Hendricks Says Shift Will Yield Positive Impacts On The Industry

In a speech this week, FAA Michael Huerta discussed the agency’s next step in its Risk-Based Decision Making called the Compliance Philosophy.

In a statement release to the media, NATA president and CEO Thomas Hendricks (pictured) praised the announcement by the administrator.

"The value of improving safety performance through voluntary safety reporting systems is now widely recognized throughout industry," Hendricks said. "These systems yield significantly positive impacts to aviation safety by enabling the proactive identification of potential safety risks and hazards. Aviation operators have long realized that a focus on compliance is a far more effective way of improving safety rather than solely relying on an enforcement regimen. The FAA now fully recognizes the value of safety reporting systems and the data it generates to improving safety.

"Initiatives like the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) are strengthened by the agency’s commitment to this new path. While the transition will likely take years to fully mature, Administrator Huerta’s personal advocacy sends a strong message of agency commitment to this important policy change. As Administrator Huerta noted, the effectiveness of this change requires an open and transparent exchange of information and data between the FAA and the aviation community. NATA fully supports this initiative and will continue to work with the agency to fully realize the benefits of this important policy change.”

(Source: NATA news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.nata.aero