Five Of Six Are Listed Red, For "Unacceptable"

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark V. Rosenker told Congress Wednesday he was disappointed at the number of recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration on the Board's Most Wanted List that are in an unacceptable action status.

Testifying before the Subcommittee on Aviation of the US House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Chairman Rosenker noted that, of the six items before the FAA from the Board's Most Wanted List, five of them have been color-coded Red, for Unacceptable Response.

These deal with reducing dangers to aircraft flying in icing conditions, preventing runway incursions, improving audio and data recorders and requiring video recorders on aircraft, reducing accidents caused by human fatigue, and improving crew resource management for Part 135 (air taxi) operations.

The sixth item, eliminating flammable fuel/air vapors in fuel tanks of transport category aircraft, has been given a Yellow color code, meaning that the FAA's response is acceptable but progressing slowly.

The Safety Board's Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements was devised in 1990 as an additional way for the NTSB to focus attention on a group of safety recommendations selected for intensive follow-up.

In addition to the recommendations to the FAA, the list includes recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the US Department of Transportation and the US Coast Guard. It also includes a series of recommendations to State governments dealing with highway and boating safety.

Rosenker conceded items on the list tend to be those that are among the most complex and difficult to implement. However, he concluded, "while the FAA has made some progress, I am disappointed that there are so many recommendations on this list that are in an unacceptable status."

FMI: See The List