise on virtually any subject and deliver a tailor-made workshop to any area of the globe.

Following a specific request for a workshop, the ISASI Reachout Committee discusses options with the host and identifies individual ISASI members who have displayed a technical knowledge of the subjects to be taught and who have a track record of successful teaching. For the most part, members selected to participate in Reachout will have some form of formal teaching training.

Reachout Objectives

• Provide an ISASI presence in many areas of the world
  
• Encourage the international community to join and support ISASI

• Provide needed training in investigation and encourage the adoption of recognized safety practices

• Provide a low-cost training alternative
  
• Provide a forum for senior ISASI members to participate and share their knowledge and experience gained through years of employment as Air Safety Investigators
  
• Provide an opportunity for ISASI corporate members to be identified with and support the provision of international training seminars

How it Worked
When Jim Stewart first brought the idea of Reachout to the ISASI Council, he was Chairman of the ISASI Seminar Committee and had served in that capacity for a number of years. He and a number of other members of the International Council felt that ISASI could reach a broader audience if a new approach was added in providing communication and training opportunities in areas of the world where the main ISASI seminar could not reach.

During that first discussion, George Oldfield, then International Councilor, became an instant supporter and source of essential guidance and strength to Jim as he further developed the concept. George’s experience in delivering international workshops, his knowledge of the international community, his energy and advice were critical in moving the plans forward. Jim and George worked on the details together and were able to present a more detailed plan to the council and the general ISASI membership at the Boston seminar in 1999.

When Jim and George made contact with Ladislav Mika, from the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Czech Republic, things began to move quickly. Ladislav offered Prague as the first site and encouraged his Ministry to become host and main sponsor. Jim, George and Ladislav began creating the tools to deliver the workshop from scratch and identified suitable instructors to deliver the agreed subjects. Ladislav’s enthusiasm and commitment and his ability to deliver on ideas and promises were exactly what Jim and George needed to bring the first Reachout workshop to success.

Unfortunately, George Oldfield passed away before he could participate in the Prague workshop. ISASI member Caj Frostell was asked to replace him on the instructing team. Caj was Chief of Accident Investigation and Prevention at ICAO and quickly saw how the Reachout Workshop program could be used to benefit international aviation. He encouraged Jim to pursue a stronger partnership with ICAO and arranged support for the Prague Workshop through the ICAO Regional Office in Paris. The partnership with ICAO has proven essential to the continuing success of the program.

Following the successful Prague workshop, the continuation of the Reachout program was assured and the support of the ISASI Council strengthened.

The First Instructors
Instructors at Reachout Prague used their experience and expertise to develop and deliver a workshop which has formed the model for all subsequent workshops. ISASI produced a quality workshop which attracted over 100 participants from 11 Eastern European countries.

Hosting a Reachout Workshop
If you are interested in arranging a Reachout Workshop in your area, country, organization or locale, contact ISASI Headquarters or Jim Stewart, Chairman of the ISASI Reachout Committee.

Contact Information:
The International Society of Air Safety Investigators
Park Center
107 East Holly Avenue, Suite 11
Sterling, VA 20164 USA
Phone (703) 430-9668
FAX (703) 430-4970

Chairman
ISASI Reachout Committee

Mr. Jim Stewart
Suite 307
1500 Riverside Dr.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1G 4J4
Phone (613) 736-1491
sms@rogers.com