Facundo Conforti
More than a century has passed since humans conquered the sky. Like any conquest, it required assuming countless risks to achieve it. Once achieved, the process of consolidation begins, along with stabilization. Time and hard work are what allow this stabilization to be secure.Just like in every human conquest, this process has not escaped the chronological logic of growth. Of course, aviation is not exempt from this developmental mechanism of conquests. Unfortunately, for this industry, the process of growth comes with the loss of lives.After more than a century of conquest, it could be said that the aviation industry is in the stabilization phase, achieving established, reliable, and sustainable safety standards. If we have reached this stage, it is the result of work, research, study, and the construction of what we now know as a safety culture.The conquest of the sky and safe aviation require constant actions to maintain and increase the levels of safety that have been achieved. That is why this work highlights the most significant aspects of the development of concepts and techniques that have served, served, and will continue to serve flight crews in maintaining and improving the mentioned standards.Just like the scientific and social evolution of humanity, great lessons have been learned from the mistakes made. Therefore, some of the most serious aviation accidents have been analyzed to provide didactic and useful messages for the strengthening of operational safety.We acknowledge all those who, with their effort and knowledge, have generated lessons from these catastrophes. It is our intention that these pages can be useful in the daily flight activity and serve as a tool for raising awareness, assistance, and strengthening of safety. 10
