NTSB seal/Home.Recommendations & Accomplishments.
MOST WANTED Transportation Safety Improvements
Aviation Issue Areas

 

Legend:

Red button. = Unacceptable response
Yellow button. = Acceptable response, progressing slowly
Green button. = Acceptable response, progressing in a timely manner
White button. = Being assessed, classification code to be assigned soon

  Federal Issues
Recorders - Red Button.
Unacceptable response		 Improve Oversight of Pilot Proficiency
Action Needed by The Federal Aviation Administration
  • Evaluate prior flight check failures for pilot applicants before hiring.
  • Provide training and additional oversight that considers full performance histories for flight crewmembers demonstrating performance deficiencies.
Recorders - Red Button.
Unacceptable response		 Require Image Recorders
Action Needed by The Federal Aviation Administration
  • Install crash-protected image recorders in cockpits to give investigators more information to solve complex accidents.
Child Restraints - Red Button.
Unacceptable response		 Improve the Safety of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Flights
Action Needed by The Federal Aviation Administration
  • Conduct all flights with medical personnel on board in accordance with stricter commuter aircraft regulations.
  • Develop and implement flight risk evaluation programs for EMS operators.
  • Require formalized dispatch and flight-following procedures including up-to-date weather information.
  • Install terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) on aircraft used for EMS operations.
Runway Incursions - Red Button.
Acceptable response,
progressing slowly 		Improve Runway Safety
Action Needed by The Federal Aviation Administration
  • Give immediate warnings of probable collisions/incursions directly to flight crews in the cockpit.
  • Require specific air traffic control (ATC) clearance for each runway crossing.
  • Require operators to install cockpit moving map displays or an automatic system that alerts pilots when a takeoff is attempted on a taxiway or a runway other than the one intended.
  • Require a landing distance assessment with an adequate safety margin for every landing.
Icing - Red Button.
Unacceptable response		 Reduce Dangers to Aircraft Flying in Icing Conditions
Action Needed by The Federal Aviation Administration
  • Use current research on freezing rain and large water droplets to revise the way aircraft are designed and approved for flight in icing conditions.
  • Apply revised icing requirements to currently certificated aircraft.
  • Require that airplanes with pneumatic deice boots activate the boots as soon as the airplane enters icing conditions.
Runway Incursions - Red Button.
Acceptable response,
progressing slowly 		Improve Crew Resource Management
Action Needed by The Federal Aviation Administration
  • Require commuter and on-demand air taxi flight crews to receive crew resource management training.
Child Restraints - Red Button.
Unacceptable response		 Reduce Accidents and Incidents Caused by Human Fatigue in the Aviation Industry
Action Needed by The Federal Aviation Administration
  • Set working hour limits for flight crews, aviation mechanics, and air traffic controllers based on fatigue research, circadian rhythms, and sleep and rest requirements.
  • Develop a fatigue awareness and countermeasures training program for controllers and those who schedule them for duty.
  • Develop guidance for operators to establish fatigue management systems, including a methodology that will continually assess the effectiveness of these systems.

 

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