Southern California Safety Institute or University of SC

[pcw_phoenix]

Hi all,

I'm pondering weather to take the Aircraft Accident Investigation course at Southern California Safety Institute or at University of Southern California.

Can anyone tell me which is more reputable? or recognized here in Canada?

Thanks

[Gino Under]

They are one and the same.
Their courses are recognized worldwide. I completed their Aviation Safety Program Management certification when the safety faculty was part of USC. it is now it's own Institute but I believe it remains on the USC campus.
Good luck.

Gino

[JigglyBus]

No. They are completely different organizations.

I'm 50/50 on the choice between the two.

[JL]

My experience with these type of continuing education courses is that it depends on who is instructing. I would contact the registrars and get a good idea of who may be instructing on the course. A basic accident course covers a wide range of topics and there typically would be more than 2 instructors. The other thing to consider is what your goals are. Will you actually be investigating an occurrence as part of a 705 SMS program or are you more of an outsider that is looking for some education on how the process is done? I would also ask what their practical or "wreckage lab" consists of. Is there a pile of crap in the corner that you stand around and look at or is there some meaningful exercise associated. Bottom line, get on the horn/email and start asking questions before you drop several thousand dollars.

[vcollazo]

When the US Air Force sent me to flight safety officer/accident investigation school it was run in partnership with USC.

[the goal is soul]

I can't speak to the SCSI vs USC issue, but I did take a USC course a few months ago. I was really impressed.

Course was right at LAX at their 'campus' there; it was a short one so that made it convenient. I second JL's comment about the value of the course being tightly tied to who is teaching it. I was really impressed with the instructors they had lined up there. Again, I only took one course, but some of the others there were part-way through or finishing the program and talked about having guys like Sullenburger and John Cox teach some of their courses. Lots of experience and credibility with what they were teaching.

Most of those in the course I was in were working their way through the program, which their company/org was sponsoring. Some safety analysts from Southwest and United, some Boeing people, airlines from Japan and Mexico, and there was a good contingent from US Customs & Border Protection & FBI there.






I would recommend any of their courses based on the experience that I had, especially so if your company is footing the bill. Actually, it made me wonder why we don't have a program of this calibre available in Canada.


Best of Luck.

[JL]

A big component to SCSI's success (they are different than USC) is their location. I think they have some good instructors/courses too. It's not hard to convince people to come to southern California; whether you are from elsewhere in the US, Canada or abroad. It makes an easy excuse to bring the family too. They can see the sights while you toil away on course. Some other alternatives for accident investigation courses are the NTSB, FAA and Embry Riddle. The ultimate course is the 6 week one given by Cranfield University in the UK.