According to Alexander and Rodrigues (2004), the NTSB measures aviation safety in commercial passenger transportation in the following methods:
ACCIDENTS - an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and the time all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person (occupant or nonoccupant) suffers a fatal or serious injury or the aircraft receives substantial damage.
FATAL INJURY - any injury that results in death within 30 days of the accident.
SERIOUS INJURY - any injury that requires hospitalization for more than 48 hrs, results in bone fracture, or involves internal organs or burns.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE - damage or failure that adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft and that would normally require major repiar or replacement of the affected component
INCIDENT - an occurrence other than an accident associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of operations
MAJOR ACCIDENT - an accident in which a Part 121 aircraft was destroyed, or there were multiple fatalities, or there was 1 fatality and a Part 121 aircraft was substantially damaged.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT - an accident in which there was 1 fatality without substantial damage to a Part 121 aircraft, or there was at least 1 serious injurt and a Part 121 aircraft was substantially damaged.
INJURY - a nonfatal accident with at least 1 serious injury without substantial damage to a Part 121 aircraft
DAMAGE - an accident in which no person was killed or seriously injured, but in which any aircraft was substantially damaged.
The FAA has three organizations that collect and maintain safety-related data. They are the Associate Administrator for Aviation Standards, the Associate Administrator for Air Traffic, and the Office of Aviation Safety.
Associate Administrator for Aviation Standards is a group of offices that work together to, "collect and review large quantities of data, as well as certificate aircraft, aircrew, and airlines; oversee and enforce FAR; and investigate aircraft accidents and incidents" (Alexander &Rodrigues, 2004, p. 78). There are four database systems that are used to maintain the information:
FAA Accident Incident Data System (AIDS) - is a database that collects records from 1978 to the present and holds approximately 10,000 reports
Per www.FAA.gov, the FAA Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS) database can be used to:
- browse FAA's aviation incident information
- count aircraft involved in FAA's aviation incidents
- select FAA's incident reports based on:
- user supplied words or phrases
- user selected criteria, including:report numbers, date
range, state, aircraft registration number, aircraft make and model #, operator/airline (Part 121 only), type of operation, and airport identification
Enforcement Information System (EIS) is the database where all documentation for any enforcement case is kept regarding airlines, pilots, and mechanics
- data can be viewed as far back as 1963, but only on cases that are in closed status
- violation categories include: maintenance, hazardous materials, security, medical, drug testing, flight operations, aircraft alterations, training and near mid-air collisions
Service Difficulty Reporting System is the database where records of component and mechanical reliability are stored
- contains records for 10+ years
- most useful for detecting short term safety problems
- is required in the Part 121 and 135 sectors, but is becoming popular for those is general aviation to get a better history of service and issues
Air Operator Data System provides information regarding certain air carrier operating practices
- allows for a look at aviation practices within individual carriers or a complete picture of the industry
- there is no requirement for air carriers to report information to the FAA
Aviation Analysis System is an array of databases that fall into four categories: airworthiness data, regulatory data, operational data, and organizational information
Alexander and Rodrigues (2004) states:
Airwothiness data are mainly historical information on aircraft, such as mandatory modifications specified by the FAA
Regulatory data consist of background information, such as Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, legal opinions, and previous regulations
Operational data consist of track aircrew, aircraft, and operators along with accidents, incidents, mechanical reliability reports, and enforcement actions
Organizational data include the work management subsystems to monitor Aviation Standards tasks, such as airline inspections
Associate Administrator for Air Traffic is responsible for the management of information including: air traffic levels, national airspace system status, system errors, controller errors, etc...
Near Midair Collisions System Database (NMACS) is an incident that occurs when aircraft are less than 500 feet from eachother or when a collision hazard is reported
- all reports are reviewed with the FAA and ATCs.
