Essentially Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) is the exploitation of flight data to support an understanding of the various exposures, the knowledge of which, may successfully lead to the development of mitigations which can be employed to enhance flight safety.
The FDM procedure document should as a minimum define and include procedures related to the following:
a) The aim of the FDM;
b) A data access and security policy that should restrict access to information to specifically authorised persons identified by their position.
c) Procedures on ongoing management and oversight review and update policy
d) Specific procedures on process for data removal to be defined for line maintenance personnel to permit proper data download.
e) Procedures for data review and evaluation specified including validating, refining, and tracking event definitions described?
f) Implement procedures for system and data back-up and archiving.
g) Procedures for defining fleet-specific events and associated parameters described?
h) Establish procedures to validate data and events and in the review and evaluation of trend and summary reports.
i) Procedures for taking corrective action that analysis of the data indicates is necessary in the interest of safety including tracking, and following up on corrective actions specified?
j) Define and document procedures for transferring to maintenance/engineering any maintenance-related events captured by FDM data.
k) The policy for the publishing the findings resulting from the FDM Meetings
l) Procedures for providing the Regulatory Authority with de-identified and aggregate FDM information/data
m) Procedures for informing the Regulatory Authority regarding the status as to any corrective action being undertaken
n)The method to obtain de-identified crew feedback on those occasions that require specific flight follow-up for contextual information where such crew contact is required the authorised persons need not necessarily be the program manager, or safety manager, but could be a third party (broker) mutually acceptable to flight crew members representative and management;
o) The data retention policy and accountability including the measures taken to ensure the security of the data;
p) The conditions under which, on the rare occasions, advisory briefing or remedial training should take place; this should always be carried out in a constructive and non punitive manner;
q) The conditions under which the confidentiality may be withdrawn (e.g. for reasons of gross negligence or significant continuing safety concern);
r) The participation of flight crew member representative(s) in the assessment of the data, the action and review process and the consideration of recommendations; and
s) Procedures related to trend analysis.
t) Procedures to Verify Ground Data Replay and Analysis System (GDRAS) and system components compliance with data security and de-identification procedures.
Sofema Aviation Services provides regulatory training realted to compliance with FDM procedures please see – Developing an EASA Compliant Flight Data Monitoring Program – 2 Days – see also www.sassofia.com or email office@sassofia.com
