A couple of weeks ago we announced our new partnership with the Cypriot company, Aviation Safety Platform, which goal is to promote aviation safety through its content platform. We decided to interview their head manager, Mr. Haris Lysandrides.
Mr. Haris Lysandrides opened its website Aviation Safety Platform in 2018 after he has worked as a pilot for Etihad Airways for 4 years. What drove Haris to open this platform and how he started in aviation, read in our interview below.
- Can you introduce your company to Voice readers?
Lysaco Aviation was created a decade ago aiming to serve the industry through various supporting projects. These included a partnership in a light aircraft, Safety Management services to flight schools and partnerships in Approved Training Organisations.
Our latest project, Aviation Safety Platform (www.aviationsafetyplatform.com) , was conceptualised to help the industry in the promotion of Safety Management. It was with great sadness that I kept seeing people from every level of the industry, being pilots, cabin crew, ground handlers, engineers and many of the managers, not having any clue on SMS policies and basic understanding. I saw many cases where people where afraid of “being caught” by the safety department, people who didn’t want to report issues so they don’t get in trouble etc. That’s where I realised that the safety training received was inadequate and the promotion of real safety was ill fated, as it concentrated on what NOT to do, rather than what to do! For this reason the educational part of the platform was written in plain English, trying to refrain from referring to the regulations. The blog section is open to everyone, so that people who practise or study safety, can share their ideas, whilst the forum is an area where people can express their ideas, pose questions etc.
- What are your main services?
The platform has a very clear purpose, Promote Safety in the Aviation Industry. For this to be achieved we created a space where it is free to access. Registering on the platform for the blogging section or for the forum, only requires a valid email. Name is optional.
Apart from individuals, the platform is also open to companies, institutions, colleges and training academies. They are free to promote their products through articles and posts related to safety management. They can also use some of the paid services, which include pure forms of banners and advertising; or the most dynamic option, which is to create their own profile on the platform, and have an individual page with their services, products, photos, banners, news etc. (it’s like having your own webpage on the platform)
- Tell us about your background/history of being a pilot?
Piloting was a childhood dream that was realised early. Since the age of 12, I became obsessed with aviation and thus I gained my PPL before I even drove a car. I completed my ATPL training along with a BSc degree in Air Transport Operations, where I received my first introduction into Safety Management Systems. I worked for a few years as a flight instructor in Cyprus and then moved on to the airlines, flying the A320 and now the A380. In the meantime I completed a Master in Air Safety Management. I have to admit, that even though many things are changing in the pilot career and conditions are not always as great as they used to be, I have never regretted my decision and I can’t think of myself doing a different job.
Haris Lysandrides
- Why you have chosen aviation safety?
My first introduction to Safety Management System, was in 2006 during my studies for Air Transport Operations. SMS was very new concept and very fresh in the industry. At the time it was not even the SMS we know today, it was called flight safety programme. However, our professor, Dr Steve Bond, an amazing professor, with a great background in the aviation industry, was very knowledgeable of the concept. He was the one who inspired me and gave me the understanding to search even further. During my years as a flight instructor, the flight school decided to introduce a flight safety programme. I was the only one with a basic understanding so I initiated the project. This gave me a practical understanding but I felt that I wanted to know more, so I enrolled for the Master in Air Safety Management.
SMS is such a broad concept that it never ceases to amaze me. Human factors, organisation psychology, company resource management, fatigue management, project planning and so many other concepts and functions create a multiplex system, so interesting and so challenging, that keeps me digging and digging into it.
- What do you think are the biggest safety challenges in aviation?
At the moment I believe the increasing use of drones by amateur pilots (or not pilots at all) is a serious threat. A bit further I would point out to the accelerated use of technology, using AI systems and even talking about pilotless airplanes within the next 2 decades. But I still believe the biggest challenge is the balancing of the safety and the financial of the organisation. The high costs in the aviation industry, create a viscous circle, that tries to deflect the human out of the equation. Meaning, that trying to save costs, we forget the need to train people, the need to listen to their needs and the requirement to approach safety from a holistic point of view. Captain Rudy Pont from ECA (European Cockpit Association), in a similar question, very nicely explained, that having the term management in the SMS, creates an illusion of control, a control over numbers, control over data, control over people. But I believe we need to approach safety in simple terms. Talk to people who are facing the challenges on a daily basis, explain them why some procedures are there, remind them about past events etc.
- Tell us about aviation in your home country, Cyprus.
Cyprus is a small island in the Eastern edge of the Mediterranean sea, located in a very troubled area. Being very close to countries that are torn apart by the wars (Syria, Lebanon, Egypt etc), creates opportunities but also a lot of troubles. Biggest problem is that the available routes to fly from Cyprus become less and less. The invasion of Turkey in 1974 left the island half occupied greatly restricting general aviation and flight training. Turkey has also their FIR closed for Cyprus companies, meaning that any Cypriot airline wishing to fly to the North has to fly around the country. The small population of the island creates another problem, as the airlines have very good traffic loads during the touristic summer period, but very low load factors during the winter period, thus making it difficult to survive.
Location of Cyprus in map of Europe
- For the end, if we visit Cyprus what would you recommend to us apart from the most-popular tourist places?
It might be small, but Cyprus is a great island for vacations. It all depends on the personal needs and the likes of each one, as we offer excellent beaches, fantastic country side, mountain activities, amazing food with so many local dishes and a long list of historical and cultural sites. I would definitely recommend the Cyprus cuisine, which is a blend of the famous Greek cuisine but with a touch of middle eastern flavour. We have food for every taste. Local wines are also very good, whilst our local beers have gained the trust of the tourists.
Even though as a small island, Cyprus is full of beautiful places to visit
