Aviation Safety – Taking Flight
A Conversation with Dave Sizoo
Aviation safety, you say? Who better to discuss this critical topic than Dave Sizoo, a seasoned professional with experience in the Air Force, military testing, and currently the FAA?! We sat down with Dave as he offers a pilot’s perspective on advancements in aviation safety over the past few decades.
Q: What do you believe has moved the needle when it comes to aviation safety?
“Flight deck technology integration with glass cockpits have really moved the needle on safety—with all the OEM’s including Pilatus.”
Sizoo highlights the transition from traditional cockpits with round dials to integrated flight decks with glass cockpits. These displays consolidate information and present it intuitively, reducing pilot workload and improving situational awareness. Furthermore, modern flight deck design prioritizes human factors, ensuring information is presented clearly and efficiently.
Q: From your perspective, what are the most monumental changes the FAA has made to impact safety?
Sizoo points to two key initiatives. The first is the Commercial Aircraft Safety Team (CAST), a collaborative effort between the FAA and industry to address accidents in commercial airliners. “The goal was to really peel the onion back and understand what was causing a lot of accidents.” Through CAST, improvements were made in areas like terrain awareness and warning systems, pilot training, and loss of control prevention. The second initiative is the rewrite of Part 23 regulations for smaller aircraft, transitioning them to performance-based standards. This allows industry to develop innovative safety solutions while maintaining FAA oversight.
Q: Would you be able to shed a little light on your experience certifying the PC-24?
Without getting into specifics, Sizoo emphasizes his appreciation for manufacturers who prioritize safety beyond minimum requirements. “It makes our job easier because you know they’re not cutting corners. Safety is the bottom line.” This collaborative approach streamlines the certification process and ensures the highest safety standards.
Q: What excites you most about the future of aviation safety?
Sizoo sees tremendous potential in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to assist pilots. He highlights projects like emergency auto-land systems and AI-powered landing site selection during engine failure as examples. However, Sizoo emphasizes, “AI will never replace pilot judgment and situational awareness. The future lies in integrating technology to enhance pilot capabilities.”
There is tremendous enthusiasm for the emerging field of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). He believes this technology, incorporating lessons learned from traditional aviation safety advancements, has the potential to revolutionize transportation and save lives.
David Sizoo is an Air Force veteran, former Gulfstream test pilot, and test pilot and program manager for the FAA. The views expressed in this interview are those of Dave Sizoo and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).