Agency Says Findings Validate Overall Approach To Safety
No doubt that most of us would be
quite content to earn a 99 percent approval rating on nearly any
test... but is that a passing grade for airline safety? The FAA
says yes... mostly.
On Wednesday, FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell announced
initial results to a massive safety audit now underway at major US
airlines. According to Sturgell, initial findings reveal 99 percent
airline compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs).
As ANN reported, the agency
announced the unprecedented audit on the heels of revelations
Southwest Airlines continued flying some of its older 737s past
mandatory deadlines for fatigue inspections... and that FAA
inspectors, perhaps a bit too comfortable in their relationships
with the airline they were tasked with overseeing, allegedly let
them do it.
To ward off any suggestion of future impropriety, Sturgell also
announced internal plans to (1) enable inspectors to raise their
concerns quickly and at a higher level, (2) toughen ethical
standards for inspectors to prevent conflicts of interest, (3)
enhance airline safety by improving the clarity and coordination of
directives issued by the FAA to air carriers, (4) require reporting
of voluntary disclosures to be made by senior airline officials,
and (5) speed up the expansion of our comprehensive aviation safety
database.
"We are currently experiencing the safest period in aviation
history," Sturgell said. "That’s not chance. It’s not a
miracle. It’s the result of an entire industry making safety
its driving focus. However, we have found ways to increase the
accountability of all parties -- the FAA included -- and strengthen
both the reporting role and the regulatory process."
Actions announced Wednesday include:
-
Development of the Safety Issues
Reporting System (SIRS) to be implemented by April 30, 2008, which
will provide employees an additional mechanism to raise safety
concerns if they feel they are not receiving the necessary airing
or response from supervisory and management personnel. This is in
addition to existing channels, including the Administrator’s
Hotline and the Safety Hotline;
- By June 30, the FAA will initiate a rulemaking project to
address ethics policies that enhance inspector post-employment
restrictions, bringing them in line with or exceeding existing
restrictions for other federal employees. Currently, FAA prohibits
new inspectors who are hired from an airline from overseeing that
airline for a period of two years;
- The Aviation Safety Organization is working with the
manufacturers and air carriers to develop a system to improve the
clarity of ADs to ensure effective implementation by the
industry;
- Requiring that reports detailing compliance deviations under
the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program are submitted by senior
airline officials such as the Director of Safety, the Director of
Operations or the Director of Maintenance, to ensure there is
awareness and sensitivity at the highest level; and
- Accelerating the expansion of the Aviation Safety and Analysis
Sharing Program. With all 117 carriers participating in the Air
Transportation and Oversight System (ATOS), the expansion will
provide a new blend of data that will afford an additional look at
nationwide trends.
From March 13, 2008 to March 28, 2008, FAA aviation safety
inspectors sampled compliance with 10 ADs for each fleet at each
air carrier. Inspectors reviewed directives at all 117 air carriers
which included 42 aircraft makes and models. The inspectors
questioned compliance in 34 cases.
In seven cases, the carrier had not complied with the AD and
appropriate action was taken before the aircraft operated. In 14
cases, airlines were able to present additional evidence to
establish that they had completed the work required by the AD. In
six cases, the aircraft were out of service and were not required
to meet the AD. They will be brought into compliance before they
can be operated. In five audits the air carrier performed work that
was different from the AD, but the substitute work was approved as
an alternate means of compliance.
Over the past two weeks, inspectors validated that air carrier
work instructions correctly described the method of compliance
contained in the AD and reviewed the complete work package on at
least one aircraft. During the audit’s second phase,
inspectors will complete a sample of 10 percent of the ADs that
pertain to each fleet of airplanes at the air carriers they oversee
by June 30.
"The results show that our overall program is working and
delivering incredibly high levels of compliance and record levels
of safety," Sturgell concluded. "These new action items provide new
tracking mechanisms and avenues for communication that will be
vital additions to the data-driven system."