Nick Sabatini and Jim Ballough

Transcription

1 Regulations and International Affairs HAI Salutes a Great Team: Nick Sabatini and Jim Ballough by David York In 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) added a potent one two punch combination to its Headquarters team. Nicolas Sabatini was appointed to the position of Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, while James Ballough assumed the position of Director of Flight Standards Services. Since that time, this dynamic duo has accomplished much at the FAA, which has benefitted aviation safety in general, and the helicopter industry in particular. Working together seamlessly and providing refreshing leadership, Sabatini and Ballough have launched major internal organizational change within the FAA, taking industry partnership to new levels. They have enthusiastically encouraged and facilitated the introduction of new technology in aviation that will benefit us all in terms of increased safety and operational efficiency. And most importantly, from HAI s perspective, neither of them has ever forgotten their roots in the field or in the world of helicopters. In mid-october, Nick Sabatini announced he would retire in January Shortly afterward, Jim Ballough announced that he also planned to retire at the end of the year. The two of them came in as a team and planned on leaving the same way. At HAI, we were saddened by the thought of them leaving. It has been a pleasure having someone in the 20 James Ballough highest echelons of the FAA who understands helicopters, and it has been a pleasure working with them. More recently, Nick Sabatini managed to convince Ballough to postpone his retirement, while he is recovering from pancreatic cancer, and to stay on in an advisory capacity to help during the transition period. But even though Jim s plans have changed, this is still a good opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge some of the outstanding things the team of Sabatini and Ballough has accomplished for the helicopter industry, for international aviation safety, and for the flying public during their twin tenure at FAA Headquarters. Nick Sabatini and Jim Ballough made aviation safety their personal missions in life. They both recognize that there is still a lot of work to do that safety is a never ending mission. Nicolas Sabatini When they leave the FAA, they can be confident in the knowledge that their examples, their leadership, and the programs and policies they pioneered will live on in aviation safety. Facing Big Jobs With a Wealth of Experience In 2001, Nick Sabatini became the Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS-1). The job description for this post is daunting. The position carries with it the responsibility for overseeing a sprawling work force of 6,800 employees scattered between FAA Headquarters, nine regional offices, and more than 125 field offices around the world. AVS-1 is also responsible for the certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of aircraft, and certification of pilots, mechanics, and others in safety related positions.

2 The Association Administrator for Aviation Safety is also responsible for certification of all operational and maintenance enterprises in domestic civil aviation, the development of regulations, civil flight operations, and the certification and safety oversight of some 7,300 U.S. airlines and commercial air carriers. While the list of responsibilities may sound a little overpowering, Nick did not come to the position unprepared. Knowing that Nick served in the U.S. Army, and that he flew helicopters for the New York City Police, I always assumed he had started out as an Army Pilot. That was not the case at all. Most of his two-year stint with the Army was spent at Fort Knox, where heavy armor is king. It was not until he became a New York City police officer that he was smitten with aviation and helicopters. Early on, after joining the New York City Police, Nick set his sights on joining the aviation unit, and went about getting the training and ratings he needed. For the last 11 of his 20 years with NYPD, he served as a pilot. Along the way he also flew part time for a commuter carrier. After retiring from the police department, he worked for two years flying drug interdiction missions for U.S. Customs. He loved the flying but did not like being away from his children so much. However, he loved aviation too much to leave it behind. He joined the FAA in Over the next twenty years, in the FAA s Eastern Region, Sabatini served in a variety of field and management positions, ranging from aviation safety inspector and principal operations inspector, to an 11- year stint as manager of the Flight Standards Division in the FAA s Eastern Region. There is no question about it; Sabatini has a wealth of experience as a pilot, and a manager in the industry and in the field. In 2001, Jim Ballough also faced his own daunting job description when he assumed the position of Director of Flight Standards Services. When Nick Sabatini was initially offered the position of Associate Administrator, he accepted on the