Repeats FAA Mantra That Results Are Cloudy At Best

On Monday, the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade and lobbying organization for several major US airlines, issued the following statement regarding the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) release of the National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (NAOMS) study.

"The United States has the safest air transportation system in the world, in large part due to the absolute commitment by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the airline industry to safety, including the proactive use of safety data and analysis," said ATA President and Chief Executive Officer James C. May. "While we appreciate any insight that might be derived from the NASA study, as the FAA noted, the study was not designed to capture real-time, verifiable data. As such, it is important that the report be viewed in that context."

May pointedly added the ATA believes the FAA and industry's approach -- which, he asserts, involves using real and timely reported data -- provides more meaningful, actionable information to advance aviation safety.

"The ultimate enhancement to the safety of air travelers will come with a next generation air transportation system," said May.

FMI: www.airlines.org