Marc St-Laurent

Areas of expertise

• Air Transport Safety & Investigation
• Human Factors

Background

I have joined the Cranfield Safety & Accident Investigation Centre as Lecturer in January 2023.

I am originally from Quebec City, Canada. I started flying in 1974 and initially worked as instructor on gliders (1976) and then pilot on fixed and rotary-winged aircraft (1979), in Canada and in Africa (Sudan and Madagascar).

In 1988, I joined the CASB/TSBC first as regional air accident investigator in Montreal, Canada, then as Confidential Safety Reporting Program Officer in the Hull Head Office, and finally as Investigator OPS with the TSBC Investigation Audit and Review section (1992).

In 1997, I joined Transport Canada as Chief, Safety for the Aircraft Services Directorate in Ottawa, managing the safety program for a fleet of 85 fixed and rotary-winged aircraft at 15 bases across Canada, including shipborne aircraft for the Canadian Coast Guard and Arctic Ice Survey Patrol aircraft.

In 2006, I joined Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, China, as Airline Safety Manager - Investigations, being the lead investigator for all the airline's disciplines and the company representative with State Investigation Authorities and collaborating in the continuous development of the company SMS program.

At various times during my career, I also had the opportunity of working as expert consultant for ICAO on AIG/Annex 13 and other capacity-building missions in Sierra Leone (1991 - AIG), Syria (2003 - AIG), and with the ICAO NACC Regional Office in Mexico City, Mexico, (2018-19, AIG/RAIO, Annex 19 SMS/SSP).

I am fluent in French (native) and in English (2nd language), and have held ATPL (Helicopter) and CPL (Airplane) and Glider Pilot Licences, with various qualifications (Multi, Land/Sea, Instrument, Aerobatics, Instructor).

My principal areas of interest include Accident Prevention and Investigations, Safety and Risk Management, and Human and Organisational Factors, relevant to Aviation and other Transportation Modes.

Current activities

I currently lecture and look after Safety and Accident Investigation CPD short courses, and support SATM other courses and programs.