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The FAA is taking action to improve air traffic controller training and safety reporting after the National Airspace System Safety Review Team released its report. The NAS Review team completed a thorough assessment and presented recommendations to the agency to enhance safety and reliability in the nation's air traffic system and the FAA said it is taking immediate action.
"Aviation is safe because we are continuously looking for ways to improve," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. "The independent safety review team made some excellent recommendations and we are adopting some of them immediately."RELATED STORIES:FAA forms independent safety review teamFAA panelists say complacency jeopardizes aviation safety
The team examined the FAA's internal safety processes, staffing levels and practices, the needs for facilities and equipment and how the FAA's air traffic budget is funded. After completing the assessment, the team presented its recommendations to the FAA this week. The FAA had commissioned the panel of aviation experts after the Safety Summit in March. Members came from all over the industry, from NASA to the NTSB.
The panel consisted of retired Marine Corps Major General and former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr.; Capt. Tim Canoll, who spent decades as a U.S. Navy Pilot, Delta Air Lines Pilot and served as ALPA President and chief executive and administrative officer; International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Association Executive VP of America Patricia Gilbert; veteran of the aerospace industry David Grizzle, who held roles in the FAA and as COO of the Air Traffic Organization; aviation and aerospace consultant and former FAA Administrator Michael Huerta; and Robert L. Sumwalt, the Executive Director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.The team spoke with representatives of labor groups, passenger and cargo carriers, the business and GA community and industry groups, utilizing insights and perspectives to facilitate a comprehensive analysis. The Safety Review Team found significant challenges imposing a risk in the NAS and issued recommendations to address the areas of process integrity, staffing, facilities, equipment and technology. Recommendations were also made to note inadequate and inconsistent funding due to its importance and necessity to affect change. Stakeholders across the industry are dedicated to maintaining the safety of the NAS and the continuance in doing so is dependent on numerous factors."The confluence of the issues we identified results in an erosion of safety margins that must be urgently addressed," the SRT said.
The report indicated several challenges faced by the industry, along with a recommendation to the FAA on how to address each major concern.
Process Integrity: Bolstering FAA organizational structures, institutionalizing roles and responsibilities and pushing a proactive and data-oriented safety culture across the industry.
Staffing: Being accurate in the projection and investment into hiring, training and certification of the aviation workforce.
Facilities, Equipment and Technology: Sustaining and modernizing NAS infrastructure and investing in technology to boost safety and efficiency.
Funding: Properly and consistently funding and authorizing the FAA to facilitate the provision and safety oversight of 24/7, 365-day-a-year operations.
Based on these recommendations, the FAA is taking immediate action to improve safety in the NAS. The agency will provide additional support to colleges and universities in the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative Program. The FAA will work with these programs, ensuring the graduates have the skills required to begin on-the-job training at a facility. These graduates are still required to pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment exam and meet medical and security requirements. Previously these graduates were required to attend the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy before they were assigned to a facility. The agency has also announced a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers from the military and private industry.
The FAA plans to fill every seat at the FAA Academy and increase the classroom capacity beyond the current limitations. The agency will broaden the use of advanced training nationwide, adding new facilities in Nashua, New Hampshire and Phoenix in the Spring, along with the new facilities in Chicago and San Diego. The FAA hopes to deploy tower simulator systems in 95 facilities by December 2025, deploying the first system in Austin by January 2024. To fortify its safety culture, the FAA will provide reports from the Air Traffic Oversight Service to the FAA Administrator and the Aviation Safety Associate Administrator.RELATED STORIES:FAA announces next series of runway safety meetingsSenate unanimously confirms FAA administrator after 19 month vacancyShort-term funding bill extends FAA authorizationBipartisan Infrastructure Law awards $200m to light the way to runway safetyFAA awards another $121m, calls for runway safety meetings to reduce risk of close callsFAA launches 'Stand Up for Safety' campaign for controllers
The committee was formed after the FAA led a Safety Summit in the wake of the first nationwide groundstop since 9/11 when the NOTAM system went down, leading to heavy public scrutiny over the state of safety in aviation and its outdated technology. There has also been a rise in runway incursions and incidents, drawing national attention and leading to several initiatives and changes to reduce the number of close calls to zero. The FAA formed the SRT as well as launched a Stand Up for Safety campaign for controllers to provide mandatory monthly special emphasis training. The FAA has awarded hundreds of millions in funding to airports across the country to replace confusing taxiways, develop infrastructure, install runway lights and implement safety technology and systems.
Whitaker was confirmed on Oct. 24 after the FAA spent 572 days without a permanent leader. The FAA's reauthorization was up at the end of September but a bill was passed to extend its authority and funding until the end of the year, giving lawmakers more time to discuss the inclusions in the reauthorization bill. Now, after 19 months, the FAA has a permanent leader, lending some stability to the agency. With programs and initiatives like the SRT, the FAA is continually working to improve the safety of aviation nationwide.