condition that he would be able to take his own team with him to Washington D.C. Sabatini told me, Number One on my list was Jim Ballough. At Flight Standards, Ballough would head up an organization of 4,800 employees, and be responsible for promoting the safety of civil aircraft by setting regulations and standards for air carriers, air agencies, general aviation, airmen and designee. He would also be responsible for the certification, inspection, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement of the Federal Aviation Regulations. A big job! But like Sabatini, Ballough had been well prepared with wide ranging experience in the industry, and in the field for the FAA. After getting his A&P certificate, while the Vietnam War was still underway, Jim enlisted in U.S. Army aviation. He was initially assigned an avionics Military Occupation Specialty (MOS), but when the Army discovered he held an A&P certificate, they put him to work on UH-1s, primarily Cobras, from a ship off the Vietnam shore. Following his honorable discharge, he worked in a variety of airworthiness positions with a major air carrier, and joined the FAA in August There he served in a variety of field positions as a principal avionics inspector, and principal maintenance inspector before going to the FAA s Eastern Region where he served as technical branch manager, assistant division manager, and regional division manager. He, too, was well prepared for his new job. Different Leaders With the Same Message As HAI s VP for Regulations and International Affairs, I have had the opportunity to see Nick and Jim at work in their current positions, in two distinctly different venues the international arena of conferences and forums where they deal with global aviation issues, and the regulatory arena where the focus has been on helicopter-specific issues. I have always been impressed with the way that they are always totally in-sync. In both of these venues, whether they are speaking from a podium 1,000 s of companies advertise jobs on JSfirm.com... 1,000 s of aviation professionals post their resumes... Shouldn t You? Learn more about our proven aviation only jobs board! Call or visit FL USA Tel: Fax: Years Experience Creative Solutions Engineering Technology One Stop Shop Spare Parts Overhauls Upgrades Rolls Royce 250 Series T53 Series 206, 204, 205, 212, HUEY Component Overhauls Europe Tel: Fax: FAA Repair Station E6TR404N ISO Certified, EASA Certified turbines@airtechnology.com Winter

3 at an international forum, or over the conference table at a meeting with operators at HAI, Sabatini and Ballough are consistently singing from the same sheet of music, always carrying the same message, and always focusing on the same priorities. They present an impressive and constant example of seamless teamwork, and apparently, it has been like that from the beginning. Jim Ballough, looking back to January 1999 when he became Nick s deputy at Eastern Region, noted that, Early on, during that time, we just started clicking. My background was maintenance. His was operations. Nonetheless we were always on the same page. The chemistry has been there from day one. When he asked me to join him in Washington D.C., I didn t hesitate. The people who work with Nick and Jim, however, are quick to point out that even though, in public, the Nick Sabatini admits that he is partial to helicopters, but has been too busy to maintain currency. Here he demonstrates the handheld rotor launcher that he keeps on his desk. (It was not FAA certificated. It crashed immediately into a book case.) two definitely march in total lock step when presenting and promoting FAA initiatives, they are viewed, internally at the FAA, as two distinctly different leaders, each with his own unique leadership style. Hooper 22 Harris, manager of the FAA Accident Investigation Division, and former manager of the Part 135 air carrier branch, characterizes Sabatini as a visionary leader who can articulate a big picture plan for where he sees the organization going. He described Jim Ballough as a very personal, look-you-in-theeye leader who challenges you to get things done. Jim will look you in the eye and ask, can you do this? And if you say Yes, he trusts you to go out and get it done. Dennis Pratte, the current manager of AFS-250, thinks that the accessibility of Sabatini and Ballough has also contributed greatly to their effectiveness, noting that, They get people at the FAA and industry to talk to them about the issues. It hasn t always been that way at the FAA. Regardless of any differences there may be in their leadership styles, everyone I talked to at the FAA agreed with Harris, Pratte, and Larry Buehler, a senior flight safety inspector with AFS-250, when they insist that one important leadership trait the two have in common is the ability to generate personal loyalty from the people with whom they work, and that loyalty is not based on their positions, but rather due to their leadership abilities. There is also the fact that, as Harris puts it, It is incredibly refreshing to FAA employees, and I think of great value The FAA s increased