Friday, 21 October 2016

ADS-B CYBER SECURITY RISK

ADS-B CYBER SECURITY RISK

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last year highlighted long-known vulnerabilities in a new aircraft positioning communication system, ADS-B, and called for a working group to be set up to tackle them. Researchers like Haines have shown that ADS-B, a replacement for radar and other air traffic control systems, could allow a hacker to remotely give wrong or misleading information to pilots and air traffic controllers. And that's just the start. Aviation security consultant Butts said his company, QED Secure Solutions, had identified vulnerabilities in ADS-B components that could give an attacker access to critical parts of a plane. But since presenting his findings to vendors,
manufacturers and the industry's security community six months ago he's had little or no response. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," he says.
"The traditional Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) and Air
Traffic Management (ATM) systems were not designed to counter the threat of cyber-attacks," said Poole. "For example, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-
Broadcast (ADS-B) is an open, unencrypted technology whereby data, including aircraft ID, altitude, position, bearing, and speed, can be received by any airborne or ground-based receiver. This makes it vulnerable to spoofing and jamming. As it is unencrypted and lacks authentication, a cyber-attacker could inject false position data into the system, causing problems for air traffic control."

Extracts by: Robert Jere Omusonga, Director -International Institute of Aviation Safety & Technology. Profile: www.iiast.com/romusonga


A man who retired at 34 explains one bad savings habit that everyone should avoid

By Emmie Martin
In August, Brandon — better known as the Mad Fientist — retired at just 34 years old.
To get there, Brandon (who doesn't use his last name online for privacy reasons) chose to live frugally in rural Vermont, where he managed to save and invest about.
In 2014, Brandon and his wife —who has no interest in retiring early and keeps her finances largely separate from her husband's — moved to Scotland, where he continued to work for a few more years, eventually putting away enough to allow him to retire at 34.
"It's always been about 'financial independence' for me and not really 'early retirement,'" he told. "I never wanted to stop working, but rather I wanted to have the time and freedom to work on things that are important to me."
But his journey to financial independence taught him a valuable lesson: Saving isn't everything.
When an audience member asked Brandon and this panelists to share what kept them motivated on the path to financial independence during an episode of his "Financial Independence Podcast," he responded that instead of struggling to stick to his savings goals, he coped with putting away too much.
"[I] went so hardcore that I made myself really unhappy during the process," he says. "I just didn't want to do anything that involved spending money. I just wanted to get there as soon as possible."
While Brandon advocates financial independence, he stresses that anyone striving for early retirement should avoid becoming so obsessed with it that they isolate themselves.
"Focus on the power that you're getting along the way with all that money that you're saving up, and use that power to make your life a lot better along the way," he says. "Don't sacrifice happiness for that final number in the bank."
Early retirement is supposed to be freeing and empowering, not constricting. By avoiding anything that involved spending money, Brandon ended up dodging his friends and depriving himself of even the little things that brought him joy.

"One extra dollar in your bank account is not going to make you really happier," he warns.

