Questions on controversial NASA air-traffic safety study

William Atkins
Wednesday, 02 January 2008 19:37

Opinion and Analysis

If thousands of pilots are criticizing conditions within their industry, then I would bet there are major problems that need to be solved. Any organization needs improvement. We have imperfect organizations and structures that always (ALWAYS!) can use improving. This doesn't mean that they are inherently dangerous, but only that improvement is always needed and always possible.

Listen to your employees. They know where the problems are located and if given half a chance to voice their opinions (without risk of being fired) they will do so very readily.

If there are problems, let’s deal with them, not shuffle them under the rug and act like an ostrich with its head in the sand. Rather than continue to get headaches dealing with problems, let’s solve the problems.

All problems have solutions. It is as simple as that. So, let’s find a government agency or independent association or some organization to sift through this document, organize the information, analyze the data, and form conclusions based on that information.

Then, the aviation industry possesses important new information in order to improve its services to the public and to become safer and more efficient. If nothing else, solve problems so your employees don’t have to complain all the time about problems that never get solved.

Griffin also stated that the survey was “not properly peer reviewed at its inception” and “not properly validated at its conclusion”.

Why wasn’t it? Who’s responsible for these major problems at the beginning of the project and at its end? Can we correct these problems in order to learn from the information contained within the document? Can we avoid these mistakes in the future?

It is very easy to spend our money, but let’s spend it wisely and efficiently and make sure the effort is done correctly. Let’s spend our money honestly, too.

Use independent contractors to verify the process. I’m sure the media would love to be used to critique the work of such government projects. And, why not?

If the government’s task is to help guide the country to a better position with respect to our health, safety, defense, education, and other such endeavors, then there is no reason why outside organizations and/or individuals shouldn’t be a part of this process.

In addition, the president for the Air Transport Association stated, "While we appreciate any insight that might be derived from the NASA study, the study was not designed to capture real-time, verifiable data. As such, it is important that the report be viewed in that context."

It “was not designed to capture real-time, verifiable data”. In my estimation, thousands of pilot comments ARE real-time, verifiable data. PERIOD! [Houston Chronicle]

And, an official with the Air Line Pilots Association stated, “We feel very confident in the safety systems that are in place.” [Houston Chronicle]

Ok, safety systems are in place. Why can’t they be further improved? The Air Line Pilots Association has its own pilots criticizing work conditions, hopefully for improvement. Act on their criticisms! Improve based on your own people’s comments!

People do not work at their best when they are complaining. Yes, you will never please everybody, but we have thousands of pilots making negative comments about the conditions of their jobs. That seems to be a resounding plea for improvement in safety systems. Customers are complaining of lengthy delays at the airport. Airlines are going bankrupt. It sure seems like we have some problems.

We have all of this “controversy” surrounding this document. Why can’t we work together for the good of the country and, consequently, for the good of each of its citizens? Instead of controversay, act on this new information and make a better aviation industry. Maybe there isn't any useful information in the study. But, shouldn't we look into it, first, rather than just waste millions of dollars?

Problems exist that has been documented with a sixteen-thousand-page National Aviation Operational Monitoring Service (NAOMS) information bulletin. Ok, let’s get on with it and use this information to improve things at airports and in the air.

Maybe in the long-term the companies within the aviation industry will become stronger because they solved these problems and became financially strong based on sound management: that is, solving problems to become more efficient and more profitable.

When people in masse begin to complain where is usually something to complain about. We can ignore these complains or we can act on these complains. We will ultimately decide!