reliance on partnership with the aviation industry, since Nick and Jim have come to town, is probably the single most significant legacy they will leave behind them. Matt Zuccaro, President of HAI to the industry, that both Nick and Jim bring their own field experience, and experience in industry to the table. Jim Ballough himself agrees with that assessment. Real world experience is probably my biggest strong point. I never forgot where I came from and that was field inspector. A Legacy of Partnership Whether it is a matter of vision, or personal style and the ability to get things done, the leadership of Sabatini and Ballough has paid off in some major and very positive initiatives at the FAA. In the opinion of HAI President Matt Zuccaro, The FAA s increased reliance on partnership with the aviation industry, since Nick and Jim have come to town, is probably the single most significant legacy they will leave behind them. That increased level of cooperation has created a solid foundation for future improvements in aviation safety. Zuccaro and Sabatini have known each other for 30 years. When Nick was flying helicopters for U.S. Customs, Matt was flying for the New York Port Authority and they frequented the same New York City airports and heliports. Sabatini even invited Zuccaro to fly with Customs, and if it were not for a federal agency hiring freeze, it might have happened. According to Zuccaro, Even back then, in the FAA Eastern Region, Nick was already sowing the seeds of a new cooperative spirit between FAA and industry to find safety solutions. Since (Continued on page 24)

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5 Jim Ballough, Director of Flight Standards, speaks to attendees of an Air Tour Safety Forum (Continued from page 22) he came to Washington, he has done the same thing on a larger scale. And it has benefited all of us, including the travelling public and the helicopter industry. Sabatini does not disagree with the assessment. He said, I like to think of partnership in terms of working together with industry because when people work together the solutions are the best solutions. Many minds working together solve problems. It is not just a nice thing to do; it is the best way to serve the public and to reach the highest level of safety performance. As evidence of that success, he points to all the safety data that has become available to the FAA through its partnership with industry via its non-punitive safety reporting programs. Here at the FAA, we collect a great deal of safety data, but the amount of data we collect on our own is miniscule in comparison to the amount of data we collect through our safety programs from industry. And the public benefits improved reliability, better crew training, and ground proximity warning systems. Today, we can t wait for the next accident to let us know what needs fixing. It takes a constant flow of data and communication to identify the future risks. That is why these programs are so important. 24 (HAI File Photo) Partnership Benefits Helicopter Safety Too Towards the end of my interview with Nick Sabatini, he admitted, I have never told anyone this, but when I hit the Lotto, I am going to buy an S-76 or Jet Ranger or something with that kind of capability, and fly from place to place. I m a little partial to helicopters. Whether it was because he is partial to helicopters or not, the spirit of partnership with industry fostered by Nick Sabatini and Jim Ballough over the past seven years has directly benefitted the helicopter industry. As Ballough puts it, We worked from day one to establish rapport and develop a relationship with industry. We can t do it alone. A big part of the safety equation is partnering and working with industry. That doesn t mean abdicating enforcement of the Federal Aviation Regulations but it does mean coming together for common goals. I think we have done that successfully. He points in particular to one of his early outreach efforts with the helicopter community the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Task Force established within the FAA, in 2004, to look for ways to reduce accidents in helicopter emergency medical system operations. We focused on a problem. We established the HEMS task force and brought in HAI and medical industry groups and asked them to participate and work with us on solutions. It s easy to identify issues. The hard work is putting together solutions that will work. And we did that. And the accident rates showed improvement over the next couple of years. HAI certainly welcomed the FAA s invitation to participate in the HEMs Task Force, and we have worked extensively with Jim Ballough, Hooper Harris, Larry Buehler and more recently, Dennis Pratte, to enhance safety. That cooperative effort paid off with many initiatives, such as new guidance on loss of control, and controlled flight into terrain avoidance programs, crew resource management, new weather requirements for night and mountainous terrain, and a new online weather tool for EMS operations. The process also gave us an opportunity to refine and promote voluntary industry