15 Body Language Secrets of Successful People

By Dr. Travis Bradberry
Our bodies have a language of their own, and their words aren’t always kind. Your body language has likely become an integral part of who you are, to the point where you might not even think about it.
If that’s the case, it’s time to start, because you could be sabotaging your career.
Talent Smart has tested more than a million people and found that the upper echelons of top performance are filled with people who are high in emotional intelligence (90% of top performers, to be exact). These people know the power that unspoken signals have in communication and they monitor their own body language accordingly.
What follows are the 15 most common body language blunders that people make, and emotionally intelligent people are careful to avoid.
1. Slouching is a sign of disrespect. It communicates that you’re bored and have no desire to be where you are. You would never tell your boss, “I don’t understand why I have to listen to you,” but if you slouch, you don’t have to — your body says it for you, loud and clear.
The brain is hardwired to equate power with the amount of space people take up. Standing up straight with your shoulders back is a power position. It maximizes the amount of space you fill. Slouching, on the other hand, is the result of collapsing your form — it takes up less space and projects less power.
Maintaining good posture commands respect and promotes engagement from both ends of the conversation.
2. Exaggerated gestures can imply that you’re stretching the truth. Aim for small, controlled gestures to indicate leadership and confidence, and open gestures — like spreading your arms apart or showing the palms of your hands — to communicate that you have nothing to hide.
3. Watching the clock while talking to someone is a clear sign of disrespect, impatience, and inflated ego. It sends the message that you have better things to do than talk to the person you’re with, and that you’re anxious to leave them.
4. Turning yourself away from others, or not leaning into your conversation, portrays that you are unengaged, uninterested, uncomfortable, and perhaps even distrustful of the person speaking.
Try leaning in towards the person who is speaking and tilt your head slightly as you listen to them speak. This shows the person speaking that they have your complete focus and attention.
5. Crossed arms — and crossed legs, to some degree — are physical barriers that suggest you’re not open to what the other person is saying. Even if you’re smiling or engaged in a pleasant conversation, the other person may get a nagging sense that you’re shutting him or her out.
Even if folding your arms feels comfortable, resist the urge to do so if you want people to see you as open-minded and interested in what they have to say.
6. Inconsistency between your words and your facial expression causes people to sense that something isn’t right and they begin to suspect that you’re trying to deceive them, even if they don’t know exactly why or how.
For example, a nervous smile while rejecting an offer during a negotiation won’t help you get what you want; it will just make the other person feel uneasy about working with you because they’ll assume that you’re up to something.
7. Exaggerated nodding signals anxiety about approval. People may perceive your heavy nods as an attempt to show you agree with or understand something that you actually don’t.
8. Fidgeting with or fixing your hair signals that you’re anxious, over-energized, self-conscious, and distracted. People will perceive you as overly concerned with your physical appearance and not concerned enough with your career.
9. Avoiding eye contact makes it look like you have something to hide, and that arouses suspicion. Lack of eye contact can also indicate a lack of confidence and interest, which you never want to communicate in a business setting.
Looking down as you talk makes it seem like you lack confidence or are self-conscious, causing your words to lose their effect. It’s especially important to keep your eyes level if you’re making complicated or important points.
Sustained eye contact, on the other hand, communicates confidence, leadership, strength, and intelligence. While it is possible to be engaged without direct, constant eye contact, complete negligence will clearly have negative effects on your professional relationships.
10. Eye contact that’s too intense may be perceived as aggressive, or an attempt to dominate. On average, Americans hold eye contact for seven to ten seconds, longer when we’re listening than when we’re talking. The way we break contact sends a message, too. Glancing down communicates submission, while looking to the side projects confidence.
11. Rolling your eyes is a fail-proof way to communicate lack of respect. Fortunately, while it may be a habit, it’s voluntary. You can control it, and it’s worth the effort.
12. Scowling or having a generally unhappy expression sends the message that you’re upset by those around you, even if they have nothing to do with your mood. Scowls turn people away, as they feel judged.
Smiling, however, suggests that you’re open, trustworthy, confident, and friendly. MRI studies have shown that the human brain responds favorably to a person who’s smiling, and this leaves a lasting positive impression.
13. Weak handshakes signal that you lack authority and confidence, while a handshake that is too strong could be perceived as an aggressive attempt at domination, which is just as bad. Adapt your handshake to each person and situation, but make sure it’s always firm.
14. Clenched fists, much like crossed arms and legs, can signal that you’re not open to other people’s points. It can also make you look argumentative and defensive, which will make people nervous about interacting with you.

15. Getting too close.
 If you stand too close to someone (nearer than one and a half feet), it signals that you have no respect for or understanding of personal space. This will make people very uncomfortable when they’re around you.
Bringing It All Together
Avoiding these body language blunders will help you form stronger relationships, both professionally and personally.
Are there any other blunders I should add to this list? Please share your thoughts in the comments below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.


