Buddha Air: Leading the Way in Flight Data Monitoring 

In the aviation industry, safety is paramount. To ensure that safety is maintained, operators must adhere to the regulations set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). One such regulation is that operators of aircraft with a maximum certificated take-off mass in excess of 27,000 kg must establish and maintain a Flight Data Analysis Program (FDAP) as part of their safety management system. 

Buddha Air, a domestic airline in Nepal, operates ATR 72, and ATR 42 and used to operate B1900Ds, all of which are well within the 27 tonnes limit, so FDAP also known as Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) was not mandatory. However, Buddha Air recognized the potential of FDM to enhance flight safety and invested in it in early 2013. Since then, we have voluntarily incorporated FDM service with 100% analysis of daily flights, making us the first domestic airline in Nepal to do so.

The FDM program at Buddha Air is a confidential, non-punitive system that is appreciated by both the crew and management. It is able to identify possible deviations from standard operating procedures as well as potential safety concerns through trend analysis. Every second of each flight all of the 108 parameters recorded by ATR aircraft are analyzed to identify 64 events defined for different critical phases of flight, which are further classified as Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 depending on the level of deviation. Emerging Trends are analyzed, monitored, and reviewed to identify undesirable trends and to disseminate the information to the appropriate personnel. This helps the organization to take preventive steps, proactively manage safety, and also helps the crew to visualize their individual flights for better self-realization and learning.

The BHA FDM program is fully integrated with Safety Management System. It has been a crucial tool for Buddha Air to promote positive safety culture. Furthermore, the program is used for both proactive and reactive hazard identification. Analysed Flight Data is further used to validate and gain additional insights on Air Safety Reports (ASR), Voluntary Reports (VR), Occurrence Reports (OR), and Line Operation Safety Audits (LOSA) as well as used for detailed investigation into flight occurrences. Finally, it is also used for benchmarking, allowing the comparison of theoretical flight design with actual aircraft data to validate and or enhance flight procedures, particularly for new aerodromes based on demonstration flights. The program is also interlinked with the Crew Training Department for customized training programs and validating effectiveness.

Buddha Air has displayed our commitment to flight safety by investing in FDM and taking the initiative to become the first domestic airline in Nepal to do so voluntarily. Our decade-long investment into FDM – research, study, infrastructure, and implementation has allowed us to proactively manage safety and create a safe environment for our valued passengers and crew. We welcome the recent CAAN decision to mandate FDM to all operators operating aircraft with a maximum certificated take-off mass in excess of 20,000 kg.