best practices on risk assessment and other safety mitigations. The cooperative relationship that began with the HEMs Task force is still ongoing. Over the past few months, HAI has hosted repeated operator meetings to continue working with the FAA to make safety improvements in the operating specifications for HEMS operations. As Larry Buehler pointed out, Jim Ballough has also been something of a visionary himself when it comes to helicopters. Buehler referred to a recent policy change in the criteria for hiring FAA inspectors. Prior to this change, all prospective FAA inspectors had to demonstrate proficiency in fixed wing operations. Ballough helped change that policy to allow the hiring of helicopter-only inspectors. He also played a lead role in the establishment of the Part 135, Commuter, On Demand and Training Center Branch (AFS-250), which promises to provide a lasting focal point for helicopter expertise within the FAA. Dennis Pratte also credits Ballough for being a very proactive force in recent efforts to facilitate the increased use of night vision goggles in EMS operations. Still another prime example of (Continued on page 26)

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7 (Continued from page 24) how the Sabatini/Ballough focus on partnership is benefitting helicopter safety is the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST). This ambitious program, initiated by the American Helicopter Society and HAI, along with other industry groups, was launched with the goal of reducing helicopter accidents worldwide by 80 percent over a ten year period. Matt Zuccaro admits, Launching this effort would not have been possible without the encouragement and support Nick and Jim have provided in terms of manpower and expertise from the FAA. Nick Sabatini returns the compliment by saying, I absolutely commend HAI and Matt Zuccaro for taking on that challenge an 80 percent reduction in the accident rate because it is hard work, and it can only get done by industry and government working together. The FAA s support for the IHST was recently reconfirmed in November, when the FAA Flight Plan included an FAA commitment to continue Working with the Helicopter Association International (HAI), to continue the development and implementation of the International Helicopter Safety Team recommendations. Nick and Jim have provided the IHST with remarkable levels of support, said Zuccaro. They have provided us very capable, knowledgeable FAA staff to support our IHST working groups at every level. The FAA and industry are working together. Providing a Process for Constant Improvement While industry partnership is arguably the signature legacy of Nick Sabatini s tenure as Associate Administrator, it is by no means the only one. In late 2006 it was announced that AVS had been certified by the prestigious International Organization for Standardization ISO 9001 quality 26 management standard. This was no small accomplishment! It made the FAA Safety Organization the first organization of its size and scope in the world to achieve ISO certification under a single corporate management system. What does it all mean? According to Sabatini, It means that AVS, despite all its diversity and widespread operations, is now operating under a single quality management system. Launching this effort [the International Helicopter Safety Team] would not have been possible without the encouragement and support Nick and Jim have provided in terms of manpower and expertise from the FAA. Matt Zuccaro, President of HAI And why is it important? Sabatini points to a book written by Professor James Reasons Managing the Risk of Organizational Accidents, which introduced the idea that organizations like the FAA could unwittingly be contributing to accidents by tolerating behavior that is inconsistent and nonstandardized. Sabatini acknowledged, The FAA has a reputation that you can FSDO shop, or region shop go from one office to another until you get the answers you want. We are not going to continue down that path. There is one AVS, one FAA, and we are going to pursue the most rigorous methodology to ensure that all members of the organization follow the same process. At the FAA, that process is ISO It was a massive undertaking that took five years to implement across the full safety organization. Ballough took the lead in rolling it out in Flight Standards. But now, under the ISO framework, all members of the organization follow the same process, and it is documented, says Sabatini. Anyone who identifies an inconsistency can submit a report online with their recommendations. And you know what? I hold mangers accountable to acknowledge that report, and to respond to those recommendations within five days. Both Sabatini and Ballough acknowledge that culture change is a long, never-ending process, but they insist that this new quality management system is starting to make a difference, and that it will establish a firm basis for Safety Management Systems, resulting in continuous improvement in consistency. Progress on Other Fronts: Promoting Technology and International Leadership Over the