14 things successful people do over 3-day weekends

We're heading into a holiday weekend, and most successful people have planned out (or at least thought about) what they'll do over the next three days.
"Successful people recognize how important it is to take advantage of a long weekend to refuel their passions and recharge their batteries," says Michael Kerr, an international business speakerand author of "The Humor Advantage."
They work extra hard the days leading up to the three-day weekend in order to maximize their leisure time, adds Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."
They also compartmentalize any work-related tasks that slip into their three-day weekends, separating them from their coveted leisure time. "They know that if the two blend into each other, they'll likely feel cheated afterward," she says.
Planning ahead for a three-day weekend is important because you don't want to squander the relatively rare opportunity to decompress from the office.
Taylor explains: "These extended weekends are different from the regular weekend because you know you have extra time to relax, tie up loose ends personally, catch up with important people in your life, or get ahead on a project. And time is a nonrenewable resource. How you spend it should be consistent with what you need to accomplish short- and long-term to be content."
Not sure how to make the most of the next 72 hours? We've got some ideas.
Here are 14 things successful people do before and over three-day weekends:
1. They plan ahead
Many successful people plan out their activities for the holiday weekend well in advance so that they are not drawn into the temptation of working, Kerr says. They make reservations, book tee times, or schedule activities with their kids.
Taylor adds: "They're strategic enough to have an action plan for the three-day weekend, but flexible enough to tackle any urgent work issues that may arise."
2. They prepare at work
"Most of what they do happens before they leave for a long weekend so that they are psychologically free to relax and enjoy it," Kerr says.
This includes saying proper goodbyes to colleagues, cleaning up their office, finishing any pressing tasks, and creating a clear plan of action for when they return to the office so they can hit the ground running.
3. They set technology guidelines
Successful people set email and phone rules for themselves and the people they work with, so that people understand when, if at all, they will be available to respond or pick up.
"This can communicate to employees how critical it is for everyone to take a complete break, and that any and all work can wait," Kerr explains. "Although employees may assume this, they often need to hear it from their leader to be able to completely relax over a long weekend." 
4. They do a little bit of nothing
"With the breakneck pace of business all week long, many successful people do plan — but sometimes those plans include a little bit of nothing," Taylor says. "The workweek is about deadlines and meetings, so successful people enjoy having a block of time, or a day, to be uncommitted and unscheduled."
5. They spend time with family and friends
During the week, it's hard to give focused attention to those you care about. "A three-day weekend lets you schedule this critical quality time," Taylor says.
6. They volunteer
Many successful people find giving their time to worthy charitable groups or causes to be extremely rewarding.
7. They plan 'staycations' or quick weekend getaways
"Some successful people plan a mini vacation in their own backyard," Kerr says. "Staycations hold the appeal of still allowing for a complete mental break but without the added stress or planning involved in a trip somewhere away, wherein people run the risk of returning to work more exhausted than when they left."
Another good option: Taking a short trip to a destination that only an hour or two away. This is a great way to visit a new place, but doesn't require too much travel or planning.
8. They get outdoors and enjoy nature
A long weekend is the perfect time to get outside and breathe fresh air, especially after being relatively sequestered inside all week, Taylor explains.
It doesn't matter if it's January or July — take advantage of the great outdoors.
9. They exercise
Successful people understand how important exercise is to their physical and mental health — so they don't get lazy and skip their workouts over holiday weekends.
10. They engage in an activity that supports their passion
"This is a great time to unwind with your favorite pastime or hobby, whether it's shopping, golfing, socializing, reading, painting, or something else," Taylor says. Do the things that make you happy; the things you don't always have time for during the week or over a regular two-day weekend.
11. They don't think about work
This is a big challenge for a lot of us — but the most successful people don't stress about that upcoming presentation, or that missed deadline from the previous week. Instead, they focus on enjoying whatever it is they're doing now.
12. They recharge
We all need to rest and recharge our batteries from time to time. Successful people use three-day weekends to do this.
They do make plans and stay active — but they also make sure to catch up on sleep and schedule some free time at the end of the weekend to unwind.
13. They sometimes switch days off
Some successful people will take a different day off instead, and go in to work on the vacation day when they have the office to themselves and can get more work done without being distracted, Kerr explains.
"If you have the luxury of being able to do this it can be a double win — participating in personal activities when it's quieter and getting more work accomplished at the same time."
14. They think ahead

