What if one course could prevent your next accident before it ever happens?
At LAFD Air Operations, we don’t wait for mistakes—we train ahead of them.
Our pilots and crews attend the USC Viterbi Aviation Safety & Security Program to sharpen leadership, strengthen decision-making, and implement cutting-edge aviation safety systems that directly impact how we operate in Los Angeles.
From Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Safety Performance Indicators to Threat & Error Management, Human Factors, and Helicopter Accident Investigation—this isn’t just training. It’s mission-critical risk mitigation.
Today, another one of our pilots completed the program—bringing back knowledge that elevates the safety of every flight, every crew, and every patient we serve.
Because in our world, safety isn’t a requirement—it’s a discipline.
#aviationsafety
#lafd
#SafetyManagement
#firstresponderlife
#leadershipdevelopment
Our Aircraft Accident Investigation course starts right here. The USC laboratory is one of the largest in the nation. See link in bio for more info. #usc #aviation #investigation #aircraft #uscviterbi #engineering #uscaviation
60 years ago in the month of July, Frank Tullo was piloting a Republic F-105 on a mission that took him deep into dangerous territory in North Vietnam. His jet was hit by ground fire and after maintaining flight for as long as possible, the aircraft aflame, Frank was forced to eject. He landed in 10 foot tall elephant grass where he took cover and survived until his rescue. George Martin flew that rescue mission in the Jolly Green Giant, a specially modified Sikorsky HH-3E helicopter. In this photo, Tullo (right) and Martin (left) are shaking hands in front of the Giant that brought Frank back to safety. #usc #aviation #rescue #helicopter #jollygreengiant #vietnam #usaf #uscaviation
Students from our ASMS course conducted a hands-on audit of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Ops this week. Thank you @lacofireairops for hosting this valuable practical exercise in Safety Management. #lacountyfd #safetymanagement #aviation #usc #uscaviation #viterbi #firstresponders
USC Aviation instructors Greg Phillips and Will Williams were recently invited by Boeing to teach our program course in Advanced SMS to a wonderful group of aviation professionals in New Delhi. Thank you @boeing for hosting us! #aviation #usc #safety #aviation #boeing #newdelhi #india
Our Aircraft Accident Investigation course is running this week at our laboratory in Alhambra. Our lab is filled with wreckages and students get a hands-on, up-close opportunity to examine them. #aircraftaccident #laboratory #alhambra #usc #viterbi #metalurgy #engineering
Military Pilot Eugene Jacques Bullard -
Born in 1895 to a mother and father formerly held in slavery, Bullard spent his childhood in the Jim Crow era south. At an early age he watched in horror as a mob attempted to lynch his father over a workplace dispute. Following this traumatic event, Bullard set his sights on Europe where he hoped to escape the brutality of racial discrimination. Running away at 11 years of age he made his way to London via Scotland, eventually settling in France. When WWI broke out, Bullard enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, eventually becoming one of the first African American Military Pilots. He flew for France, not the U.S. When the U.S. entered the war, Bullard applied as a pilot to the U.S. Military, however only white pilots were accepted. His military career spanned both WWI and WWII and Bullard was awarded several medals for his service in the Foreign Legion, French Air Service, and the French Resistance. #blackhistorymonth #aviation #history #aviationdaily #usc #viterbi #uscaviation #fighterpilot #france #frenchresistance #ww1 #ww2
Thank you @advancedaircharters for hosting our USC Aviation Safety Management Systems class! Our students enjoyed a hands-on learning experience at Hawthorne Airport yesterday where they got an inside look at the World-Class operations of Advanced Air Charters. #aviation #hawthorneairport #advancedair #charterflightservices #aviationdaily #aviationgeek #viterbi #usc #uscaviation
On this day in history: 31 January 2000 - Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Anacapa Island in California. The probable cause found by the NTSB was: “loss of airplane pitch control resulting from the in-flight failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim system jackscrew assembly’s Acme nut threads.” The ALPA Gold Medal for heroism was awarded posthumously to Captain Thompson and First Officer Tansky for their efforts and actions to try and save the plane and its passengers during the emergency. #alaska #inmemoriam #ntsb #history #aviation #usc #viterbi #uscaviation #lessons
Team member Daniel Scalese visited with Dr. Carla Dove at the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Lab in DC. The feather ID Lab is a highly specialized laboratory where cases of bird strikes can be processed. Identification is crucial because it provides guidance on trends among species which can help in building avoidance programs. #birdstrikes #smithsonian #feathers #featheridentification #washingtondc #science #aviation #prevention #avian #usc #viterbi #uscaviation
