In this episode of Ground Control to Major Nerds, we take a pause to reflect on the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London (June 12), a heartbreaking reminder of why aviation safety must never be taken for granted.From there, we dive deep into the systems, protocols, and engineering philosophies that keep modern aviation safe. We break down the standards behind aircraft design, the role of systems engineering, the science of testing and validation, and how safety influences everything — from redundancies in aircraft to the financial decisions made by airlines and manufacturers.This episode isn’t just technical — it’s human. Because at the core of every aircraft are lives depending on it. And safety? That’s the foundation of flight.💡 Key Takeaways:Safety is the backbone of the aviation industry — not a feature, but a foundation.Redundancy and lifecycle design help prevent single points of failure.Failures may happen, but disaster must be engineered out through systems thinking.Financial investment in safety pays off — not just in lives saved, but in public trust.Every system is tested, regulated, and reviewed — because trust in aviation is earned, not assumed.Culture matters — a safety culture must be embedded in every team, every decision.📚 Topics Covered:Tragic Air India 171 crash and lessons in humilityAviation safety standards and regulatory frameworksSystems engineering and built-in safety logicAircraft testing, validation, and certificationRedundancy, fail-safes, and life-limited partsDrone tech safety parallelsFinancial and operational implications of safety investmentsWhy safety drives innovation in aviation technology🧭 Chapter Breakdown:00:00 – Reflecting on the Air India 171 Crash (Ahmedabad to London, June 12)03:15 – What Aviation Safety Really Means06:51 – Systems Engineering: The Brain of Aircraft Safety13:56 – Designing Safety: Protocols and Logic18:41 – How Testing and Validation Save Lives33:42 – What Are Airworthiness Directives and DOs?35:17 – Safety Standards in Drone and Aerospace Tech39:35 – Safety as a Culture, Not a Checklist42:40 – Lifecycle Engineering & Long-Term Safety46:07 – Redundancy: The Hidden Hero in Every Flight58:04 – Why Airlines Must Invest in Safety1:14:05 – A Collective Responsibility: Engineers, Pilots, Passengers