Together, we can implement aviation safety improvements far more quickly and effectively

While in St. Louis on Friday to address the Regional Business Council and talk with editors at the Post-Dispatch, I greeted attendees at an aviation safety forum convened by Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt.

This was the tenth session conducted since Randy and I issued a call to action in June, the tenth time we have brought the FAA, the carriers, and the unions together to have candid, meaningful discussions about the safety challenges we're facing. I’m very pleased with the quality of these discussions so far. We’ve listened-–and we’ve learned. We’ve heard a lot of good ideas about improving professional standards and flight discipline.

And I’m confident that these meetings will produce constructive, results-oriented policies and practices that the industry can implement in a timely manner.

Here are three items on our agenda:

1. Pilot fatigue: A committee of FAA, industry, and labor folks working on this issue have until the end of August to come up with a proposed rule describing new flight time and rest rules reflecting the best available science;
2. Pilot training: We want to see a greater use of cockpit simulation technology and closer supervision, among other changes; and
3. Pilot performance: We’re asking airlines to track pilots with performance problems and offer them additional training.

Companies that fail to comply with the voluntary measures we implement can count on greater FAA scrutiny.

In addition, Congress has proposed three key legislative provisions in the FAA reauthorization bill that will affect safety culture and operations:

1. A requirement that air carriers more thoroughly examine FAA pilot records before hiring.
2. Major carriers would be required to analyze the safety information contained in flight data recorders on individual aircraft.
3. Pilots would be required to disclose safety problems as part of their Aviation Safety Action Program.

Now, these are all programs we've already asked companies to comply with voluntarily, so companies on board with FAA have had an opportunity to make the investments and changes necessary to meet these potential mandates.

I have said before that DOT has no greater obligation than to ensure safety.

But participants in these call-to-action sessions understand that this important obligation clearly extends to the entire aviation community. As Administrator Babbitt told the Senate in June, "This is a business where one mistake is one too many."

The flying public is counting on us to keep them safe. We must not let them down.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

I also need to fly from time to time, and safety is a major concern. I am glad you and the FAA are on top of things. One thing that could improve the flight simulation process and make it more real is to fit some commercial planes out with identical pilots controls--one for the pilot being tested and one for the pilot doing the evaluation and maybe include cameras to gauge the actions of the piolt being tested. This would have benefits over small check plane flights and ground based computer simulation because the simulation aircraft would be a modified passenger jet, making the simulation much more real. Flight crews should also need to pass physicals on a yearly or so basis. When I was coming home from Sacramento in June, one deadhead pilot who got on the plane before mine must have weighed 300 pounds or so. That is not healthy for anyone but especially not for a pilot. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Michael Flannelly]

Michael,

I too am happy to see the FAA moving forward with safety issues. I must also say I am more pleased with the manner in which they are. The spirit of cooperation, at least in my eyes, seems much greater then in times past creating a venue and willingness on both industry and government to work together to meet everyone’s goals. I say keep up the good work.

As for the simulators I would like you know that the aviation industry in conjunction with the FAA, have created systems where pilots gain incredible experience that otherwise they would not be able to. In flight training can only simulate a limited number of circumstances without undo danger. Additionally the simulators are a great cost saver to the industry contributing to lower fares.

Pilots are required to hold a medical certificate that is renewed regularly. (Airline pilots must go every six months.) This will never completely eliminate the possibility of a medical event in the cockpit; however the occurrences are very rare and one of the reasons additional crew are always ready to fly the aircraft.

-Mike

[air jordans]

What you said makes sense, I like