Managing risk means we are actively mitigating safety hazards and monitoring our performance. Taking action and then measuring outcomes over long periods of time will ensure a safer NAS.
Safety is local; performed one operation at a time by frontline employees. We value the knowledge and expertise in our workforce and we actively promote their participation in facility safety councils.
The Safety Management System is summarized in three action steps. Everyone, everywhere, everyday in the NAS is engaged in one of these actions. All safety programs are aligned to the principles of the SMS, which enable FAA employees to proactively reduce potential sources of risk.
Report
Compile, Analyze, Identify
Improve
As vital parts of the SMS, each program is designed to have direct impacts on NAS safety.
Over 200 lessons learned published in our ATC Infohub Database.
Leveraging experience and knowledge from frontline employees.
Leveraging knowledge from flight crews that operate in our NAS.
National priorities for fixing safety hazards.
The ATO values the safety knowledge in frontline employees. As a result, controllers are making significant contributions to safety initiatives. Data received through the ATSAP system means analysts have credible information that provides context from the radar scope and the tower cab.
Safety analysts issue monthly briefing sheets via mobile platforms so controllers and managers across the NAS benefit from safety notices.
The ATO values the safety contributions made by pilots. Gaining insight and context from the cockpit perspective allows safety analysts to more accurately find and identify potential hazards that can lead to safety risk. And, sharing safety data between pilots and controllers is having a positive effect on NAS safety.
CISP reports exchanged 2013
Reports submitted by airlines to FAA
Reports submitted by FAA to airlines
Participating airlines
National safety priorities are mitigated and monitored for long periods of time to ensure outcomes are desirable and are contributing to overall aviation safety.
The Safety Management System comes full circle when we can effectively measure our performance. As we verify the results of our safety mitigations, we continue to collect data and analyze the information to ensure continued success. Only by monitoring and measuring corrective actions do we have confidence that our safety performance is improving.
ATSAP reports and the Confidential Information Share Program identified cockpit workload and poorly designed air navigation charts were causing confusion leading to altitude busts at Chicago O’Hare three departure.
Improvement: Data positioned at relevant location
.
Result: Greater pilot awareness.
International carriers were consistently violating arrival procedures and maintaining incorrect altitudes enroute to San Francisco International Airport. Working with air carriers, the ATO discovered that flight management systems were not updated with the latest information. Once the FMS software was updated, the altitude deviations were eliminated.
Improvement:
Carrier updated air charts
.
Result:
Greater compliance.
Sample 2014 altitude deviation mitigations.
The Risk Analysis Process determined the contributing factors.
Our Safety Management System determined the clearance compliance altitude mitigations*.
*Did not implement conflict alert parameter change. Mode-S still under review.
Taking action and monitoring efforts produces positive outcomes for safer operations.
The Safety Management System is designed to advance air traffic control by allowing the FAA to safely introduce new technologies and procedures into the NAS. By more fully integrating the SMS and applying the principles farther upstream to include acquisition programs and advanced science, the FAA ensures the safety of each flight.
We are committed to safety and efficiency as the core mission of the FAA. By using our Safety Management System we will continue to drive potential sources of risk down and improve our performance. In the FAA, safety is everyone, everywhere, everyday.
