FAAST Blast — Week of November 27 – December 3, 2023
Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
FAA Takes Actions to Address Independent Safety Review Team’s Recommendations
The FAA is taking immediate action to enhance air traffic controller training and safety reporting following the release of the National Airspace System Safety Review Team report.
The independent safety review team completed a thorough assessment and presented its recommendations on enhancing safety and reliability in the nation’s air traffic system. The team examined the FAA’s internal safety processes, staffing levels and practices, as well as needs for facilities and equipment and how the agency’s air traffic budget is funded. The FAA commissioned the panel of aviation experts following the agency’s Safety Summit in March.
The FAA is taking immediate action on the following items:
- Provide additional support to colleges and universities in the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program. The FAA will work with AT-CTI programs to ensure that graduates from these programs have the necessary skills to begin on-the-job training at a facility. Graduates must still pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam and meet medical and security requirements. Previously, these graduates were required to attend the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy prior to being assigned to a facility.
- Announced a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers from the military and private industry.
- Keep filling every seat at the FAA Academy and increase classroom capacity beyond current limits.
- Expand the use of advanced training across the country. The agency has new facilities in Chicago and San Diego and will be adding them in Nashua and Phoenix in the spring.
- Finish deploying tower simulator systems in 95 facilities by December 2025. The FAA will deploy the first system in Austin by January 2024.
- To strengthen our safety culture, provide reports from the Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service to the FAA Administrator and Aviation Safety Associate Administrator.
View the full report and get additional information at faa.gov/newsroom/faa-takes-actions-address-independent-safety-review-teams-recommendations.
New Podcast Highlights Diversity in Aviation
Witnessing someone similar to you achieving what you dream of for yourself can be a powerful inspiration — especially for young people. It can make your ambitions look possible and open the gateway for opportunities to engage in an exciting industry, like aerospace. The latest podcast from the FAA’s The Air Up There shares one person’s journey into the world of aviation as part of an underrepresented community and is now influencing the lives of young individuals in similar communities through impactful experiences like discovery flights.
Check out this episode, “Fly For The Culture” and previous podcasts here: faa.gov/podcasts/the_air_up_there.
Ensuring Your Well-being Near Wind Turbines
Wind turbine technology can do wonders for our ability to harness renewable energy, but it also introduces some unique challenges for the aviation industry. With more than 72,000 wind turbines throughout the U.S., it’s more important than ever for pilots to be aware of how they’re marked, lighted, and charted. Learn more about how to safely avoid encounters and play an active role in the wind turbine evaluation process in the article “The Winds of Change” at medium.com/faa/the-winds-of-change-b49520f350ed in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of FAA Safety Briefing. See the entire winter-themed issue at www.faa.gov/safety_briefing.
Produced by the FAA Safety Briefing editors: www.faa.gov/safety_briefing
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