Resource Hub Longtime aviation professional establishes safety consultancy that assists operators with emergency preparedness and other training services. After a diverse career in helicopter and uncrewed aircraft operations, Matthew West saw an opportunity to improve safety at a deeper level. Over the span of less than 20 years, West, a certified international safety manager, worked in numerous roles for air tour, air medical, and uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operators, including as a helicopter flight instructor, air tour and charter operations manager, law enforcement pilot, UAS pilot and instructor, helicopter tour pilot, director of flight safety, and director of field operations and flight training. In 2022, West founded Hawk AeroSafety in Chandler, Arizona, to put all his experience in safety management systems (SMSs) to work. The company, now located in Castle Rock, Colorado, provides independent safety consultations for helicopter and UAS companies seeking to improve their safety practices from the top down. “We focus on providing our clients with the support they need to enhance their organizational safety and risk-management activities,” West says. “From safety management systems, training, and safety program development to safety culture and leadership training, we take a personal approach to aviation safety challenges.” Rooting Out Safety Issues West helps organizations identify areas of weakness in their safety culture not only to address immediate issues, but to create a progressive safety plan while fostering a positive safety culture—a pillar of everything he does. Half of Hawk AeroSafety’s projects involve UAS operators. The company supports operators in this innovative space with established and tested safety methodologies from the crewed aviation world, West says. He also emphasizes that Hawk AeroSafety tailors its services and safety plans to ensure a realistic and scalable approach for each operator to help them achieve a higher level of safety. Hawk AeroSafety’s services include helping companies with emergency-response preparedness and planning. Often underdeveloped in helicopter and UAS companies, these plans can help limit the negative impact of aviation emergencies and natural disasters. The company helps operators develop a response plan that highlights emergency communications and role assignments. Hawk AeroSafety also provides training exercises and drills. Training and Audit Services West’s company provides safety training courses either remotely through computer-based training or in person. West’s other company, AVIA Advance, conducts the computer-based training. The platform includes aviation safety, risk management, SMS, crew resource management, human factors, and safety culture training, plus more. Other options include Red Cross first aid/CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) and wilderness/remote first aid training. In addition to safety consulting, Hawk AeroSafety provides a variety of safety audits, including International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), SMS, and US Department of Defense Commercial Airlift Review Board audits, as well as tailored audits that focus on an organization’s operational and mission-specific procedures.
