About Us
Our mission
Saving Lives
There is a difference between surviving and thriving, and this is where many consulting firms would describe how they are here to help you thrive.
At Volant Systems, we do things a little differently. We're here to help you survive first. Our first mission is to save lives. Pilots that have gone through our training programs have told us how our approach has not just helped them through a crisis in the air, but how they've used it outside the organization to self-rescue.
Managing Risks
We recognize that risk is not limited to physical harm. Risk is not departing on time. Risk is having too many new pilots wash out of a training program. Risk is unnecessary costs. Our RRM model is capable of addressing risk from any direction.
Improving Performance
We use the Capability Maturity Model to evaluate your current processes, determining strengths to build on and weaknesses to shore up. Whatever level of efficacy you want to bring your organization too, we can help. Our IDCAT software is a powerful tool for setting up a systems of constant improvement.
Our team
Our team of subject matter experts are passionate professionals with industry experience. They represent a broad spectrum of specialties across the aviation industry from aviation professional training to regulatory compliance. This gives us the ability to assemble the best team to address your unique needs, whatever they may be.
Our history
Beginning in 1997, our founder KD Van Drie, started incorporating insights gleaned about pilot and crew behavior from simulator training. Not much later universities with PhD programs would call this field "Human Factors".
In 2007, KD founded Volant Systems to bring her Risk and Resource Management Model to the world of aviation. Since then we have worked with multiple branches of the military, mainline and regional airlines, and much more.
Our Methods
From our founding we have incorporated the latest in Human Factors and decision making research into our proprietary Risk and Resource Management model. The RRM model is an intuitive tool that works at any level of an organization and with any number of people. Using RRM we can align organizational goals with daily activities, reduce organizational risk, and get everyone speaking the same language about risk and opportunity.
The Integrated Data Collection and Analysis Tool, IDCAT, is our own software. The IDCAT is a web-based application used to evaluate individuals, determine training efficacy, and incorporate the resulting feedback with customizable forms. Output from IDCAT can be exported to Tableau for internal evaluation purposes or de-identified and used to create AQP compliant reports for the FAA.
Each of these is a powerful tool in its own right, but together they are more effective than the sum of their parts. We look forward to working with you to determine the right combination of experts, risk management, and software to reach your goals.
Client Success Stories
USMC
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
We cut our teeth with the USMC's Osprey program. Working with the warfighters, we designed a Risk and Resource Management curriculum to evolve a culture of crew safety.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Our work with Southwest Airlines has been ongoing as we support their AQP training efforts with the powerful combination of our Risk and Resource Management Model and IDCAT software.
VolaR
Southwest Airlines
VolaR
We are proud to work with VolaR and support their mission in introducing aviation to high school students.
New Book Incoming
Get on our mailing list to be alerted when our book for new pilots drops in Spring 2023