Summary
- The FAA pledges to pursue a goal of zero near-miss incidents and emphasizes that the US aviation system is the safest in the world.
- The New York Times report reveals that there have been numerous near-miss incidents involving US commercial airlines.
- The shortage of air traffic controllers has caused concerns, but the FAA highlights that it has hired over 1,000 controllers this year and is actively working to enhance the safety of the air traffic system.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says it welcomes “scrutiny” following a recent report from The New York Times that states airline close calls happen far more than previously known. The agency responded to the Times’ report on Monday, highlighting air travel safety in the US.
The move follows multiple near-miss incidents reported this year, including the latest involving American Airlines and Spirit Airlines aircraft at Boston Logan International Airport. Earlier this year, the FAA hosted a safety summit to discuss the necessary action to decrease potentially fatal occurrences.
Safest in the world
In a statement, the agency said it is pursuing a goal of zero near-miss incidents.
“The U.S. aviation system is the safest in the world, but one close call is one too many. The FAA and the aviation community are pursuing a goal of zero serious close calls, a commitment from the Safety Summit in March. The same approach virtually eliminated the risk of fatalities aboard U.S. commercial airlines. Since 2009, U.S. carriers have transported more than the world’s population with no fatal crashes.”
Several layers of safety have been implemented to protect flights around the country, such as Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems being equipped on commercial aircraft, surface safety technology at the nation’s largest airports, and robust procedures, according to the agency.
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More than 40 incidents in July alone
On Monday, The New York Times published a startling report revealing that near misses involving US commercial airlines happen multiple times a week on average. Last month, at least 46 close calls reportedly occurred. According to the report, the incidents were highlighted in preliminary FAA safety reports but were not publicly shared.
Despite not being disclosed openly, the agency said that information on all incidents is published on its website. Data on runway incursions were also shared by the FAA, showing a steady decline in the occurrences since the pandemic.
“The FAA maintains extremely conservative standards for keeping aircraft safely separated. Safety experts follow up on all events — even those in which no collision was imminent or even possible — and evaluate them for safety risks,” the regulator explained. “The agency publishes this information on our website, updating it as new information becomes available.”
ATC shortage
As planes are taking to the skies with the industry roaring back from the pandemic, the FAA has also been criticized for the shortage of air traffic controllers (ATC). In April, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways indicated that flights would be reduced in the New York City area during the summer months due to the shortage.
The FAA said ATC and pilots “all play critical roles” in the industry’s safety and noted that 1,500 controllers have been hired this year which is in addition to more than 2,600 that are placed “at various levels of training at air traffic facilities across the country.”
The new FAA National Airspace System Safety Review Team is currently examining ways to enhance the safety and reliability of the country’s air traffic system and is expected to complete its work by October. In the meantime, the agency said it welcomes criticism.
“We welcome scrutiny and look forward to the recommendations from the FAA’s independent Safety Review Team this fall,” the regulator said.
Source: The New York Times