past seven years, Nick Sabatini and Jim Ballough have also demonstrated leadership on many other fronts, aside from partnership and organizational change. They have used their leadership skills to promote new technology in aviation as a means of enhancing safety now and for generations to come. For example, Sabatini is personally very proud of the leadership role his organization demonstrated on the development of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) criteria. Earlier, Hooper Harris had told me that one of the things he always marveled at was Sabatini s enthusiasm. Even though Nick has spent decades in aviation, Harris noted that, He still has the enthusiasm and imagination of a 25 year-old. And that spark really showed when I interviewed Nick in preparation for this article and brought up the subject of RNP. Nick s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. We put RNP on the map internationally with the work we did here in AFS 400, under John McGraw (McGraw is the manager of AFS 400, the Flight Technologies and Procedures Development). It is now International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) document 9663 a global standard totally based on the work we did here. He is also very proud of changes in the Federal Aviation regulations

8 which laid the groundwork to allow the development and use of enhanced and synthetic flight vision systems. Since we made those changes, the flood gates have opened in terms of research and development on enhanced vision and synthetic vision, and they are fusing those technologies together with the benefits of RNP, and when that happens we increase safety. I would love to see those technologies merge into the helicopter community because it represents tremendous capability. Their enthusiasm for promoting the safety benefits offered by new technology has also been evident in Jim Ballough s leadership in facilitating the expanded acceptance and use of night vision goggles in helicopter operations. However, Ballough s and Sabatini s leadership internationally has not been confined to the realm of technology. It has been constant and across the board. They have both actively supported international outreach efforts through regular international forums to promote worldwide harmonization and safety through Safety Management Systems (SMS), international data sharing, and industry partnership on an international level. The slogan of their most recent international meeting, the FAA s Fifth Annual International Safety Forum, summed up their philosophy pretty well One World, One Sky, One Mission: SAFETY. Together, over the past 7 years, Nick and Jim have been outstanding ambassadors for safety on the international stage. Believing in the Mission and Doing What is Right Larry Buehler was having lunch with co-workers in the FAA cafeteria when Jim Ballough pulled up a chair and joined them. He and Sabatini had recently undergone a grueling series of Congressional hearings, where they took a lot of personal heat about Southwest Airlines and their support for partnership with industry. At the time, they were also preparing for a round of hearings at the National Transportation Safety Board, where they expected to be subjected to some measure of criticism for not implementing everything the NTSB has recommended on HEMS operations. Buehler asked Ballough, How do you keep going in the face of criticism like this? Ballough responded, You just have to believe in the mission. You have to believe that you are doing the right thing. For seven years, Nick Sabatini and Jim Ballough, as a team, have done just that. Through it all, they have focused on one mission Safety. They have done what they thought was right. And because of their outstanding leadership two different styles maybe, but one mission always they have accomplished amazing things for aviation. The proof is in the pudding, as Ballough puts it, pointing to the fact that we are currently in the midst of the safest period in the history of aviation. Nick Sabatini is quick to point out that he and Ballough cannot take the credit for that record level of safety alone. We are surrounded by some of the brightest and best in the world, working with us here at the FAA, he says. It is their accomplishment. That may well be, but one thing on which everyone at the FAA agrees is that, because of the leadership demonstrated by Ballough and Sabatini, the policies and programs they have nurtured at the FAA will live on long after they depart the agency. The people on the team they are leaving behind have taken personal ownership of those policies. At HAI, says Matt Zuccaro, We thank Nick Sabatini and Jim Ballough for their unwavering leadership and unrelenting focus on safety. They have done an outstanding job and left a legacy for the rest of us to strive towards. It has been my sincere privilege and honor to know these two extraordinary individuals. The Helicopter Association International Salutes Jim Ballough and Nick Sabatini for a job well done and a mission well started! David York is Vice President of Regulations & International Affairs for HAI. Winter