- data obtained from the reports are used to develop programs, policies, and procedures to reduce the chance of furture occurances
- reporting is voluntary and can be subjective
Air Traffic Activity Database is a measure of daily activity, such as departures, that is measure by ATC facilities
- this database is used to show growth of hubs
- it also measures aircraft that are handled within a radar space to measure traffic trends
Office of Aviation Safety conducts accident investigations, safety analyses, and special programs. This office operates databases listed below.
Near-Midair Collision Database- FAA learns of these incidents via ATC, passengers, and observers from the ground
- Database includes information from 1980 to the present
Operational Error Database collects data of operational deviations and errors attributed to the ATC system
- errors are filed within 48hrs of the event
- operational deviations (when an aircraft passes too close to a restricted area) and errors (when an aircraft come too close to eachother) are filed within this database
Pilot Deviation Database- first started publishing pilot deviations in 1987, but information has been stored back to 1985
- this database is similar to Operational Error Database, but this one is for pilots
NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting System
- records kept back to 1967 or civil aviation accidents in the US
- accidents involving the military and public-use aircraft are not investigated
- reports information on crashes and offers recommendations to the FAA
Bureau of Transportation Statistics- the airlines are required by law to provide financial data, activity, etc...to the BTS which are used to provide information and performance to the flying public
- measures include: departures, flight hours, and miles performed in 5 calendar years by an airline
- data is also used for accident/incident rates within the industry
- data only applies to aircraft with 30 seats or more
NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System
- funded mainly by the FAA and maintained by Battelle, but administered by NASA
- established in 1975 as a neutral party to the FAA
- reporters are not identified in the cases, which encourages ultimate honesty of the situation
Automatic Recording Systems
- includes flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR)
- data can be used to detect impending failures and the adequacy of component life or overhaul schedules
- information is used primarily for accident purposes
All data systems have been put in place because of a need to improve safety in one way or another. The main objective is to attempt to learn from the past and try not to make the same mistakes twice. It is also important to be able to spot trends to prevent an incident or an accident before it happens. These databases are constantly being updated with information and new methods for procuring data and information to increase the safety for all aspects of the industry.
References:
ACCIDENTS - an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and the time all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person (occupant or nonoccupant) suffers a fatal or serious injury or the aircraft receives substantial damage.
FATAL INJURY - any injury that results in death within 30 days of the accident.
SERIOUS INJURY - any injury that requires hospitalization for more than 48 hrs, results in bone fracture, or involves internal organs or burns.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE - damage or failure that adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft and that would normally require major repiar or replacement of the affected component
INCIDENT - an occurrence other than an accident associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of operations
MAJOR ACCIDENT - an accident in which a Part 121 aircraft was destroyed, or there were multiple fatalities, or there was 1 fatality and a Part 121 aircraft was substantially damaged.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT - an accident in which there was 1 fatality without substantial damage to a Part 121 aircraft, or there was at least 1 serious injurt and a Part 121 aircraft was substantially damaged.
INJURY - a nonfatal accident with at least 1 serious injury without substantial damage to a Part 121 aircraft
DAMAGE - an accident in which no person was killed or seriously injured, but in which any aircraft was substantially damaged.
The FAA has three organizations that collect and maintain safety-related data. They are the Associate Administrator for Aviation Standards, the Associate Administrator for Air Traffic, and the Office of Aviation Safety.