On the last night of long weekends, many successful people think about the short week ahead and key goals they need to accomplish, Taylor says. And they do this without stressing themselves out.

12 Things Successful People Do Every Friday

How you end your workweek will not only have a huge impact on how productive you are the following week, but also may determine how relaxed you are over the weekend.
"Successful people tend to adhere to routines in general, so it's no surprise that the most successful people I know maintain a Friday afternoon routine," says Michael Kerr, an international business speakerand author of "The Humor Advantage."
Here are 12 things successful people typically do on a Friday afternoon:
1. They reflect on their accomplishments from the week
It's far too easy to wallow over what you didn't accomplish, Kerr says. "Successful people tend to flip that around and remind themselves of just how much progress they did make, even if it's only 'small wins.'" Acknowledging and appreciating your accomplishments not only boosts your happiness levels, but it fuels momentum. "A great ritual for team leaders to create is to turn this into a Friday afternoon team huddle tradition, wherein everyone shares their top three accomplishments for the week," Kerr suggests.
2. They figure out their priorities for the following week
Successful people take time on Friday afternoon to reflect on their professional and personal lives and determine three to five major priorities they want to accomplish for each, says Laura Vanderkam, author of "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast" and "I Know How She Does It."
3. They establish a schedule and to-do list for the following week
They don't just prioritize; they plan, Vanderkam says. "If you assign each priority a deadline, things are likely to get done. You want to hit Monday morning knowing what you need to do, so you're not wasting that time figuring this out." Having a plan for Monday also results in a more relaxed weekend, she adds. "Your to-do list won't be nagging at your brain for two days."
4. They carve out downtime for the following week
Kerr says driven, successful people can easily fall into the workaholic trap and lose sight of "the long game," but they always prioritize and plan for downtime. "They think about how they can maintain their work-life balance the following week. They understand that for them to be at their best, to be most productive, and to accomplish everything they need to during the following week, they need to have some free time."
5 . They get organized
"Many successful people I know take 15 to 30 minutes every Friday afternoon to clean out and organize their email files and to clean and organize their office, so that they know they are returning to a fresh, organized start the following week," Kerr says. "Some find it therapeutic, as it can help clear the psychological clutter as well, and it has become a ritualistic way of capping the end of the week."
6. They look at their calendar for the coming week
There's nothing worse than walking into the office Monday morning only to find out you have a meeting starting in three minutes (or, three minutes ago). Take a second to look over your calendar to see what you have going on at the start of the following week.
7. They let people know how accessible they'll be that weekend
Successful people set technology ground rules before leaving, both with themselves and key people around them, Kerr says. They let their staff and coworkers know whether they plan to respond to emails or voice mails over the weekend, and if so, when.
8. They tie up loose ends
It's impossible to wrap up every project, conversation, decision, etc. on Friday afternoon. Some things will always have to seep into the following week. But successful people always finish and tie up loose ends on the things they can. It helps them go into the weekend without having unfinished to-do list items looming over them.
9. They think about their weekend plans
Vanderkam says if you don't already have weekend plans by Friday afternoon, you should take some time to think about what you'd like to do. Perhaps you've been dying to try that new restaurant; you really want to spend time with your kids at the park; or you have errands you've been putting off. Take a few minutes, before it's too late, to make reservations, check the weather, find a babysitter, etc.
"You don't have to plan every minute, but having a few things you know you'll enjoy means you're ready for a weekend of real rejuvenation," she says.
10. They plan a fun Friday activity
Some successful people have a fun ritual that helps them create a definitive divide between their workweek and weekend. "It may be an afternoon cocktail with a group of friends, an hour of volunteer work, or a regularly scheduled gym workout or game of tennis," Kerr explains. "What's key is that it be something they look forward to, so they view it as a reward for reaching the end of the week, and that it's something that gives them a complete mental shift."
11. They acknowledge others' accomplishments and hard work
"One leader I know uses Friday afternoons to either phone or drop by employees' offices in person to thank them for the work they did during the week," Kerr says. "She says doing it on Friday afternoon not only helps her employees go home feeling appreciated, happier, and more relaxed, but it also helps her feel better and happier, as well."
12. They say goodbye to people around the office
A simple, "have a nice weekend" can go a long way. "This is especially important for leaders to do, and especially important on a Friday afternoon to give both yourself and the people you work with a sense of closure to the week and a chance to connect, if even briefly, before everyone departs," Kerr says.

