NTSB Safety Recommendations

Citation

(2008), "NTSB Safety Recommendations", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 80 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2008.12780fab.009

NTSB Safety Recommendations

Article Type: Aerospace world From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 80, Issue 6

Safety Recommendations A-08-16 through -20

The NTSB recommends that the FAA: Require 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and Part 91 subpart K operators to include, in their initial, upgrade, transition, and recurrent simulator training for turbojet aeroplanes:

• •

  decision making for rejected landings below 50 ft along with a rapid reduction in visual cues; and

• •

  practice in executing this manoeuvre (A-08-16).

Require 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and Part 91 subpart K operators to include, in their initial, upgrade, transition, and recurrent simulator training for turbojet aeroplanes, practice for pilots in accomplishing maximum performance landings on contaminated runways (A-08-17).

Require 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and Part 91 subpart K operators to have a written policy emphasising that either pilot can make a go-around call out and that the response to the call out is an immediate missed approach (A-08-18).

In co-operation with pilot unions, the Regional Airline Association, and the Air Transport Association, develop a specific, standardised policy for 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and Part 91 subpart K operators that would allow flight crew members to decline assignments or remove themselves from duty if they were impaired by a lack of sleep (A-08-19).

Once the fatigue policy described in Safety Recommendation A-08-19 has been developed, require 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and Part 91 subpart K operators to adopt this policy and provide, in writing, details of the policy to their flight crew members, including the administrative implications of fatigue calls (A-08-20).

Also, the following previously issued recommendation to the FAA is classified? Open? Unacceptable response?: immediately require all 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and 91 subpart K operators to conduct arrival landing distance assessments before every landing based on existing performance data, actual conditions, and incorporating a minimum safety margin of 15 per cent (A-07-57) (Urgent) 14.

In addition, the following previously issued recommendations to the FAA are classified? Open? Acceptable response?: require all 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 139 certificated airports to upgrade all runway safety areas that could, with feasible improvements, be made to meet the minimum standards established by Advisory Circular 150/5300-13? Airport design? The upgrades should be made proactively, not only as part of other runway improvement projects (A-03-11).

Require all 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 139 certificated airports to install engineered materials arresting systems in each runway safety area available for air carrier use that could not, with feasible improvements, be made to meet the minimum standards established by Advisory Circular 150/5300-13? Airport Design? The systems should be installed proactively, not only as part of other runway improvement projects (A-03-12). Require all 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and 91 subpart K operators to accomplish arrival landing distance assessments before every landing based on a standardised methodology involving approved performance data, actual arrival conditions, a means of correlating the aeroplanes braking ability with runway surface conditions using the most conservative interpretation available, and including a minimum safety margin of 15 per cent (A-07-61).

Safety Recommendations A-08-32 through -35

The NTSB recommends that the FAA:

• •

  Require that all air tour operators (14 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 91 and 135) establish and maintain a system for continuously analysing the performance and effectiveness of their inspection and maintenance program to ensure that all maintenance is performed with the utmost regard for quality and safety (A-08-32).

• •

  Require air tour operators to provide formal, model-specific helicopter maintenance training for their mechanics to ensure an adequate level of competency (A-08-33).

• •

  Develop a mechanism to provide direct surveillance of air tour maintenance at all locations where a company’s maintenance is conducted (A-08-34).

• •

  Work with independent safety programs, such as the Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS), to establish appropriate guidance for their members on how to develop and implement appropriate inspection and maintenance quality assurance programs and to encourage operators to participate in these voluntary programs (A-08-35).

Safety Recommendations A-08-36 through -39

The NTSB recommends that the TOPS:

• •

  Co-ordinate with TOPS members to set requirements for establishing and maintaining a system for continuously analysing the performance and effectiveness of their inspection and maintenance programs to ensure that all maintenance is performed with the utmost regard for quality and safety (A-08-36).

• •

  Expand the TOPS’s safety audit program to ensure that operators implement an effective maintenance quality assurance program (A-08-37).

• •

  Work with the FAA to establish appropriate guidance for TOPS members on how to develop and implement appropriate inspection and maintenance quality assurance programs (A-08-38).

• •

  Co-ordinate with TOPS members to establish requirements for providing formal, model-specific helicopter maintenance training for their mechanics to ensure an adequate level of competency. Once requirements are established, examine members’ maintenance education programs during TOPS’ annual audit (A-08-39).

Safety Recommendations A-08-44 and -45

The NTSB makes the following recommendations to the FAA:

• •

  Develop guidance, based on empirical and scientific evidence, for operators to establish fatigue management systems, including information about the content and implementation of these systems (A-08-44) (this safety recommendation supersedes Safety Recommendation A-06-11).

• •

  Develop and use a methodology that will continually assess the effectiveness of fatigue management systems implemented by operators, including their ability to improve sleep and alertness, mitigate performance errors, and prevent incidents and accidents (A-08-45).