Associate Administrator for Aviation Standards is a group of offices that work together to, "collect and review large quantities of data, as well as certificate aircraft, aircrew, and airlines; oversee and enforce FAR; and investigate aircraft accidents and incidents" (Alexander &Rodrigues, 2004, p. 78). There are four database systems that are used to maintain the information:
FAA Accident Incident Data System (AIDS) - is a database that collects records from 1978 to the present and holds approximately 10,000 reports
Per www.FAA.gov, the FAA Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS) database can be used to:
- browse FAA's aviation incident information
- count aircraft involved in FAA's aviation incidents
- select FAA's incident reports based on:
- user supplied words or phrases
- user selected criteria, including:report numbers, date
range, state, aircraft registration number, aircraft make and model #, operator/airline (Part 121 only), type of operation, and airport identification
Enforcement Information System (EIS) is the database where all documentation for any enforcement case is kept regarding airlines, pilots, and mechanics
- data can be viewed as far back as 1963, but only on cases that are in closed status
- violation categories include: maintenance, hazardous materials, security, medical, drug testing, flight operations, aircraft alterations, training and near mid-air collisions
Service Difficulty Reporting System is the database where records of component and mechanical reliability are stored
- contains records for 10+ years
- most useful for detecting short term safety problems
- is required in the Part 121 and 135 sectors, but is becoming popular for those is general aviation to get a better history of service and issues
Air Operator Data System provides information regarding certain air carrier operating practices
- allows for a look at aviation practices within individual carriers or a complete picture of the industry
- there is no requirement for air carriers to report information to the FAA
Aviation Analysis System is an array of databases that fall into four categories: airworthiness data, regulatory data, operational data, and organizational information
Alexander and Rodrigues (2004) states:
Airwothiness data are mainly historical information on aircraft, such as mandatory modifications specified by the FAA
Regulatory data consist of background information, such as Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, legal opinions, and previous regulations
Operational data consist of track aircrew, aircraft, and operators along with accidents, incidents, mechanical reliability reports, and enforcement actions
Organizational data include the work management subsystems to monitor Aviation Standards tasks, such as airline inspections
Associate Administrator for Air Traffic is responsible for the management of information including: air traffic levels, national airspace system status, system errors, controller errors, etc...
Near Midair Collisions System Database (NMACS) is an incident that occurs when aircraft are less than 500 feet from eachother or when a collision hazard is reported
- all reports are reviewed with the FAA and ATCs.
- data obtained from the reports are used to develop programs, policies, and procedures to reduce the chance of furture occurances
- reporting is voluntary and can be subjective
Air Traffic Activity Database is a measure of daily activity, such as departures, that is measure by ATC facilities
- this database is used to show growth of hubs
- it also measures aircraft that are handled within a radar space to measure traffic trends
Office of Aviation Safety conducts accident investigations, safety analyses, and special programs. This office operates databases listed below.
Near-Midair Collision Database- FAA learns of these incidents via ATC, passengers, and observers from the ground
- Database includes information from 1980 to the present
Operational Error Database collects data of operational deviations and errors attributed to the ATC system
- errors are filed within 48hrs of the event
- operational deviations (when an aircraft passes too close to a restricted area) and errors (when an aircraft come too close to eachother) are filed within this database
Pilot Deviation Database- first started publishing pilot deviations in 1987, but information has been stored back to 1985
- this database is similar to Operational Error Database, but this one is for pilots
NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting System
- records kept back to 1967 or civil aviation accidents in the US
- accidents involving the military and public-use aircraft are not investigated
- reports information on crashes and offers recommendations to the FAA
Bureau of Transportation Statistics- the airlines are required by law to provide financial data, activity, etc...to the BTS which are used to provide information and performance to the flying public
- measures include: departures, flight hours, and miles performed in 5 calendar years by an airline
- data is also used for accident/incident rates within the industry
- data only applies to aircraft with 30 seats or more
NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System
- funded mainly by the FAA and maintained by Battelle, but administered by NASA
- established in 1975 as a neutral party to the FAA
- reporters are not identified in the cases, which encourages ultimate honesty of the situation
Automatic Recording Systems
- includes flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR)
- data can be used to detect impending failures and the adequacy of component life or overhaul schedules
- information is used primarily for accident purposes
All data systems have been put in place because of a need to improve safety in one way or another. The main objective is to attempt to learn from the past and try not to make the same mistakes twice. It is also important to be able to spot trends to prevent an incident or an accident before it happens. These databases are constantly being updated with information and new methods for procuring data and information to increase the safety for all aspects of the industry.
References:
Wells, Alexander T. & Rodrigues, Clarence C. (2004). Commercial Aviation Safety. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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