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

The link between Safety Management Systems SMS and Human Factors HF

The link between Safety Management Systems SMS and Human Factors HF
Published on October 12, 2016
One way of looking at the relationship is to consider that SMS puts the flesh on the HF Skeleton. A strong organizational SMS system can deliver not just added safety but added value too.
It is early days in the evolution of the implemented SMS systems so significant data is not in abundance, however that SMS works and has a bearing on Human Factor behaviour is shown by looking at the Accident statistics for 2012 which was the safest year on record relative to the size of aviation business activities.
It is a fundamental wish of all businesses to operate effectively and to receive an acceptable return on the underlying investment.
Whilst for more “Tangible” expenditures it is relatively straight forward to develop business models that show what is happening with the finances, when we turn our attention to Human Factors and Safety Management Systems, it becomes considerably more difficult to develop measures to show direct gain.
However it should be understood that it is of paramount importance to develop effective systems to show exactly the financial benefits, otherwise we directly impact the challenge of raising internal funding for the changes needed to promote positive HF related behaviours within the Organizations SMS system.
So we need to understand the costs which the business incurs on a routine basis and use these costs to develop a set of values which we can use to show the benefits to the Return on Investment ROI by changes which are driven by SMS and HF organizational processes.
Discuss these issues with your company accountant who has the responsibility for the financial modeling to see how this can be developed specifically in the best way for the organization.
If we can develop effective metrics including financial KPI’s we are making steps in the right direction which will only serve s a positive effect on the business over time.
Consider that this area is also to be considered with the core competencies of the Safety Manager and that as in all Competency oversight systems, a gap or shortfall generates a training needs analysis.

In a proactive SMS system where the risks are to be reduced to a level which is as low as reasonably practical ALARP then we have to face the fact that safety too has a cost. The more we are able to quantify the benefits in an effective way the stronger the business case for change.

3 Reasons Why Companies NEED Employees on Social Media

3 Reasons Why Companies NEED Employees on Social Media

1. It can help you weed out disengaged employees.
When you encourage your company to engage on social media, you’ll quickly (and clearly) see which employees are sharing company stories with their social following, and which ones aren’t.
“It could be a red flag that they are potentially unhappy in their job,” wrote LinkedIn Influencer J.T. O’Donnell.“Which means, it’s a chance for you and your management team to find out why.”
2. It can improve your employee referral program.
People are always more motivated to do something when there is an incentive. Reward the employees who passionately promote and brag about company to their friends by making it easier for them to get referral credit.
“One way to make it work better is to give employees a way to share referral links and get credit for promoting your company on their social channels,” said O’Donnell.
3. It will remind employees why you’re a good employer.

Having access to great stories about your Talent Brand not only gives employees a reason to brag, but it also reminds them what makes their company such a great place to work. That means, this strategy not only attracts new talent to your company, but it also helps retain the talent you already have – Sounds like a win-win to me!